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Twisted Metal was a competitor robot that fought in both series of Dutch Robot Wars. The original robot won its heat to reach the Grand Final in Dutch Series 1, before losing its melee to Slicer and Lizzard. In Dutch Series 2, Twisted Metal EVO reached the Heat Final, but lost to Krab-Bot there on a jury's decision.

Versions of Twisted Metal[]

Twisted Metal[]

Twistedmetal

Twisted Metal in Dutch Series 1

Twisted Metal was an invertible, box-shaped robot with a powerful spinning disc at the front. It featured flashing lights and a truck horn. Twisted Metal's wheels were very tall to allow invertibility, and its disc proved capable of causing good damage, although its own armour was quite thin.

"This robot competed in the first Robot Wars - The Dutch Battles held in England. We have reached the finals with this one. This robot however does not exist anymore."
— The Twisted Metal website on retiring the original machine[1]

Twisted Metal EVO[]

"Competed in the second Dutch Battles and is our present competition robot. We have reached the episode final with this one. EVO is under constant evolution, so it can be completely different next time you see him!"
— The team's website on Twisted Metal EVO in 2003[2]
TwistedmetalevoDRW

Twisted Metal EVO in the arena

Twisted Metal EVO was rebuilt to feature a more compact design, featuring smaller wheels, and a more rounded bodyshape, offering more stability against wedges. This also allowed its armour to be thicker in places, although its disc was reused from the previous version.

The Team[]

Team Twisted Metal dressed like secret agents, wearing sunglasses, including a team member who specifically avoided speaking on the show to add an edge of seriousness. The team captain was Willem Kiers, who was consistently joined by Harjo Everts in both series. The third teammate in Series 1 was Chris Mennenga, though he would later go on to build Trazmaniac for Dutch Series 2, and his space on Team Twisted Metal was filled by Johannes Scholtens.

Robot History[]

Dutch Series 1[]

In its first battle, Twisted Metal faced Pyramid of Chaos.

POCimmobile

Twisted Metal charges at the immobile Pyramid of Chaos

Twisted Metal vs Pyramid of Chaos

Twisted Metal attacks Pyramid of Chaos

Twisted Metal got its disc up to speed before activate was called, and both robots charged at each other, but Twisted Metal's disc failed to do any damage to Pyramid of Chaos. Twisted Metal reversed, getting its disc up to speed, then drove around and tried to turn into the side of Pyramid of Chaos. After missing once, Twisted Metal hit the side of Pyramid of Chaos, causing a small cut. Pyramid of Chaos tried to reverse away, but Twisted Metal kept chasing after it, hitting the side. As Twisted Metal backed off to get its disc back up to speed, Pyramid of Chaos stopped moving.

POCcountedout

Refbot counts out Pyramid of Chaos

POCpickedupbySirK

Sir Killalot picks up Pyramid of Chaos

Twisted Metal slammed into the side, but only caused a small cut. Twisted Metal tried again a couple of times, but the disc merely bounced off the sloping sides. As Refbot began to count Pyramid of Chaos out, Twisted Metal hit one of the corners of the armour, tearing a hole in it. Refbot finished its count, and Sir Killalot came over, skewering Pyramid of Chaos with his lance and carrying it to the floor flipper, where Pyramid of Chaos was flipped over. Sgt. Bash torched it, and Twisted Metal was through to Round 2.

Bridget Maasland: "Where would you like to see it end up? In the pit? With a nice flip?"
Team Twisted Metal: "Spread across the arena would be fun, I think."
Bridget Maasland: "Just scrap pieces scattered around everywhere?"
Team Twisted Metal: "Yes. Then they can hand out some souvenirs afterwards!"
— Pre-battle interview with Bridget Maasland before Round 2 (translated from Dutch)

There in Round 2, Twisted Metal faced Alien Destructor.

TwistedMetalhitsAlienDestructor

Twisted Metal hits the side of Alien Destructor

TwistedMetalhitsAlienDestructoragain

Twisted Metal rips pieces off the side of Alien Destructor

Twisted Metal started off by charging at Alien Destructor, but Alien Destructor drove to avoid the disc and pushed its opponent back. Both robots reversed, and charged back at each other, with Twisted Metal's disc ripping off some pieces of Alien Destructor's armour. Alien Destructor drove away, but drove into Sir Killalot's corner patrol zone. Alien Destructor quickly escaped the corner patrol zone, and drove back at Twisted Metal, which was waiting for it by the flame pit. Alien Destructor drove onto the flame pit, then reversed away. Alien Destructor turned and reversed into Twisted Metal, which ripped off some pieces from the tail. Alien Destructor drove into the centre of the arena, and Twisted Metal drove into it, but the disc did no damage. Alien Destructor drove forwards, straight into Sir Killalot's claw, but Alien Destructor reversed away before Sir Killalot could grab it. Alien Destructor reversed down to the bottom of the arena, then drove back at Twisted Metal, reversing into it and trying to push it with its tail, but could not move its opponent, so drove away for another charge.

AlienDestructorgetsunderTwistedMetal

Alien Destructor gets under Twisted Metal

TwistedMetalstuckonAlienDestructor

Twisted Metal becomes stuck on Alien Destructor

Alien Destructor tried again, and this time it managed to get under Twisted Metal. Alien Destructor tried to push Twisted Metal backwards, but Twisted Metal slipped off the top. Alien Destructor tried driving at the side of Twisted Metal, but Twisted Metal turned, and Alien Destructor drove forwards to avoid the flywheel. After driving to the edge of an empty CPZ, Alien Destructor reversed, but reversed straight into Twisted Metal's flywheel, which ripped off many chips of Alien Destructor's armour. As Alien Destructor reversed, it drove into Shunt, which for some reason had left his CPZ. Shunt reversed back to his CPZ, and Alien Destructor drove away from Twisted Metal, but Twisted Metal drove after it, hitting the tail. Alien Destructor reversed against Twisted Metal, but Twisted Metal turned away. Twisted Metal turned back and hit Alien Destuctor again, but the disc became stuck on top of Alien Destructor.

