Twisted Metal: Small Brawl

Twisted Metal: Small Brawl

Overview & History

Released in 2001 by 989 Studios and developed by Incognito Entertainment, Twisted Metal: Small Brawl took Sony's flagship vehicular combat franchise and brilliantly shrunk the stakes down to a child's bedroom. Moving away from the gritty, post-apocalyptic realism of previous PlayStation iterations, this arcade spin-off reimagines classic drivers like Sweet Tooth, Axel, and Calypso as remote-controlled (RC) toy cars battling across suburban environments. Players tear through breakfast tables, backyards, miniature golf courses, and science fairs. The storyline follows children who have built their own deadly RC vehicles to compete in Calypso’s tournament, where the grand prize is the ultimate toy. While it retained the dark humor and chaotic demolition derby action of the main series, the whimsical aesthetic gave the franchise a uniquely nostalgic, pint-sized charm that stands out in the arcade racing genre.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard racing games, Small Brawl is entirely focused on vehicular warfare in enclosed arena maps. Players select an RC vehicle, each boasting distinct stats for top speed, armor, handling, and turbo recharge rates. Combat revolves around collecting a wide arsenal of scattered weaponry—including homing missiles, napalm, power mines, and the devastating "freeze blast." Each character also possesses a signature special weapon executed via specific button combinations, such as Sweet Tooth launching an explosive ice cream cone or Outlaw firing a taser wire. The arenas are heavily interactive, featuring destructible household objects, multi-tiered ramps, and secret shortcuts. Health rechargers and shield power-ups are strategically placed across every map, forcing high-stakes cat-and-mouse chases. The game features both a robust single-player tournament mode and a chaotic split-screen multiplayer mode.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause