Twisted Metal: Head-On
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| Twisted Metal: Head-On | |
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| Developer(s) | Incognito Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) | SCEA |
| Release date(s) | March 24, 2005 (NA) |
| Genre(s) | Vehicular combat |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Teen (T) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation Portable |
| Media | UMD |
| System requirements | 802.11b-compatible Wi-Fi (Internet play) |
Twisted Metal: Head-On is a video game developed by Incognito Entertainment and released by Sony on March 24, 2005. Head-On shares not only the distinction of being the sixth game released in the Twisted Metal series, but also one of the games to accompany the launch of the PlayStation Portable. It also is the first game in the series to ship fully online-enabled.
Head-On is considered a true sequel to Twisted Metal 2. This makes Twisted Metal: Head-On, for all intents and purposes, the "real" Twisted Metal 3 when following the Twisted Metal plot line.
Akin to other games in the series, Head-On revolves around the same theme of a man named Calypso holding a vehicular combat tournament called "Twisted Metal" with the promise of granting the winner whatever they ask for. There is a general "careful what you wish for" theme, as many of the contestants wind up with not-so-happy endings.
Amongst the use of regular ammunation, such as bullets, missiles, and landmines, vehicles and their operators also has their own special and unique weapon. For instance, the vehicle Twister can create twisters while Mr. Grimm can fling flaming, explosive skeleton heads at enemies.
In 2006, Twisted Metal: Head-On will be one of the first games in the PSP Greatest Hits line in the U.S.
Contents
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[edit] Characters and Vehicles
[edit] Roadkill
- Driver: Marcus Kane
- Age: 35 years
- Height: 5'11
- Weight: 255 pounds
- Handling: 5/10
- Armor: 4/10
- Special Weapon: 6/10
- Speed: 6/10
- Special Weapon name: Boomerang
[edit] Background
Marcus is haunted by recurring nightmares about competing in Twisted Metal tournaments which keep getting worse and worse. Marcus enters the Head-On tournament (which he believes is another nightmare) to put an end to his nightmares.
At the end of the tournament, Marcus approaches Calypso and pleads him to end his nightmares, believing this to be another one. Calypso informs him that some wishes can't be granted, because this tournament is real, but he grants the wish anyways, and Marcus wakes up.
[edit] Shadow
- Driver: Mortimer Scharf
- Age: Deceased
- Height: 5'3
- Weight: 115 pounds
- Handling: 5/10
- Armor: 4/10
- Special Weapon: 8/10
- Speed: 6/10
- Special Weapon name: Soul Shadow
[edit] Background
Before his death, Mortimer was a caretaker of wayward souls. One night, a group of intoxicated teens enter the cemetery that Mortimer is buried in. His headstone reads "Gone, But Not Forgotten", and they decide to see if that is true. They dig a hole at the grave and awaken Mortimer, who becomes very upset that he can't go back to rest. Mortimer enters the Head-On tournament hoping that Calypso can put him back to rest.
At the end of the tournament, Mortimer approaches Calypso and pleads to Calypso for eternal sleep. Calypso grants his wish by reading him a bedtime story.
However, as he closes the tomb, Calypso can be seen with a raven on his shoulder much like Mortimer. To add to that, Mortimer's hair and appearance greatly resembles that of Calypso which has led to some speculation that Mortimer is Calypso from another time.
[edit] Mr. Grimm
- Driver: Mr. Grimm
- Age: 26 years
- Height: 5'10
- Weight: 180 pounds
- Handling: 10/10
- Armor: 2/10
- Special Weapon: 10/10
- Speed: 8/10
- Special Weapon name: Screaming Soul
[edit] Background
Mr. Grimm is the Grim Reaper. One point in his career of leading souls into the next life, he devoured a soul instead, and formed an addiction, devouring souls rather than delivering them. Addicted to the point of insanity, Mr. Grimm enters the Head-On tournament to give away his title to another man.
At the end of the tournament, Mr. Grimm approaches Calypso and pleads him to give the title of Grim Reaper to someone else. Calypso grants his wish by giving Mr. Grimm's powers to a little girl, who becomes the new Grim Reaper. Mr. Grimm becomes human again, but the new Grim Reaper's target is him, and Mr. Grimm is hit by a bus.
