Quick Look: Twisted Metal

holy shit i had completely forgot about that star wars car combat game.. i actually had that game..

@murisan: There is no matchmaking, this is a server browser. I'm happy to wait for a patch instead of being forced to use matchmaking.

i haven't read every comment here, but i am seeing a lot of negativity toward this Quick Look based on what i have gleaned. while i won't begrudge anyone for their opinion - and freely admit that this isn't in the upper echelon of content on the site as far as entertainment value - the dislike i have seen here seems unfair and unwarranted. i have always felt that the Quick Look has been a way for the Bombers to show what a game has to offer on a random, average occasion. in the case of this game -which has a significant online push - that random, average occasion seems to entail lengthy waits to engage in online play and frequent network errors. the nuts and bolts of the game were shown, the issues with online play were shown, and the actual gameplay was also shown for an effective amount of time. keep up the good work, fellas, and keep your community informed of what they may be up against when considering a game purchase. cheers.

@thebadnews said:

@murisan: There is no matchmaking, this is a server browser. I'm happy to wait for a patch instead of being forced to use matchmaking.

You could just go quick online on the main menu. It finds a game room for you instead of looking at a browser list

Love it, love Jaffe, big fan.

Them spending 10 minutes in the server browser not realizing there was a quick match option in the main menu was kind of annoying, but after that it got pretty good, made me wish for the new Carmageddon to get released soon more than anything though, but this seems like a decent option until we get that one. I suppose I treat vehicular combat games like the space sims, I buy everyone I can, no questions asked.

Y'know what's crazy? The first half hour of the TNT is actually a GREAT QUICK LOOK!
They straight-up just summarize what's good and bad about the game while showing game footage. So I suggest that.

I really miss Twisted Metal, and this looks like a perfect addition, but $60 for what amounts to a multiplayer only game brings me pause. I don't really play multi enough for it to be worth it for me. I'd just wait for a price drop, but I'm afraid of the community drying up by then. Hmm /=

Patrick's right about those freeze missiles. Only, I used to stock up on freeze missiles and unload all my homing missiles. Brutal.

@I_smell said:

Y'know what's crazy? The first half hour of the TNT is actually a GREAT QUICK LOOK! They straight-up just summarize what's good and bad about the game while showing game footage. So I suggest that.

Indeed, it was. Everything got completely nuts in the end, which was awesome to be in. Can't say if it was any good to watch.

I wish this game wasn't so focused on multiplayer.

To clarify, there's 4 "gangs" Clowns (Sweet Tooth), Dolls (Dollface), Holy Men (Preacher), and Skulls (Mr. Grimm)

Oddly though, The Preacher doesn't have his own single player component, disappointing.

Also the Max Players online is 16, but for some reason matches are stuck to 15 when playing normal deathmatch. Max players for ranked team games is 14, but it can be 16, only in unranked matches though. Again, kind of disappointing, why not just max the players for every game type?

Overall, I'm enjoying the game, especially multiplayer, single player I haven't really touched. ESP made some weird design choices, but they don't ruin the game.

@UitDeToekomst said:

i haven't read every comment here, but i am seeing a lot of negativity toward this Quick Look based on what i have gleaned. while i won't begrudge anyone for their opinion - and freely admit that this isn't in the upper echelon of content on the site as far as entertainment value - the dislike i have seen here seems unfair and unwarranted. i have always felt that the Quick Look has been a way for the Bombers to show what a game has to offer on a random, average occasion. in the case of this game -which has a significant online push - that random, average occasion seems to entail lengthy waits to engage in online play and frequent network errors. the nuts and bolts of the game were shown, the issues with online play were shown, and the actual gameplay was also shown for an effective amount of time. keep up the good work, fellas, and keep your community informed of what they may be up against when considering a game purchase. cheers.

I never blame the guys when they get their facts wrong on Quick Looks. And yes, it's supposed to be kind of a fresh first look at a new game. It's just that we like to correct them so everyone knows whats right and wrong (not in an opinionated way though).

Looks awesome.Wish Jaffe had done a beta for the game though.

I love twisted metal, but my headache can't take Patrick.

It may just be the font and general art style, but those menus looks straight out of the PS2.

This game looks sweet!

Fuck you Olivia Munn.

@OfficeBat said:

OfficeBat Says: Follow me here on Giant Bomb and you just might win free shark repellant.

OH NO!

@noriegga: Those PSN usernames are the best, lol

floppyTITTYS, SethRogenRules, netwerk_error

@Jace: I could see how you would think some of those things about twisted metal but.. shallow? Its one of the deepest multiplayer mayhem games I have played this gen. There is a lot of strategy that goes into using freeze shots and shields, making you manage your special meter. Every car has its strengths and weaknesses and a special move to learn how to use well. I see how its not really a mainstream game for everyone but it has plenty of depth to spare. I personally see the grimdarkedgy as a silly over the top call back to the 90s.

