PlayStation Productions have a lot of exciting projects in development after the success of Uncharted on the big screen. However, for one of their newest projects they are turning to TV, adapting the beloved and retro vehicle combat series Twisted Metal. With Anthony Mackie set to lead it seems that there's real potential here for another runaway hit.
But what elements of the video games themselves will make their way to the screen under showrunner Michael Jonathan Smith? Whether it's the way the gameplay mechanics could influence the action sequences, the key characters involved or perhaps the number of installments to this franchise, these details may have a crucial impact on the development of Peacock's Twisted Metal.
Developers And Publishers
The Twisted Metal franchise has been in several hands over the years, each of which has given its flavor to the series. While the different incarnations may influence the TV show as a whole, ultimately it's Sony as the publisher who will make the final call.
Indeed, while it's been featured on PC, Twisted Metal has mostly been a PlayStation console exclusive from developers like SingleTrac, Sony's 989 Studios, Incognito Entertainment, and Eat Sleep Play. Because of the influence behind the series, these games have appeared on PlayStation, PS2, PS3, and PlayStation Portable!
Premise
While there are plenty of incredible and somewhat terrible racing games that have appeared on PlayStation across its history, Twisted Metal is so much more. It's a demolition derby-Esque combat experience, boasting all kinds of ridiculous tricked-out vehicles.
While there are some narrative chains throughout the series focusing on the lead antagonist Marcus "Needles" Kane who's known for driving 'Sweet Tooth,' the games largely boast co-op, online and individual play across maps that demand destruction! It's vibrant and leans into its violent escapades.
Number Of Games
When looking at the main series of games the Twisted Metal franchise has been on quite the journey. While not every gamer might have even heard of this retro entry into the Sony archives, there have been eight different installments of the prime Twisted Metal title.
Numbers one through to four came out between 1995 and 1999 before there was a pause and Twisted Metal: Black in 2001. This was followed up by Twisted Metal: Head-On in 2005 and an Extra Twisted Edition in 2008, before the final entry of Twisted Metal in 2012. The series has evolved throughout but it's unknown which era the show could draw inspiration from. There are even reports that a new version is in the works!
Getting Off Track
The first two installments of the series from SingleTrac defined the feeling of Twisted Metal. They were notable successes and took advantage of the chaotic visuals, vibrant color palette, and over-the-top gameplay controls while bringing in plenty of incredible vehicles. With three and four though, the series took a turn.
With 989 Studios taking over command the flavor of the originals was immediately lost. A brand new engine changed how the game played and although the physics system might have been improved, it never truly felt like these were part of the Twisted Metal series. Perhaps the show will shy away from the third and fourth entries.
Soft Reboot
Sony knew that the series needed to be set in the right direction once more. With most of the original team rejoining the project under Incognito Entertainment, a soft reboot was put in place. This change of pace would come to define the next era of Twisted Metal.
With a range of new characters and a return to what fans loved about the originals, Twisted Metal: Black showcased that the series was far from dead. It's arguably the best version of Twisted Metal to date and should surely contribute to the development of the Peacock adaptation.
Influential Modern Incarnation
Despite the soft reboots and reimaginings ultimately Sony wanted to try and bring Twisted Metal to a new audience so that it may thrive as it once did. 2012 seemed like the perfect time to do that, after a small break from the conclusion of the previous main series.
Twisted Metal, therefore, relaunched with that original name on that generation of console. With updated visuals and a grimier edge, it was certainly an intriguing attempt to upgrade what fans knew about the franchise. It probably should be the iteration that PlayStation Productions are studying most in regards to adapting this for a current audience.
Spin-Offs
Just like any Sony franchise, the success of Twisted Metal allowed for the creation of a few different spin-offs that sought to expand this universe further. While none of them quite enjoyed the success that the main titles did, they are still compelling additions to the video game world.
While the 2002 Twisted Metal: Black Online tried to take advantage of the massive server market of multiplayer gameplay, it was the 2001 Small Brawl that had the most to offer. Incognito Entertainment developed a title that could be played by kids, taking away the violent aspects and replacing them with a little more whimsy and cartoonish slapstick humor.
Canceled Narratives
While Twisted Metal may make some lists of the best original PlayStation racing-style games, that doesn't mean that the series didn't have its fair share of failure. There were a variety of different spin-offs and sequels that never quite saw the light of day.
Twisted Metal: Harbor City was being created as a sequel to Black, but plans were abandoned and the work was brought into the Extra Twisted Edition. Apocalypse and Revolution in the mid-2000s were also both ideas to take the franchise in a different direction, adding sci-fi or hip-hop elements respectively to refresh the concept.
Previous Adaptation
Around 2012 when Sony was launching their Twisted Metal reboot there were a lot of deep discussions concerning a big-screen adaptation as well. It seemed like perfect timing and Sony was serious enough to bring in Brian Taylor to write and direct the piece.
The film never got made, although PlayStation must see a lot of cinematic potential within the franchise. It was noted that the financially poor performance of the rebooted title affected the movie's development. With the formation of the new series, there may be conversations around how much of that original film screenplay could influence the modern incarnation.
Slaughter Race
Although Twisted Metal has yet to see its cinematic debut, that hasn't stopped it from becoming a cultural influence! Ralph Breaks The Internet took the Disney franchise to the next level and allowed the titular character and Vanellope to travel into the world wide web.
There they encountered Slaughter Race, a destructive racing game that by all accounts looks as if it is based upon Twisted Metal. There's even a clown cameo that surely links to the visual appearance of the lead, and the grimy aesthetic pays homage to the modern reboot.