[edit] Sweet Tooth
- Driver: Needles Kane
- Age: Unknown
- Height: 5'9
- Weight: 185 pounds
- Handling: 2/10
- Armor: 8/10
- Special Weapon: 6/10
- Speed: 2/10
- Special Weapon name: Napalm Cone
[edit] Background
Needles Kane is the mascot of Twisted Metal. He has competed in every Twisted Metal tournament since the beginning, but he has become tired of the same routine. Needles enters the Head-On tournament to take Calypso's place as the Twisted Metal leader.
At the end of the tournament, Needles Kane approaches Calypso and demands his place as the Twisted Metal leader. Calypso is reluctant to grant Sweet Tooth's wish, but has little choice in the matter. Calypso grants his wish by exchanging bodies with him. Needles, now in Calypso's body, demands that the "intruder" (Calypso in Needles' body) be executed.
[edit] Thumper
- Driver: Angel
- Age: 25 years
- Height: 5'7
- Weight: 120 pounds
- Handling: 5/10
- Armor: 4/10
- Special Weapon: 8/10
- Speed: 6/10
- Special Weapon name: Balls of Fire
[edit] Background
Growing up, Angel always wanted to compete with the big boys and their customized vehicles. Her brother and cousin built and customized incredible vehicles, and basked in all the fame and nororiety that came with it. Angel enters the Head-On tournament for a vehicle that puts them all to shame.
At the end of the tournament, Angel approaches Calypso and asks for a vehicle with a lot of bounce, thump, style, and something that will make the Earth shake. Calypso grants her wish. However, upon using the sound system, the resulting earthquake causes a large chunk of building to fall on Angel, killing her.
[edit] Spectre
- Driver: Chuckie Floop
- Age: 19 years
- Height: 6'2
- Weight: 195 pounds
- Handling: 10/10
- Armor: 2/10
- Special Weapon: 8/10
- Speed: 8/10
- Special Weapon name: Ghost Missile
[edit] Background
Chuckie Floop won Spectre as a giveaway prize for being the 7th caller on a popular radio station. The winner of the car gets to compete in the Twisted Metal tournament, and gets one wish by winning it. Chuckie Floop enters the Head-On tournament, unsure of what to wish for, and unknowing of what he's getting himself into.
At the end of the tournament, Chuckie Floop approaches Calypso and wishes for extreme wealth. Calypso grants the wish, but the money doesn't stop coming, and Chuckie suffocates under the large piles of money.
[edit] Twister
- Driver: Miranda Watts
- Age: 25 years
- Height: 5'2
- Weight: 100 pounds
- Handling: 10/10
- Armor: 2/10
- Special Weapon: 8/10
- Speed: 10/10
- Special Weapon name: Tornado Twist
[edit] Background
Miranda Watts is Amanda Watts' (of Twisted Metal II) twin sister. Amanda disappeared after winning Twisted Metal a few years ago, and Miranda has been searching for her ever since. Calypso offers Miranda a place in the Twisted Metal tournament in return for one wish. No stranger to the world of racing, Miranda agrees to enter the Head-On tournament to have her sister returned.
At the end of the tournament, Miranda approaches Calypso, who informs her that her sister is dead. Miranda asks Calypso to revive her. Calypso grants her wish by calling on Mr. Grimm, who retrieves Amanda's soul, which enters her body. Miranda runs towards the hole on the ground to get her sister out, but it is revealed that Amanda is now a zombie.
[edit] Outlaw
- Driver: Captain Jamie Roberts and Sergeant Carl Roberts
- Age: 27 years and 31 years
- Height: 5'6 and 5'8
- Weight: 135 pounds and 165 pounds
- Handling: 5/10
- Armor: 4/10
- Special Weapon: 6/10
- Speed: 8/10
- Special Weapon name: Tazer
[edit] Background
Carl and Jamie Roberts are respected police officers. Carl Roberts entered Twisted Metal and wished for a world free of Twisted Metal, but ended up floating in the depths of outer space. Jamie Roberts entered the next Twisted Metal and wished to be taken to her brother, but ended up in space along with her brother. Thankfully, due to the modifications in Outlaw 2, they were able to return to Earth and enter the next Twisted Metal tournament. Jamie enters the Head-On tournament to put an end to the tournament, while Carl enters to kill Calypso.
At the end of the tournament, Carl and Jamie Roberts approach Calypso. Carl plans on killing Calypso and aims his gun at him, but Jamie plans on claiming the wish and ending the tournament. The following argument causes Carl to become enraged, and he yells "I wish you would just shut up!". Calypso grants his wish by sealing Jamie's mouth.
