Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Twisted Metal: Head-On – Extra Twisted Edition retains the signature vehicular combat that made the original PSP title a cult favorite, while layering in brand-new content pulled from the unreleased sequel. The core of the experience remains frantic demolition derby action—each match pits you against a roster of twisted competitors in arenas packed with weapons, power-ups, and environmental hazards. Whether you’re rocketing across a massive suburban sprawl or weaving through carnival rides, the tight control scheme ensures every turn, boost, and missile feels weighty and satisfying.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

What truly sets this edition apart are the four “lost” levels recovered from a new Twisted Metal project that was tragically cancelled. You’ll battle through a sun-baked suburban neighborhood, duke it out under stadium lights, unleash chaos at a rickety fairground, and sabotage foes in a sprawling shipyard. Each environment introduces fresh layout twists and interactive set pieces—collapsible stands in the stadium or tilt-and-flip carnival booths—that break up the standard arena flow and extend the game’s replay value.

Beyond car-to-car carnage, Extra Twisted Edition introduces on-foot segments starring Sweet Tooth himself. Roaming the winding halls of an asylum, you must scavenge for Sweet Tooth-shaped heads that unlock facts about Twisted Metal’s storied past. These sequences provide a welcome change of pace, offering light puzzle elements and exploration in between explosive vehicular showdowns. While still rough around the edges—collision detection can feel finicky—they add memorable variety and a deeper connection to the series’ lore.

Graphics

Visually, Extra Twisted Edition is a PSP port enhanced for modern hardware. Textures appear sharper, lighting is more dynamic, and frame rates remain rock-solid even in the most chaotic four-player skirmishes. Vehicle models are richly detailed, from the rusted chassis of Sweet Tooth’s ice cream truck to the sleek chrome plating on Gold Tooth’s ride. Particle effects—explosions, smoke trails, debris—are punchier, lending each blast the visceral impact you crave in a demolition derby.

The newly added arenas also showcase inventive set dressing. The suburban level features sun-bleached roads lined with picket fences and toppled mailboxes, while the stadium glows under floodlights that cast dramatic shadows across the asphalt. The carnival’s neon signs and spinning rides feel alive, though occasional pop-in of mid-distance objects hints at the game’s handheld origins. The shipyard’s cranes and shipping containers create a maze of cover spots and ambush points, highlighted by dynamic reflections over water puddles and oil slicks.

A standout bonus is the inclusion of archival live-action endings for the original PlayStation releases, presented in deliberately degraded videotape quality. These grainy clips, some featuring alternate finales (with Sweet Tooth’s voice eerily reminiscent of Mick Foley), exude retro charm. Likewise, the documentaries on the series’ history are framed in that worn VHS aesthetic, making you feel like you’ve discovered a hidden treasure trove at the back of a video rental store.

Story

Twisted Metal’s narrative has never been praised for subtlety, but Extra Twisted Edition leans into its darkly absurd premise with gusto. You’re plucked into a world where a mysterious host, Calypso, promises winners their heart’s desire in exchange for participation in a lethal car combat tournament. The new character bios—featuring 12-Pak and Gold Tooth alongside the Twisted Metal: Black roster—offer tantalizing glimpses of twisted backstories, even if full endings were never completed for these entrants.

The four recovered levels serve semi-narrative purposes, each level design hinting at a character’s motivations. The suburban sprawl whispers of vengeance against unknowing civilians, the stadium points to grandiose showmanship, the carnival teases childhood trauma, and the shipyard suggests alchemical experiments gone awry. Though lacking finalized cutscenes, these environments themselves tell stories, inviting players to piece together motivations through scattered journals and environmental cues.

Meanwhile, the Sweet Tooth asylum excursions layer in meta-commentary. By collecting Soul Heads—each emblazoned with trivia about the series’ highs and lows—you unlock snippets of developer anecdotes and historical footnotes. This approach transforms otherwise throwaway collectibles into narrative devices, enriching the series mythos and providing a reason for long-time fans to revisit familiar hallmarks under a new light.

Overall Experience

Twisted Metal: Head-On – Extra Twisted Edition is a robust package that caters to both series veterans and newcomers. The core vehicular combat remains as enthralling as ever, with tight handling, explosive power-ups, and destructive environments that encourage strategic play. Multiplayer matches—whether local split-screen or online—deliver that signature split-second chaos that keeps you coming back for “just one more round.”

The addition of four previously lost levels significantly extends the game’s lifespan, offering diverse battlegrounds that feel distinct from the original arenas. While some fans may lament the absence of polished endings for new characters, the environments themselves, along with in-game lore pickups, provide plenty of meat for theorycrafting and community discussion.

Graphically, you’ll notice occasional handheld-era artifacts, but the upgraded textures, lighting, and frame stability ensure the action stays smooth and visually engaging. The live-action endings and remastered documentaries deepen your appreciation for Twisted Metal’s storied past, presented with just enough grain and tape hiss to feel authentically retro.

In sum, Extra Twisted Edition stands as a love letter to Twisted Metal’s legacy—melding frantic car combat, unreleased content, collectible lore, and nostalgic media into one comprehensive package. It may not rewrite the rules of the demolition tourney, but it does deliver more of the twisted mayhem fans crave, wrapped in a nostalgic yet fresh presentation.

Retro Replay Score

7.5/10