Twisted Metal Season 2 Review

In the 90s and early 2000s, high-quality game adaptations were rare. But today the situation has changed. TV series Arcane, Castlevania, Fallout and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners turned out to be surprisingly successful and attracted the attention of even those people who had never heard of the original source. In 2023, a show based on the Twisted Metal race was launched, and two years later the second season was released. We watched it to the end and are in a hurry to share our opinion.

Twisted Metal is a series of racing games from Sony. Its key feature is the ability to use various weapons, from machine guns to mines and missiles. Therefore, among the game modes there are not only standard races, but also arena battles, where you need to physically destroy opponents. The concept turned out to be interesting and quickly gained popularity.

If you decide to check out Twisted Metal today, we recommend the 2012 game, which was released exclusively on PlayStation 3. It combines signature gameplay with a good plot, which is presented using videos with live actors. The local story will certainly appeal to fans of dark and violent films with hints of black humor. And if you are indifferent to them, you can just enjoy high-quality action on cars. These days, they don’t make such races anymore.

The post-apocalyptic setting with cars immediately evokes associations with the Mad Max series. However, the first season of Twisted Metal differs from George Miller's films due to its strong humor. In it, brutal fights and crazy speeds are complemented by really funny jokes.

The main plot of the series is not directly related to the games — the story here is self-sufficient. However, it does have familiar characters, for example, Sweet Tooth, also known as Sweet Tooth. We are talking about a cruel psychopath with a clown mask who moves around in an ice cream van. The role of the main character John Doe was played by Anthony Mackie, known for his role as Falcon from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was he who took up the mask and shield of Captain America after Steve Rogers.

The Twisted Metal series turned out to be an excellent action comedy with a lot of unexpected plot twists and memorable scenes. However, the first season was perceived as a prelude to much more grandiose events that should happen in the sequel. Interestingly, something similar happened with the film Mortal Kombat (2021), where we saw only the preparation for the Mortal Kombat tournament. They promise to show us the arena fights themselves in the second film.

A direct continuation of the first season would be a great option for plot development. But it all starts with a big flashback, which is dedicated to the lives of the characters before the apocalypse. And we are not talking about some serious moments that will affect the main story, but about an absurd prank at a youth party with tragic consequences. The author of these lines had a completely inappropriate association with the plot of the game Until Dawn. This is an unnecessary backstory for one of the heroines, which could easily have been missed.

Then we are shown the peaceful life of John. He works as a pizza delivery man, drinks beer with friends and plays the first parts of Twisted Metal on arcade machines. Along the way, the guy tries to get out of New San Francisco, which has become a prison for him, but at first he is not allowed to do this. The hero is locked in a house where he has nothing to do, which is why he begins to read girls' books and his sister's personal diary.

Things are a little more interesting with the story of Dollface, who leads a gang of female killers. But only in the moments with Sweet Tooth and his reprisals against competitors do we remember what was good about the first season. A slightly drawn-out and boring introduction is needed in order toto tell us the information we already know — a grand competition between racers will take place. It will be held according to the rules of the royal battle — there will be only one winner.

Gradually the action accelerates. For example, we are shown a well-staged race with four participants. And slightly ridiculous attempts to talk about the value of family are interrupted by gunshots and the spectacular appearance of Axel, one of the most colorful racers in the Twisted Metal series of games.

Surprisingly, a lot of time was devoted to the relationships that developed between the heroes. Some want to fight shoulder to shoulder, others are happy to meet old acquaintances, and others can't wait to finish each other off. But, unlike Squid Game, murders during rest periods between competitions are severely punished here.

During numerous dialogues, the characters of the tournament participants are revealed to us. As a result, we see not just freaks, but full-fledged characters with their own view of the world. Therefore, the death of each of them is perceived as a significant event.

The races themselves resemble levels from survival racing. Among them, there is the delivery of a certain item in a limited time, hunting for specific targets, and a slaughter where only one car must remain. There are also other references to video games in the spirit of using cheat codes and a battle with the final boss. There is no hint of realism here, but it is completely unnecessary, because the events are presented as a light comedy.

At the same time, the action itself is staged perfectly. High speeds are combined with machine gun bursts, shots from rocket launchers and electric guns, as well as colorful explosions. Many arenas have their own show elements in the spirit of lightning strikes. As a result, watching car battles is really interesting. At certain moments, you can even get an adrenaline rush. There is a feeling comparable to a game race, when victory is already close, but at the last moment you can make a mistake and lose.

The series is saturated with humor through and through. The authors do not hesitate to make fun of racism, brutal murders, cannibalism and the stupidity of individuals. And when the death of an imaginary hero is played out as a full-fledged drama, it is simply impossible to hold back a smile. Humor sets the tone for the narrative and greatly dilutes the episodes when there is no car action on the screen. Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick were responsible for the plot. Their most striking work is the Deadpool trilogy of films. The writers' signature style is also felt in Scratching Metal.

There was also room for romance. The relationship between John and Quiet developed logically in the second season. The piquant moments were especially successful, for example, when the lovers tease each other in the face of danger. During such scenes, you can really feel the chemistry between the characters.

Unfortunately, the universe itself is poorly developed. We know that there are relatively safe cities, as well as people who live behind their walls and risk their lives every day. There is hostility between them, but it has not yet spilled over into open confrontation. All the survivors are interested in the racing tournament organized by Calypso, a person with mystical powers. His role is roughly the same as in the 2012 game — he promises to grant any wish.

Perhaps the world of Twisted Metal will be given more attention in subsequent seasons. But for now, what happens outside the competition is too simple and schematic.

If you like action comedies, you are a fan of Twisted Metal or just miss the automobile aesthetics of "Mad Max" — we strongly recommend that you check out the series. But you should start with the first season. You should not expect a deep meaning or a second bottom from the show — this is pleasant entertainment for a couple of evenings, nothing more.

Have you watched the second season of Twisted Metal yet? Share your opinions in the comments!