[edit] Grasshopper
- Driver: Krista Sparks
- Age: Deceased
- Height: 5'1
- Weight: 105 pounds
- Handling: 10/10
- Armor: 2/10
- Special Weapon: 4/10
- Speed: 6/10
- Special Weapon name: Body Slam
[edit] Background
Krista Sparks is Calypso's deceased daughter. He and his entire family were killed in a car accident, but Calypso survived by stealing a demon's powers. Even with these powers, he can only summon his family's spirits temporarily. Krista enters the Head-On tournament to become alive again.
At the end of the tournament, Krista approaches Calypso and wishes that the car accident that killed her family never happened. Calypso grants her wish. Rather than killing her, the crash leaves Krista in the hospital in a coma.
[edit] Warthog
- Driver: Colonel Hall
- Age: 36 years
- Height: 6'4
- Weight: 255 pounds
- Handling: 2/10
- Armor: 8/10
- Special Weapon: 6/10
- Speed: 4/10
- Special Weapon name: Patriot Missiles
[edit] Background
Ever since his childhood, Colonel Hall wanted to be in the military. He exceeded in all forms of combat with his extraordinary tactical power. Colonel Hall was sent into the Head-On tournament by the Army to retrieve an extremely powerful weapon that'll wipe out all the evil-doers in the world.
At the end of the tournament, Colonel Hall approaches Calypso and wishes for a tool that'll wipe out the scum on the Earth - the South American drug cartels. Calypso grants his wish by giving him a futuristic weapon. Hall infiltrates a drug compound in Brazil to test the new weapon. He kills the criminals in the compound, thinking it'll free the children working there. But the children fight back, shooting Colonel Hall dead.
[edit] Axel
- Driver: Axel
- Age: 38 years
- Height: 6'3
- Weight: 220 pounds (280 counting the metallic arms)
- Handling: 5/10
- Armor: 6/10
- Special Weapon: 6/10
- Speed: 4/10
- Special Weapon name: Shock Wave
[edit] Background
10 years ago, Axel was forced into a large 2-wheeled contraption by his father. When he finally freed himself, he was permanently disfigured. After that, Axel met Doctor Zemu, who constructed cybernetic arms and feet that allowed him to ride the vehicle again. But in return, Axel would have to give Zemu his wish when he wins Twisted Metal.
At the end of the tournament, Axel approaches Calypso, who has Doctor Zemu at his side. Axel changes his mind about his agreement with the doctor, and decides to wish for eternal peace. But Zemu pulls out a remote control and imprisons him in the machine. Just as Axel starts to make his wish, Zemu sends Axel an electric shock through the remote, and Axel's wish comes out as "peace-AAAHHH". Calypso grants his wish by giving him pizza.
[edit] Mr. Slam
- Driver: Simon Whittlebone
- Age: 33 years
- Height: 5'9
- Weight: 200 pounds
- Handling: 2/10
- Armor: 8/10
- Special Weapon: 10/10
- Speed: 2/10
- Special Weapon name: Bucket Slam Shake
[edit] Background
Simon Whittlebone is the deceased owner of Whittlebone Tower, which he now haunts to keep anyone from tearing it down. By possessing his prized front loader, Simon enters the Head-On tournament to be reborn, and finish his tower.
At the end of the tournament, Simon approaches Calypso and asks to be reborn so that he can finish Whittlebone Tower. Calypso grants his wish, and Simon is currently an infant.
[edit] Crimson Fury
- Driver: Agent Shepherd
- Age: 34 years
- Height: 6'1
- Weight: 200 pounds
- Handling: 10/10
- Armor: 2/10
- Special Weapon: 8/10
- Speed: 8/10
- Special Weapon name: Reticle Pulse Blast
[edit] Background
Agent Shepherd is an agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation who enters the Head-On tournament to arrest Calypso.
At the end of the tournament, Agent Shepherd approaches Calypso and doesn't wish for anything. Instead, he arrests Calypso for his crimes. Calypso's bodyguard attempts to shoot Shepherd, but numerous FBI agents infiltrate Calypso's hideout and take Calypso into custody.