@RoyaleWifCheese said:

Patrick's right about those freeze missiles. Only, I used to stock up on freeze missiles and unload all my homing missiles. Brutal.

What the fuck are you talking about? You can't stock up on freeze missiles, they used to be a special attack that would be done by entering a kind of fighting game move on the dpad. Only until now have they made it that easy to use. You could also drop land mines and jump. Turbo would get you out of it pretty quick though, that is why I always loaded up on turbo.

I remember playing a ton of Twisted Metal's N64 cousin, Vigilate 8, back in the day. I had a demo disc of the original Playstation version that I played quite a bit as well. If only I had a PS3 for this game...

Great Quick Look however I dont like the the decisions Eat Sleep Play made with single player. I loved the classic sp which was set up like a fighter, you choose a unique character, battle through stages and see cut scenes through out. I dont like the idea of facing Sweet Tooth while he is on Grimm's motorcycle instead of his signature ice cream truck. I agree 100 % on what Patrick said around the 12 minute mark about the classic story mode.

Those online issues are a mess.

Maybe it's the low resolution on the youtube video, but the graphics in this look pretty dodgy. The explosions especially. Not great. :/
 
edit---------  Quicklook redeemed at 41 minutes.  All is forgiven.  :D

@HerbieBug said:

Maybe it's the low resolution on the youtube video, but the graphics in this look pretty dodgy. The explosions especially. Not great. :/

I was pretty suspicios towards the graphics as well, 'till playing the demo myself. Not that it still looks all-that-great, but it's not that bad. Plus the high FPS does make up for it some.

But that being said, I'm not too thrilled about this. Think my 'proper' Twisted Metal experience will just limit to playing TM 2 on PC back in the days, unless I happen to end picking this one up with a very cheap price. Great QL, though! That "JESUS CHRIST!" was awesome.

YES! I was waiting for this.

@AgileNate: I think most people agree about the story mode. But, A) Jaffe seemed to legitimately be surprised that people were as into the Twisted Metal story as they are. B) Jaffe seemed to be a little butt hurt that peopel can just look up the story movies on YouTube and not play the game and C) I feel like Jaffe felt some pressure to, as the Giant Bomb people say far too much, "modernize" it.

@unholyone123 said:

@I_smell said:

It's like 15 minutes before they started playing Twisted Metal in this Quick Look!!

I mean hey, I like Quick Looks, but 48 minutes is one BIG FAT VIDEO! I get that the controls are difficult, but you don't have to show the whole tutorial to say that y'know?

There's LITERALLY 20 minutes of menu navigation in here, guys! If you're doing Quick Looks instead of video reviews, I would feel TERRIBLE if I was a developer who liked GiantBomb. I'd come here to check out my game and you've got feature-length videos of all the least interesting parts!

You played 2 matches and showed the same map twice- this'll sound dramatic, but seriously: If half the video is server lists, title screen and tutorials then who is that for? Quick Looks are huge videos now and I think you've lost sight of what the real core point of them is. They're a GOOD PREMISE! Go back and watch the first quick look, for Burnout Paradise.

I know you guys are your own quality control and I'm just some fuckin dude in the comments, but I think Quick Looks are getting really thin, losing a lot of punch, and they don't have to.

Word.

QFT

@xbob42 said:

@unholyone123 said:

Also!!! Giant Bomb needs to keep in mind that the whole quick look idea is not that original. People have been doing this on You Tube long before this web site ever existed. Those are also FREE TO WATCH, no subscription needed.

You paid your sub to watch Quick Looks?

As the French say, you, sir, are a dumb le fucke.

Spoken like a true free loader.

Did Jaffe even TRY to make this game look modern?

Sold. Nostalgia Ultra.

Time to dust off my Blu-Ray player.

@unholyone123 said:

@xbob42 said:

@unholyone123 said:

Also!!! Giant Bomb needs to keep in mind that the whole quick look idea is not that original. People have been doing this on You Tube long before this web site ever existed. Those are also FREE TO WATCH, no subscription needed.

You paid your sub to watch Quick Looks?

As the French say, you, sir, are a dumb le fucke.

Spoken like a true free loader.

Stop your a-bloo-bloo-blooing. Who wants to watch some jerk on Youtube. The entire point of subscribing to Giant Bomb Dot Com is that you want to support these dudes because they're entertaining and often do ridiculous things, especially on the podcast.

I never played a Twisted Metal game......I get the appeal behind the goofy universe but the gameplay turns me off: In a car game, I'd expect the cars to control somewhat like cars.

