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Twisted Metal is coming to television with the Twisted Metal Peacock original series. Now, fans of the classic PS1 franchise will get a chance to see their favorite characters in a new way. Overall, the series will be filled with references, characters, and Easter Eggs from the Twisted Metal series. This is a fantastic treat for anyone who has fond memories of playing the game. However, many people who want to watch the show aren’t too familiar with Twisted Metal or its long history. Although the show will probably be watchable without previous knowledge, knowing the characters and settings will only add to a viewer’s enjoyment. For anyone who wants some background, here are some things you should know before watching Twisted Metal.
What Is Twisted Metal?
Twisted Metal is a vehicular combat game released on the PlayStation. The series follows various characters, all participating in a massive demolition derby called Twisted Metal. Players must destroy their opponents in any way possible, often relying on ballistic weapons. The tournament is usually hosted by a man named Calypso, who will grant the winner a wish for their victory. Oftentimes, depending on the character players selected, different stories and endings will play out during their time in the tournament. This usually makes each entry more focused on characters rather than a large overarching story.
Many Twisted Metal Characters Make An Appearance
Although different from their counterparts, many of the characters shown so far are characters from the Twisted Metal games. First, John Doe will be the protagonist of the series. Originally appearing in Twisted Metal: Black, John Doe is a person with amnesia who joins the tournament to regain his memory. After winning the contest, John Doe wishes for his memory to return, revealing himself to be an FBI agent. Sadly, he is then executed by Calypso, ending his story in the games. Of course, the show seems to have bigger plans for the character, though the core concept of amnesia remains the same.
On top of this, we also have the mascot of the Twisted Metal series, Sweet Tooth, coming to the show as well. Needles Kane, more commonly referred to as Sweet Tooth, is a deranged clown that has appeared in every Twisted Metal entry to date. The character is so iconic that he represents the franchise as a whole in most guest appearances and cross-overs. Sweet Tooth is often portrayed as an escaped mental asylum inmate, a being of pure mayhem and chaos. It’ll be interesting to see where his story goes in the series, especially with things like his father, brother, and alternate personality Marcus Kane adding some unique plot elements.
The Secondary Cast Brings Back Many Iconic Characters
Additionally, we see Agent Stone make an appearance. In the series, specifically Twisted Metal: Black, the character is a no-holds-bar police officer. He is more brutal and unforgiving than the people he sets out to arrest. Compared to the new TV series, this seems to be pretty accurate so far. However, Raven, on the other hand, appears to be very different than the gothic teen we saw in Twisted Metal: Black. Rather than being the vengeful teen hunting her former bullies, she seems calmer and collected. Finally, Quiet is the deuteragonist of the new Twisted Metal Peacock show. However, the character is original to the series and does not come from the games.
Of course, we have also seen the introductions of some of the game’s classic vehicles. This includes Sweet Tooth, Kane’s iconic ice cream truck, and Roadkill, a classic vehicle driven by John Doe and many others. For minor characters, we also see Mike and Stu, Jamie and Carl Roberts from Twisted Metal 2, Amber Rose from Twisted Metal 3, Agent Shepard and Miranda Watts from Twisted Metal: Head-On, and Preacher from Twisted Metal: Black.
Although the new Twisted Metal Peacock series looks quite different from the games, the show is taking a more grounded approach to the series that may work better for a TV audience. Despite this, fans should still have fun finding all the references and characters from the classic games. Luckily, there are tons of iconic Twisted Metal regulars to spy. Hopefully, we can see more classic characters join as the series progresses.
