Twisted Metal: Head-On for the PSP was a great launch title that showed off exactly what the powerful little handheld was capable of. The PlayStation 2 port is certainly less impressive in the grand scheme of amazing accomplishments on the system, but you can't beat the sheer amount of explosive gameplay and content packed into it. After Twisted Metal: Black and Black Online, it was a let down that one of the biggest original PlayStation franchises never returned for more action. I suppose Extra Twisted Edition is their belated apology.

Twisted Metal: Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition is really 2 games: Twisted Metal: Head-On and Twisted Metal: Lost. As mentioned earlier, Head-On is a slightly expanded and visually enhanced port of the PSP game. The Story, Challenge and Endurance Modes are all in tact and they've even thrown in a brand new Transylvania Castle level. The game (thanks in part to the extra shoulder buttons and better analog stick on the DualShock) plays even better than it did on the PSP. The 60fps framerate of course doesn't hurt. Head-On was right up there with the best in the Twisted Metal series and the controls feel just right. The PS2 version does appear somewhat faster (and more furious) though it may a result of the smoother framerate. Most of the textures and a good portion of the particle effects are improved as promised. The geometry is still around PSP level and when blown up to 640x480, you can pick out the simple objects a little easier. Strangely enough, unlike the PSP version which was presented in 16:9 widescreen format, the PS2 version is stuck at 4:3 with no widescreen option at all. The game supports 2 player split screen as with most Twisted Metal titles and unfortunately the PSP's online multiplayer functionality is missing. The PlayStation 2 is more than capable of handling the online play of course, and I'd imagine it's probably just not a feature they budgeted for in a $20 re-release.

Twisted Metal: Lost is essentially bits and pieces of what was supposed to be Twisted Metal: Black 2. Like Black, it's a much darker, more sinister take on the already dark series. All of the vehicles, weapons and characters from Black have returned in addition to a couple of new ones, and there is a total of 4 never before-seen environments to play through. Like Head-On, Lost has your typical Story, Challenge and Endurance Modes. Overall, Twisted Metal: Lost looks more like a PS2 game than Twisted Metal: Head-On does, and the increased detail in the vehicles and environments are more apparent. In terms of environments, Lost picks up where Black left off and the new stages fit right in with the style and construction as the original batch. The game actually looks really nice upscaled and smoothed via the PlayStation 3's backwards compatibility (assuming your model supports BC).

Both titles have suitably rocking soundtracks for blowing things up. And speaking of soundtracks, the game comes with a free download code for a digital copy of "The Twisted Metal Symphony" from the official site.

As for extras, both Head-On and Lost have their own fair share of unlockables and secrets. The main menu also leads to a separate section of bonus content with a number of noteworthy documentary and making-of types of features. In "Sweet Tour", you get to run around as Sweet Tooth (outside of the Ice Cream truck) to unlock factoids about the series. There is also a 30 minute "Twisted Metal: The Dark Past" making-of video, along with "Twisted Metal: The Lost Ending Movies" that shows off endings which were apparently deemed too sexist and violent back in the day of the original game's release. Extra Twisted Edition also includes a copy of a concept art book. The bonus features alone should be a good enough reason for true fans of the series to grab a copy.

For under $20 you can't really go wrong with Twisted Metal: Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition, particularly if taking into account the imminent lack of quality future PS2 titles. The budget price actually makes it a bit difficult to score (I'm a sucker for a good deal), and honestly you do get a lot of game and extras even if some of it is recycled. So get out there and twist some metal and keep your fingers crossed for some next-generation TM action.