Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Twisted Metal: Small Brawl takes the high-octane vehicular mayhem of its predecessors and shrinks it down to remote-control proportions. Players pilot pint-sized, radio-controlled cars armed with unconventional weaponry—think chewing gum bombs, firecracker launchers, and flaming Barbie heads—through creative arenas. The controls remain tight and responsive, borrowing the tried-and-true physics engine from Twisted Metal 2, making each skid, jump, and collision feel weighty despite the miniature scale.

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The game offers a variety of modes to keep the action fresh. In Tournament mode, you face off against eight challengers before confronting two minibosses, testing your mastery of both driving and combat. Endurance mode throws you into a continuous wave of opponents, pushing your reflexes and resource management to the limit. For those who prefer objectives, Challenge mode tasks you with taking out a specific rival under unique conditions, adding strategic depth to the chaos.

Small Brawl also supports multiplayer Co-Op and Head-to-Head battles, allowing friends to team up or clash in split-screen mayhem. The compact arenas—tree houses, putt-putt courses, and bowling alleys—are perfectly scaled for local multiplayer, ensuring that you’re never too far from an explosive encounter. While there are no hidden shortcuts in the maps, the abundance of unlockables keeps you exploring every corner.

Graphics

The visual style of Small Brawl is a bold departure from the gritty realism of other Twisted Metal entries. Characters are rendered as kids in school uniforms, complete with oversized heads and exaggerated expressions, giving the game a whimsical, almost cartoon-like charm. This art direction strikes a balance between playful and edgy, capturing the series’ trademark dark humor without alienating younger players.

Environments are richly detailed for their size, with colorful textures on wood-paneled tree houses, vibrant neon lights in mini-putt courses, and sprawling pin decks in bowling alleys. Despite the smaller scale, each arena feels alive, full of nooks and crannies that encourage tactical positioning. The lighting effects—sparks from collisions, muzzle flashes from improvised weapons—add a dynamic look that heightens the sense of kinetic chaos.

While the frame rate occasionally dips when multiple firecrackers and physics-driven objects populate the screen, it rarely impacts gameplay. Animation is smooth overall, with vehicles reacting convincingly to impacts and projectiles. Character skins are fully unlockable, allowing you to customize your mini-mercenary’s look and further personalize the experience.

Story

In Small Brawl, Calypso’s infamous contest takes place on a schoolyard playground. Here, he bullies a group of children—each an echo of classic Twisted Metal combatants—into competing in his twisted RC car tournament. Their motivation isn’t world domination but relief from relentless teasing and the promise of a mysterious ultimate prize, which Calypso dangles like a carrot to keep them fighting.

The roster includes pint-sized versions of Thumper, Auger, Sweet Tooth, and other fan favorites, each reimagined as classmates seeking revenge on their tormentor. The narrative unfolds through brief cutscenes and in-game taunts, offering glimpses into each child’s backstory and their growing determination to break free from Calypso’s grip. It’s a cheeky, tongue-in-cheek premise that subverts the franchise’s darker themes without losing its edge.

Although the story serves primarily as a framing device, it enriches the combat. Every boss encounter feels like a showdown between bullied underdogs and their malicious schoolyard nemesis. The lighthearted yet mischievous vibe keeps the tone consistent: you’re fighting for more than bragging rights—you’re battling for dignity.

Overall Experience

Twisted Metal: Small Brawl offers a fresh take on the series by blending childlike imagination with vehicular carnage. Its approachable controls, varied modes, and creative weapon roster provide hours of chaotic fun, whether you’re going solo or duking it out with friends. The learning curve is gentler than traditional Twisted Metal titles, making it accessible to newcomers while still rewarding veterans who appreciate nuanced drift and firepower management.

The charm of seeing classic characters reinterpreted as scrappy school kids adds a unique layer of personality, and the cartoon-inspired visuals and lively arenas bring a playful energy to every match. While some long-time fans might miss the more mature themes, the game’s humor and inventive design make it a standout spin-off in the series.

With its unlockable content, multiple game modes, and replayable multiplayer battles, Small Brawl delivers a punchy, family-friendly bombast that suits both casual gatherings and competitive showdowns. If you’re looking for a Twisted Metal experience that’s equal parts nostalgia and novelty, this pint-sized mayhem is well worth the ride.

Retro Replay Score

5.9/10