Twisted Metal Closes Out Sony Press Conference

Creator David Jaffe is back with many of the develoment team members from the original team with a brand new entry in the car combat series for PlayStation 3. The name? Just Twisted Metal.

Due for release in 2011, the game will feature 16-player online multiplayer and up to four-player splitscreen. Sony showed live gameplay of online multiplayer including for the first time ever flying vehicles like helicoptors. Other interesting tidbits include guided missiles and a sniper mechanic where your driver leans out of his or her car and targets enemies with a red laser. A nice picture-in-picture scope view shows the targeted enemy slump over in their seat after a well-placed headshot.

Car combat is fun in itself, but a creative new mode called Nuke could steal the show from straight deathmatch. Here series regulars like Sweet Tooth and Doll Face (from TM Black) command factions of minions dressed similarly to their leader. Minions must protect their leader while trying to capture the rival team’s boss. The leader isn’t totally defenseless, however. They’ll have a powerfull turret at their disposal. Once someone gets past this last line of defense, they’ll be able to tow the faction leader behind their car (the ragdoll animation on this is hilarious) to a control point. If their able to hold the leader in this zone long enough, they’ll be able to toss the body into what looks like a flaming trash compactor unlocks the ability to launch a guided missle. Players will steer this missle into an enormous statue fashioned after the rival faction leader. Three missle hits and the statue falls. But even if a missile is launched there’s a likely chance that it’ll be shot down by enemy choppers and turrets.

Twisted Metal is playable on the show floor so stay tuned for hands-on impressions.