Video games - Twisted Metal: Black

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	Video games - Twisted Metal: Black

Twisted Metal: Black (often referred to as TM:B) is the PlayStation 2 incarnation of the Twisted Metal series of car combat video games, created by Incog Inc. and distributed by Sony Computer Entertainment. An online enabled multiplayer-only variant, Twisted Metal: Black Online, was released later as a free send away for early adopters of the PS2's Network Adaptor accessory.

Overview

After the lackluster versions of Twisted Metal produced by Sony's 989 Studios division, Sony sought to return the franchise to its roots for the PS2 incarnation. To do so, they handed off the franchise to newly formed developer Incognito Entertainment, which was founded by several previous employees of SingleTrac (the developer responsible for creating the Twisted Metal franchise), including several of the key developers behind the first two Twisted Metal games. In contrast to the relatively light-hearted nature of the original two incarnations, however, TM:B is a very dark game, with every one of the playable characters being clinically insane (and most confined to an asylum.) The gameplay, on the other hand, is based on the original Singletrac engine, and as such is easy to pick up and play, but can become very deep, especially when one takes into account the energy attacks available to all players (see below).

As with all of the Twisted Metal games, the overarching storyline is the same - the characters, all having some deep wish that they want to be granted, are confronted by Calypso, a man who can grant their heart's desire, on one condition - they must battle each other to the death and win the Twisted Metal Tournament. In TM:B, the characters are portrayed as having nothing to lose, so they all eagerly take up Calypso's deal, and are soon outfitted with a vehicle suited to their personal tastes, and a command to fight to the death.

It should be pointed out that Calypso is indeed malevolent, and seeks to encourage that trait. Characters who have malevolent wishes have them filled beyond what they had wished for, while those seeking more noble ends find that Calypso always has the last laugh... but, sometimes, he is out smarted or even killed off!

Weapons

As TM:B is centered around car combat, the game contains a massive number of weapons that can augment the player's onboard machine guns and give them the edge they need.

Basic Weapons

The basic weapons are an assortment of projectiles that the player can find scattered all over the battlefield. Each has limited ammo (excepting the onboard machine guns) as well as strengths and drawbacks.

Machine Gun - the base weapon for every car, the Machine Gun is what you fall back on when your other ammo runs empty. Though the ammo is infinite, be aware that continuous fire will overheat the gun, kicking in the safeties and disabling it until the gun barrel can cool.
Machine Gun Upgrade - By finding explosive rounds, the damage potential of the Machine Gun can be increased. That said, improved ammo is limited in quantity. A maximum of 60 rounds can be carried at one time.
Homing Missiles - With an exceptionally accurate avionics package installed, Homing Missiles are near impossible to avoid. However, the seeking ability comes at a price - a small warhead has to be used, resulting in low damage.
Fire Missiles - Carrying a larger warhead, Fire Missiles pack a bigger punch, but lose quite a bit of homing capability.
Power Missiles - These missiles have high damage yields, but no homing whatsoever. Best used when an opponent is incapacitated.
Gas Can - Two weapons in one, the Gas Can's function depends on if it is fired forwards or dropped behind. If lobbed forwards, the Can flies overhead, with a targeting indicator showing what lies under it. by pressing the fire button again, the Can will plummet to earth hard, exploding on anyone unlucky enough to be under it. If dropped behind, the can becomes a remote bomb, which can be detonated by pressing the fire button or shooting it. A Gas Can that is set this way will power up if left undisturbed, eventually developing into an explosive of devastating power.
Ricochet - A small spinning disc, the Ricochet will bounce off of any wall it hits. if those bounces are timed right, the player can gain a bonus to damage inflicted.
Environment - Some (but not all) of the stages can be turned against the opposition. Using the Environment weapon will cause a level-specific environmental attack to occur.
Special Weapon - Every combatant in Twisted Metal has a unique weapon that gives them an edge over the others. Each of the character bios contains info on their specific weapon.

Skill Based Weapons

There is a set of three weapons that rely on skill to damage the opponent. Though harder to use than the above weapons, the damage they can do is potentially much greater as well. Only one type may be carried at a time - to change, the player must empty their skill based weapon ammo.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Twisted Metal: Black ]

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