Twisted Metal: Head On originally debuted with the launch of the PSP in 2005. It was a serviceable entry in the popular vehicular-combat series, but the PSP's limited button configuration marred the overall package. However, Sony (and other publishers too) has been on a kick of porting over their PSP games to the PS2, and recruited the services of upstart developer Eat, Sleep, Play (which consists of members who worked on the best-received Twisted Metal games) to bring the PSP launch game to the PS2. Throw in a slew of extras and a $19.99 price tag, and you have the ultimate fan service for Twisted Metal fans in Twisted Metal: Head On – Extra Twisted Edition.

The port of Twisted Metal: Head On makes up the bulk of Extra Twisted Edition. It is here in its entirety where the ringmaster of the Twisted Metal tournament, Calypso brings back Sweet Tooth and company to blow the crap out of each other using the familiar staple of Twisted Metal weapons like homing missiles, power missiles, napalm, and so much more.

Eat, Sleep, Play gave Head On the gameplay makeover it needed so badly. The PSP version was fine, but it wasn't the same with the dreaded PSP analog nub. Besides using the classic control pad setup, a brilliant dual analog control scheme is also available which eliminates the use of the face buttons and puts all the effort into the dual analog pads and the shoulder buttons. This setup works leagues better, and resulted in an overall gameplay experience far more satisfying on the PS2 than the PSP.

Head On packs all but one of the PSP's gameplay modes. There is the standard Story campaign, and also the usual challenge and Endurance single player options. Unfortunately multiplayer got the axe as two player deathmatch, and co-op is all that is available. While going through the Story with a friend is a nice option, it is disappointing the online play that the PSP version supported didn't make its way to the PS2. One of Eat, Sleep, Play's lead designers, David Jaffe went on to say that would have resulted in understandably raising the price and delaying the game. That drawback could have been somewhat remedied if this version had four player split screen support like Black did on PS2, but it looks like players will have to settle with two player support instead.

Twisted Metal: Lost is the featured bonus in Extra Twisted Edition. It is the remains of the incomplete sequel to Twisted Metal: Black. It features several levels, the same roster of vehicles and weapons, but lacks a narrative. It does offer the same array of gameplay modes as Head On (and multiplayer in Lost features support for four players!). Gameplay is a little more polished as evident since it was originally developed with the PS2 in mind. It's too bad the full game never got to see the light of day as its concept of a whole single city with no loading screens was years ahead of its time before other games caught up on the trend.

Extra Twisted Edition does contain some other meaty extras. First and foremost, there is a 30 minute, in-depth documentary about the history of Twisted Metal. It isn't one of those fluff "everyone was so great to me" pieces that are found on so many DVDs today. It gives a thorough retrospective on the franchise with interviews from many of the past developers. Now the Twisted Metal series may not be the grandest in all of gaming, but it has its fans and this video is the quintessential tribute to them. Next, is the "Sweet Tour" where players control Sweet Tooth on foot in a third person perspective, with the sole objective being to run around and collect history tidbits and concept art from past Twisted Metal entries. Sweet Tour isn't that involving of an experience, but makes an interesting extra nonetheless and doesn't take away from the overall package. Rounding off the extras is an art book, a download code for 42 tracks from the Twisted Metal catalog, and most importantly the previously unseen live-action ending videos for the original Twisted Metal. These videos are so awesomely bad, they make the live-action footage in Sewer Shark and Night Trap look Oscar-worthy.

The graphics won't be winning any awards either. They aren't bowling-shoe ugly by any means, but Head On is a defining example of a three year old PSP game. Eat, Sleep, Play were even quoted to say they polished Head On up a bit, so I don't want to imagine how it would've looked without the extra time they put in. Lost looks better in comparison, and is right on par with the visuals in the original Black. The special attacks pack more dazzling animations and the vehicles and stages sport noticeably more textures and detail. Aurally, it's more of the same. All the bullets and explosions sound appropriate, and the thumping beats provide some fine tunes to set the mood for chaos.

Twisted Metal: Head On – Extra Twisted Edition provides some of the best fan service imaginable. Besides including the definitive version of Head On, there is a wealth of stellar extras all for one great price point. No online play is a bummer, but there is so much more Extra Twisted Edition brings to the table. If you were even the slightest fan of vehicle combat games, especially considering how dormant the genre has been in recent years, this will be the best $20 your money can buy.



Article By: Dale Kulas (Gruel)