Twisted Metal 4

Another game in this franchise is nothing spectacular. What's interesting about Twisted Metal 4 is that it serves more as a sequel to the third installment. Contract disputes with former developers lead to the games getting a bit of a reboot, so to speak. If you're a fan - I wouldn't worry too much - it's near impossible for vehicle-based games to stray too far from their core values.

Twisted Metal 4 is yet another rock 'em, sock 'em auto mayhem game that preys on the fantasies of petrolheads everywhere. Nothing much ever changes in these games, so one would think that players would get a bit tired with each release. We'll see if there's anything at all that keeps this franchise fresh in the fourth offering.

The Creepy Clown Returns

I, like many, have a bit of disdain for the characters centered around Twisted Metal - those creepy clowns. They do give you the shivers whenever they come on the screen - but perhaps that is part of the intrigue in the series. The fourth game features a clown named Sweet Tooth passionate about the Twisted Metal competition that rival clown Calypso runs. Low and behold, he takes over the tournament, and mayhem ensues.

Like all the other games - you'll be presented with a selection of suped-up vehicles to choose from. Each with their own unique abilities to head forth and unleash fury on the other cars in the arena. It's pretty straightforward - a choice between a competitive tournament and a deathmatch will test our skills as top dogs in the Twisted Metal trade.

While the romping vehicle destruction is fun - the controls still feel a little stiff. There are improvements from its predecessors, including physics, visuals, and overall gameplay tweaks. Also, not forgetting the addition of Rob Zombie as a playable character! Of course, the narrative is a little crazier - which is entertaining - but like many games of the genre, Twisted Metal 4 becomes stale pretty quickly.

What the game accomplishes - it serves well as a thrilling destructive battler should you have a few moments to kill. It's also great as a brainless party game. If you're hoping to immerse yourself in plotlines and find challenges with a good learning curve, you're not going to get much out of it. Every Twisted Metal game only tends to take baby steps outside its tried and tested format, and there's little change in the fourth installment.

Cars Go Boom

While newcomers may not take much interest in the Twisted Metal franchise - there are some dedicated fans. The developers seem to appreciate that hardcore players aren't too interested in any heavy-set mechanical or gameplay features and additions. They only seek the intensity, destruction, and bizarre narratives that come with each game.

Pros:

• Sharper visuals and more refined vehicle combat
• The bizarre narrative that surprisingly works with the gameplay
• Great for parties as you can get stuck in straight away

Cons:

• Control schemes are a little stiff
• Gameplay gets boring after a couple hours
• Not much offered in the way of customization