No Spectre. :(

This game actually looks pretty damn fun, especially, online. It's a gamey ass game.

I'm sure I am in the minority but it looks like it's get boring quick.

All the idiots who say matchmaking is terrible, take one good look at this game. I should be able to hit Quick Match and play the damn game without going through a list of 40 servers in which half of them don't work and the other half have like 4 people in them.

@DiGiTaL_SiN said:

@unholyone123 said:

@I_smell said:

It's like 15 minutes before they started playing Twisted Metal in this Quick Look!!

I mean hey, I like Quick Looks, but 48 minutes is one BIG FAT VIDEO! I get that the controls are difficult, but you don't have to show the whole tutorial to say that y'know?

There's LITERALLY 20 minutes of menu navigation in here, guys! If you're doing Quick Looks instead of video reviews, I would feel TERRIBLE if I was a developer who liked GiantBomb. I'd come here to check out my game and you've got feature-length videos of all the least interesting parts!

You played 2 matches and showed the same map twice- this'll sound dramatic, but seriously: If half the video is server lists, title screen and tutorials then who is that for? Quick Looks are huge videos now and I think you've lost sight of what the real core point of them is. They're a GOOD PREMISE! Go back and watch the first quick look, for Burnout Paradise.

I know you guys are your own quality control and I'm just some fuckin dude in the comments, but I think Quick Looks are getting really thin, losing a lot of punch, and they don't have to.

Word.

QFT

Co sign, this was a pretty bad quick look

For kids...

@CaptainInvictus said:

@unholyone123 said:

@xbob42 said:

@unholyone123 said:

Also!!! Giant Bomb needs to keep in mind that the whole quick look idea is not that original. People have been doing this on You Tube long before this web site ever existed. Those are also FREE TO WATCH, no subscription needed.

You paid your sub to watch Quick Looks?

As the French say, you, sir, are a dumb le fucke.

Spoken like a true free loader.

Stop your a-bloo-bloo-blooing. Who wants to watch some jerk on Youtube. The entire point of subscribing to Giant Bomb Dot Com is that you want to support these dudes because they're entertaining and often do ridiculous things, especially on the podcast.

Look. The whole point I was trying to make was that they shouldn't get lazy and assume people will continue to support them. It just seems that they are leaning more toward the "ridiculous things" aspect of the website, and are not as focused on covering games properly. Besides, doing ridiculous things is also covered by 95% of the websites on the internet.

FYI, return to the cage or you will start taking damage!

from the 23 min mark to the 38 min mark was all just trying to find a game.so in other words 15 min. maybe thats just me but i think you guys could have maybe cut that part out.

@unholyone123 said:

@xbob42 said:

@unholyone123 said:

Also!!! Giant Bomb needs to keep in mind that the whole quick look idea is not that original. People have been doing this on You Tube long before this web site ever existed. Those are also FREE TO WATCH, no subscription needed.

You paid your sub to watch Quick Looks?

As the French say, you, sir, are a dumb le fucke.

Spoken like a true free loader.

Ah, just the kind of "I-totally-missed-the-point" answer I'd expect from someone who paid a sub to watch free Quick Looks.

Here's the point of my post, YOU said: "People have been doing this on You Tube long before this web site ever existed. Those are also FREE TO WATCH, no subscription needed."

And I merely pointed out, genius, that YOU DON'T NEED A SUB TO WATCH QUICK LOOKS.

I know this is all very confusing and possibly frightening to you, but do try to understand.

@cruxking: I think that's important information for a prospective buyer

What is it with Klepeck and the homeless? Was he scared as a child?

@ExplodingShark said:

@OfficeBat said:

OfficeBat Says: Follow me here on Giant Bomb and you just might win free shark repellant.

OH NO!

There has never been a more appropriate time for your username to suddenly make its first appearance in the comments.

Sometimes I wonder about Ryan's ability to read on-screen text. They spent about 15 minutes on server menus.

Granted, those menus aren't great, but if they had sat there for a good minute and just stared at what each button did and figured out how to properly find the types of matches they were looking for, they could've saved themselves easily 10 minutes. Instead it was "oh god oh god oh god oh god, I don't fully understand what the buttons do, and I'm wildly assuming my arbitrary button presses accomplished anything, and now I'm going to join rooms at random, by which I mean I will attempt to join the same room multiple times".

Menu failures aside, what they showed of the game looked pretty cool. It might've been useful to mention how you get access to different cars in multiplayer (CoD-style unlocks? Decided by host? All unlocked?), but I get the feeling that the menu awkwardness derailed Ryan's train of thought for the rest of the video.

It's Gears of War 2 all over again. Once you get the online working, though, Twisted Metal looks like a whole lot of fun.