Twisted Metal: Black Online

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: SCEA
  • Release Date: Aug 27, 2002
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18
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  1. Game Over Online
    95
    Considering that the original was a perfect balance of maneuverability and speed, this really turns TMB Online into an awesome title.
  2. Gaming Maxx
    93
    A fantastic multiplayer.
  3. Gamers' Temple
    92
    A natural for online play.
  5. GameZone
    90
    Well worth the price of the Network Adaptor.
  6. Media and Games Online Network
    90
    Broadband users are the ones that will truly benefit from the experience though, as you can have up to 8 players go head to head in death-match mayhem with virtually no lag most of the time. This is about as fun as you will get with an online game on a console for the time being.
  7. Game Informer
    88
    There is nothing new here, but for the price, you really can't beat the fun. [Sept 2002, p.81]
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  8. GameSpot
    82
    Doesn't include any of the storyline or single-player progression from the original game, but it does include the same terrific gameplay and a few new game modes built for online multiplayer action.
  9. TotalPlayStation
    80
    What are you waiting for, grab yourself a stamp, a pen (and if you don’t have one, a network adaptor) and get to mailing!
  10. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    80
    The game is free and it's a load of fun. [Oct 2002, p. 150]
    All this publication's reviews
  11. GamePro
    80
    After a few plays, though, the game becomes tiresome—mostly due to repetitive gameplay and lack of balance.
  12. Armchair Empire
    80
    Of course, broadband users get the best deal as all the modes benefit from more players. TMB was always about slightly controlled chaos, and it is hard to obtain that vibe with only one other user in the level.
  13. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    77
    It's fast, fun, and most importantly, free. [Oct 2002, p.192]
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  14. Gaming Age
    75
    It's not exactly a killer online app, but it's free, it's easily to play, it's fun, and it runs pretty much flawlessly.
  15. Games Radar
    74
    But you want brutal, in-your-face intensity from on-line gaming and that's exactly what Twisted Metal is all about.
  16. GameSpy
    74
    A title with solid gameplay that's perfectly suited for the online world.
  17. All Game Guide
    70
    An all-around solid effort that does exactly what it aims to do: offer players a preview of what Sony’s online service is capable of using one of the company’s best-selling and most recognizable PS2 games.
  18. Gamestyle
    50
    A fun release, but nothing more than a brief distraction or quick session with little longer-term appeal.
  19. Eurogamer
    40
    If this came free with the PS2 Network Adapter - as it does in the US - we might be more inclined to give it the benefit of the doubt.

Awards & Rankings

55
#55 Best PS2 Game of 2002
90
#90 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2002

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 13
  3. Negative: 3 out of 13
  1. VLG
    Aug 22, 2023
    2
    I got it as a free gift with the PS2 modem. Played it for like an hour, hated it, and never thought about it again. Just unplayable.
  2. ShiruOtakuno
    Oct 29, 2020
    9
    A wonderful addition to my favorite Playstation game of all time. Twisted Metal Black is a demented masterpiece, and Twisted Metal Black:A wonderful addition to my favorite Playstation game of all time. Twisted Metal Black is a demented masterpiece, and Twisted Metal Black: Online is a wonderful extension to this amazing experience and fixes some bugs and balance issues between the two discs. I only have two big complaints, which is why I rated the original game a 10 and this game a 9.

    First, matchmaking options are extremely limited. There is no capture the flag, king of the hill, death race, tag team, or even teams. There is only last man standing, damage score, and relics. This can often lead to repetitive battles, possibly making the game stale over time to those that play it. Secondly, communication is almost nonexistent. Without a Discord server (which didn't exist at the time), chatting is very hard to do unless you have a LAN party going in real life. The competitive metagame was very underdeveloped at the time, which can often lead to cheap deaths and unbalanced beatdowns. There are also occasional moments where it looks like your weapon hit, but it doesn't, and even moments of instances where the cars appear to teleport around the stage, even if they really don't.

    Still, playing Online is twice as fun as the original game, which is a real shame because the official servers were shut down five years after TMB: Online was released. Even so, I regularly play with a Discord group dedicated to this game that has its own fanmade server up and running. If you wish to see me play with my friends play this game and have fun together, please go check out Kil Rahi, Vilikis Silvermoon, and Spag on Youtube. I'll be there.
    >:)    … Full Review »
  3. FrankL.
    Oct 21, 2004
    10
    I think this game is 11/10 because its grafics i can't wait for the next one of this game ill buy it even if it costs $100 for it I think this game is 11/10 because its grafics i can't wait for the next one of this game ill buy it even if it costs $100 for it without its box. Bye from Frank Lampard.… Full Review »
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