DESCRIPTION

After the smashing success of Calypso's first Twisted Metal tournament, he's looking to conduct an encore presentation, but there's a small problem. He and his combatants have already destroyed Los Angeles; what fun is there holding a tournament in a single measly city let alone one that resembles a large pile of rubble? One day, the answer dawned on the char-faced psycho...why not take the show on the road?

And that's exactly what he's going to do; Twisted Metal 2 has gone global! Along with new drivers and veterans of yore, they're packing up their bags and getting ready to wage war throughout Moscow and New York while destroying the Eiffel Tower in Paris and lighting the fields in Holland ablaze! Forget the millennium, Armageddon is now!

Twisted Metal 2 features 12 pre-selectable characters with two hidden vehicles waiting in the wings. Among the new combatants are Axel, a man confined to two enormous wheels; Mr. Slam, a prominent architect turned psycho, the speed-junkie Twister; and Outlaw 2 — Outlaw's sister looking for revenge. Many of the old characters have returned including Hammerhead, Thumper, and an even more deranged Roadkill.

There are eight new battle arenas with a few hidden goodies thrown in for extra measure (mostly for the multi-player enthusiasts). One of the complaints concerning the original was that the levels weren't interactive enough; obviously, Calypso was listening! Players are able to destroy towers, fences, buildings, windmills, and even de-robe the Statue of Liberty! Additionally, each level contains a wealth of hidden areas and secret weapons.

In addition to new drivers and areas, Twisted Metal 2 features a unique combo system. By executing various button combinations on your controller, vehicles are able to fire freeze blasts, activate temporary shields, jump over hazards, and backdoor tailgaters with a missile. There are also twenty different advanced attacks; performed the same way as a combination, these puppies are fierce!

Calypso has also devised some new items and weapons for this year's tournament. New weapons include the bouncing ricochet bombs, devastating lightning blasts that radiate from electric sources (only available on certain levels), and remote bombs that explode on command. Whereas the original featured health stations, Twisted Metal 2 replaces them with scarce first aid kits.

Additionally, Twisted Metal 2 replaces the old text-based endings with computer-generated comic book movies. So what are you waiting for? Pack up that camera and homing missile and get ready to tour the world — Twisted Metal style! ~ Matthew House, All Game Guide