Twisted Metal 2 surpasses its predecessor with iconic world arenas, more characters and refined vehicular combat gameplay. Levels in Paris, Los Angeles, Moscow and Antarctica. Sweet Tooth and rivals in spectacular destruction. The finest series entry on PS1.
Your verdict
Category
Racing2 players12+
Split screen
Description
Japanese SingleTrac variant of Twisted Metal 2, released under the Twisted Metal EX World Tour title. Created by SingleTrac and Sony Computer Entertainment, released in 1997 in Japan under the Twisted Metal EX World Tour title. Over eight expanded international 3D arenas including Paris, Moscow, New York and Hong Kong, over twelve armed vehicles with expanded roster, tournament mode with special attacks, split-screen two-player versus mode and electronic rock soundtrack. Japanese edition under the Twisted Metal EX World Tour title.
Twisted Metal EX - World Tour review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Devastated urban arenas, flamboyant explosions and macabre carnival imagery: the vehicular chaos takes on a jubilant air. The destructible settings and deranged vehicles overflow with personality. This visual extravagance, dark and unhinged, gives the game an immediately recognisable identity.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Roaming a worldwide arena while unleashing missiles and special attacks on vehicle-bound opponents sets up a motorized brawl where each kill calls for the next. Unlocking the characters and uncovering the secrets in the environments keeps reviving your curiosity. The driving is stiff and messy, but the gleeful chaos and the two-player mode keep a formidable hold.
The Japanese version of the Twisted Metal vehicular combat, under the EX World Tour title, markedly rarer than the Western editions in a market lukewarm to this American genre. This Japanese edition appeals to collectors of cross-region releases of a cult car-combat line. Its desirability rests on this limited local run, noticeably harder to find than the PAL and American versions.
Better with friends
A peak of the motorized arena, more generous in weapons, interactive settings and open arenas ripe for two-player ambushes. The competition blends driving, ammo management and showstoppers, in a direct rivalry where chaos stays king. Spectacular and accessible, it turns each duel into an unpredictable battle and triggers fits of laughter at the explosions and last-second reversals.
Is Twisted Metal EX - World Tour still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 1996 on PS1, SingleTrac's project offers a world tour car combat with hammy characters. The weapon system, the vehicle selection and the three dimensional arenas install a real identity. The individual cinematic endings, the grinding humour and the industrial metal music keep a wild charm. In some European markets the title sells as Twisted Metal World Tour, and in Japan as Twisted Metal EX. The 3D modelling has aged. Recommended today for car combat devotees and for PS1 collectors curious about a defining studio peak on Sony's first home console hardware globally.
