The Vehicular Combat Genre Needs To Return, Starting With Twisted Metal

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Shahmeer Sarfaraz

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Genres in gaming weren’t always this diverse. We started small but consistent experiments, and the risks of trying something new led to the extent of variety we see today. I wish gaming returned to those times, but that’s a topic for a different day. Today, let’s say that while many new genres came along, certain went dormant as well.

Over time, everyone moved to trendy topics, and slowly, the creative but less profitable genres were shafted. After years of oversaturation and stagnation, we’re in critical need of innovative stuff now, things once abandoned. And what better way than to revive the forgotten genre of vehicular combat?

Why it matters: Vehicular combat games like Twisted Metal were a creative bunch filled with exciting, destructive gameplay. The genre’s gone now and deserves to be revived.

Vehicular Combat Is Nowhere To Be Seen

Before I begin, I mean the existence of purely vehicle combat games. Similar mechanics are found in certain racing games, but they’re not the true embodiment of the genre. Those games are long gone. The last vehicular combat game I remember is Destruction AllStars, but that was a microtransaction-infested mess with subpar design.

Where are the Vehicular Combat Games???
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As the name implies, this genre was all about destroying other vehicles and obstacles in your way. This was achieved by outfitting your cars with weapons and upgrades and then wreaking havoc on all that crossed your path. The one who takes out all the competition reigned triumphant.

I recently came across Sand Land and thoroughly enjoyed the final work of legend Akira Toriyama. Though not primarily a vehicular combat game, certain sections in it made me reminisce about the genre’s glory days. I remember playing Fatal Run back in the day; games may have been graphically backward, but they were loads of fun back then.

Speaking of vehicle combat, PlayStation consoles were the backbone of the genre once, especially Sony’s Psygnosis studio. Destruction Derby, Wipeout, and Rollcage are all big names. It’s a shame Sony hasn’t used Psygnosis in over a decade now. Plus, it also abandoned the greatest vehicle combat game, Twisted Metal.

Twisted Metal, Vehicle Combat At Its Peak

You probably saw this coming from a mile away. And why wouldn’t you? It’s a sin not to discuss Twisted Metal (no, I don’t mean the TV series) when talking about vehicular combat. Sony’s creative, all-demolishing franchise is the most fun I’ve had with the genre, and it’s a constant reminder of how impressive the tech giant was back in the day.

In what other vehicular combat game can you throw missiles and ballistic weapons on one hand and then nukes on the other? Twisted Metal is one of a kind even among a pretty niche genre, but it elevates it to new heights.

Calypso’s iconic narration, guns-blazing combat with plenty of innovative, destructive stuff at your disposal, and a thought-provoking plot coated with dark humor to make it entertaining, Twisted Metal is an adventure through and through.

It tells you that when a supernatural, reality-warping being offers to fulfill your wishes, always say no. There’s a 100% chance he’ll warp your words to his suit, and you don’t want that. But hey, what if he starts a demolition tournament where the best vehicle wins? Well, that’s a little hard to turn down now, isn’t it?

[Twisted Metal] #126 – Hope they bring this franchise back one day
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Enjoy an extremely creative, adrenaline-fueled destruction spree as you fit your vehicles with the most chaos-inducing weaponry and destroy all obstacles in your way in what’s the peak of a now-forgotten genre.

Sony Needs To Bring Back Twisted Metal

All this discussion has but one purpose: Twisted Metal needs to return alongside the genre itself. The series is still highly popular among PlayStation fans, and Astro Bot has proved the value of Sony’s long-dead IPs. A live service, Twisted Metal, was allegedly canceled, which is great since I want an authentic revival.

Why did vehicular combat as a genre die out. I miss Twisted Metal!
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In recent times, all Sony has done are the most needless remasters and remakes or stagnated blockbuster AAAs with explosive budgets, development times, and essentially zero margins of risk. 

So, if Sony can waste resources on an illogical remaster like Horizon Zero Dawn, giving Twisted Metal a chance isn’t going to hurt. In fact, franchises like these truly deserve re-releases.

Shahmeer Sarfaraz

Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.