The mass demolition of Twisted Metal

Twisted Metal takes place in a sort of alternate America, where a ruthless billionaire named Calypso stages massive demolition derbies for his own amusement. The star attraction is Sweet Tooth, a flabby serial killer who wears a flaming clown mask. He drives a souped-up ice-cream truck, but instead of Bomb Pops, it's stocked with actual explosives, and it can transform into a killer robot.

The other vehicles in Twisted Metal range from zippy but vulnerable hot rods to sluggish but heavily armored behemoths. There's a motorcycle equipped with a grenade launcher, a hearse that shoots coffins and a station wagon strapped to tank treads. For the first time in the series, you can take flight, picking off the competition from the turret of a helicopter.

Online, you can battle up to 15 other drivers. The multiplayer modes include the usual death match and "last man standing" events. The newest addition is Nuke, a more sadistic take on Capture the Flag. Nothing terribly original here, but a good way to blow off steam.

The single-player campaign is less satisfying. It tells the stories of three characters -- Sweet Tooth, death-masked motorcyclist Mr. Grimm and mutilated ex-model Dollface -- as they fight through a series of challenges.

The stories won't surprise anyone who's ever seen "Tales From the Crypt," and they're not worth the aggravation of forcing yourself through Calypso's events.

TWISTED METAL

RATING M for Mature

PLOT Start your engines

DETAILS PlayStation 3, $60

BOTTOM LINE Stuck in gridlock