[edit] Hammerhead
- Driver: Catfish
- Age: 47
- Height: 6'1
- Weight: 175 pounds
- Handling: 2/10
- Armor: 6/10
- Special Weapon: 6/10
- Speed: 2/10
- Special Weapon name: Ram Attack
[edit] Background
Catfish prides himself as a mighty hunter. He enters Twisted Metal, as he sees it as another form of hunting, vehicular style. The head of every type of big game creature hangs in his trophy room. Catfish enters the Head-On tournament to hunt the most intelligent species of all: the Human.
Catfish challenges Calypso to a deathmatch. Catfish shoots who he thinks is Calypso but turns out to be a decoy. Calypso then snipes Catfish from the distance. Calypso mounts Catfish's head onto his wall.
[edit] Cousin Eddy
- Driver: Cousin Eddy
- Age: 29 years
- Height: 6'0
- Weight: 300 pounds
- Handling: 5/10
- Armor: 10/10
- Special Weapon: 10/10
- Speed: 8/10
- Special Weapon name: Ram
[edit] Background
Cousin Eddy is a mentally retarded man born in The Ozarks. His main interests include smashing stuff and collecting shiny objects. When he collected all of the shiny stuff in his town, he went off to find more. That's when he discovered the Twisted Metal tournament. Deciding that he's found paradise, he forced a bunch of drifters into transforming his RV into a killing machine. And with that, he blasted his way right into Twisted Metal.
At the end of the tournament, Cousin Eddy approaches Calypso. Since Cousin Eddy didn't have an invitation to Twisted Metal, Calypso refuses to grant his wish. Enraged, Cousin Eddy grabs Calypso by the neck. Frightened by his brute strength, Calypso grants his wish by transforming his RV into a new shiny one.
[edit] ATV
- Driver: Gene Ruttish
- Age: 22 years
- Height: 5'9
- Weight: 185 pounds
- Handling: 10/10
- Armor: 1/10
- Special Weapon: 4/10
- Speed: 8/10
- Speial Weapon name: Unnamed
[edit] Background
Gene Ruttish has considered himself God's gift to women. He has attempted one ATV stunt after another to try and get their attention. He sees Twisted Metal as a new opportunity to show off his skills and wow the women. Gene enters the Head-On tournament to become the most desired man on the planet.
At the end of the tournament, Gene approaches Calypso and says he wants to be the most desired man on the planet. Calypso grants his wish, and Gene is stampeded by thousands upon thousands of women.
[edit] Dark Tooth
- Driver: Marcus Kane and Needles Kane
- Age: 35 years and Unknown
- Height: 5'11' and 5'9
- Weight: 255 pounds and 185 pounds
- Handling: 10/10
- Armor: 10/10
- Special Weapon: 10/10
- Speed: 10/10
- Special Weapon name: Unnamed
[edit] Background
Marcus Kane has succumbed to his nightmares and became one with Needles Kane. With Marcus' rational mind and Needles' fevered insanity, they proceed to annihilate everything in their path.
At the end of the tournament, Dark Tooth arrives in an open field, where they see Tower Tooth. Upon touching it, Marcus and Needles separate. They climb into the vehicle and drive away.
[edit] Tower Tooth
- Driver: Marcus Kane and Needles Kane
- Age: 35 years and Unknown
- Height: 5'11' and 5'9
- Weight: 255 pounds and 185 pounds
- Handling: 10/10
- Armor: 10/10
- Special Weapon: 10/10
- Speed: 10/10
- Special Weapon name: Unnamed
[edit] Background
Marcus Kane and Needles Kane become separated . With Marcus' rational mind and Needles' fevered insanity, they proceed to annihilate everything in their path.
[edit] Environments
The game has multiple environments for players to play in, including:
- Big Blue Stadium: A baseball stadium.
- Los Angeles
- Paris
- Egypt
- Roman Ruins: Including the great Colosseum.
- Russia: The surroundings include the Kremlin and infamous Red Square.
- Greece
- Monaco: The environment focuses on the famed race track in Monte Carlo.
- Tokyo
- Tokyo Streets (is home to the two bosses: Dark Tooth and Tower Tooth)
- Tokyo Rooftops
Head-On also includes minigames that players can access via teleporters, which range in location from the Eiffel Tower to the Great Pyramids. These are small games where users must collect power ups while circumventing obstacles that require a variety of tactics, including jumping over chasms and destroying helicopters using napalm bombs. The catch is that the games are timed, forcing the user to think on their feet, as it were, while maintaining a balance of caution and risk. Users reaching the end of the mini-game prior to the timer's ending keep all their powerups.