SirKripsoffAlienDestructorstail

Sir Killalot rips off Alien Destructor's tail

Alien Destructor vs Twisted Metal

Twisted Metal nearly catches out Alien Destructor over the pit

The two robots struggled to move away, and Sir Killalot came out of his CPZ to help them. The House Robot grabbed Alien Destrctor by the tail, lifting it up. This allowed Twisted Metal to get free, and the tail was ripped of Alien Destructor. In the closing seconds, Alien Destructor was lying on the pit, and Twisted Metal drove into the pit released button, ripping off the front of it with its flywheel, but Alien Destructor was able to move off the pit just as it began to descend, driving into Shunt, who had left his CPZ again. Time ran out, and the battle went to a jury's decision.

"Two robots fought to the death. The judges are struggling. It's not a unanimous vote. It's two against one. [looks at both teams] For Twisted Metal!"
— Rob Kamphues announces the Jury's verdict (Mech+ subtitles)

The resulting Jury's decision was in fact a split decision - but two of the three voters ruled in favour of Twisted Metal, allowing it to move on to the Heat Final. There, Twisted Metal met Pullverizer.

Bridget Maasland: "Are you a little scared of Pullverizer?"
Team Twisted Metal: "Well yeah, it’s got two rotating disks, they’ll hit and they’ll hit hard."
— Pre-Heat Final interview (translated from Dutch; it is believed that the 'two rotating disks' may have been referring to the two teeth of PullverizeR's spinner)
SpinnersCollide

Sparks fly as the two spinners collide

TwistedhitsPull

Twisted Metal hits PullverizeR

Pullverizer did not move as Twisted Metal approached, and Twisted Metal charged across the arena. As it got close however, it turned, as if aiming for one of Pullverizer's wheels. In doing so, it exposed its side, allowing Pullverizer to hit the side. This was only a glancing blow, and Pullverizer turned. Twisted Metal hit one of Pullverizer's wheels, and Pullverizer turned back. The two spinning weapons collided, causing sparks to fly. Twisted Metal reversed, but Pullverizer was merely moving back and forth on one wheel. Twisted Metal's blow to the wheel had caused the drive chain to fall off. Twisted Metal slammed into the front of Pullverizer, knocking it back. Pullverizer continued moving back and forth on just one wheel, and Twisted Metal hit the side. With Pullverizer unable to escape, Twisted Metal turned around and landed another blow, and after turning around, landed another. Twisted Metal hit Pullverizer again, sending it spinning into an angle grinder.

"With only one wheel moving we were as much as immoblised {sic}. However they, as later told, did not realize that at that time and thought we were waiting for them to make the moves. With our disc still spinning they repeatedly attacked our weapon. Sparks flew and the sound of the two disc hitting each other was really frightening, but also spectaculair. {sic}"
— Mischa de Graaf on fighting Twisted Metal[3]
Pullverizer vs Twisted Metal

Pullverizer, minus a wheel and in the process of being counted out

PullFloorFlipper

Sir Killalot places PullverizeR on the floor flipper

Twisted Metal tried to attack again, but drove into Pullverizer's flywheel. However, by this time, Pullverizer had stopped moving completely. Sir Killalot came out of his CPZ, grabbed it with his claw and dragged it away from the wall, pushing it towards the centre of the arena. Dead Metal proceeded to grab Pullverizer and Twisted Metal slammed into its right-hand wheel, ripping it clean off. Pullverizer was counted out by Refbot, then Sir Killalot picked it up and spun it around. After throwing it into Twisted Metal, Sir Killalot placed it onto the Floor Flipper. It was thrown across the arena, and Twisted Metal was through to the Grand Final.

Rob Kamphues: "[PullverizeR]'s hard, huh? Hard metal."
Willem Kiers: "Us too. But we're also damaged."
Rob Kamphues: "Yeah."
Willem Kiers: "It didn't go so well."
Rob Kamphues: "You couldn't get it into the pit. You needed the House Robots."
Willem Kiers: "We need the House Robots for that. We can't push like that."
Rob Kamphues: "A bit more steering practice."
Willem Kiers: "A couple of rounds in the parking lot."
— Post-match interview as Twisted Metal moves on to the Grand Final (Mech+ subtitles)
GFEl2

Twisted Metal, about to be pitted

In the Grand Final, Twisted Metal had a good start, tearing off some of Lizzard's tail armour. However, its movement was somewhat jerky, and it could do little when Lizzard retaliated with its tail. Slicer upended it with its drum, immobilising Twisted Metal. After it was counted out, the House Robots put it on the Floor Flipper. Sir Killalot tore off one of its sides and then disposed of it in the Pit.

Dutch Series 2[]

Growler Twisted Metal Evo Slamtilt

Twisted Metal EVO is put under pressure inside the CPZ

Slamtilt vs Twisted Metal Evo

Slamtilt loses a wheel

Twisted Metal returned to Dutch Robot Wars with a lower, flatter body, and a new name; Twisted Metal EVO. In the first round, it went up against newcomer Slamtilt, an axlebot. Twisted Metal EVO got its spinning disc up to speed as Slamtilt tried to get its axe into play. Twisted Metal EVO whacked one of the exposed wheels of Slamtilt, buckling it, but not immobilising the robot. Twisted Metal EVO chased Slamtilt into a CPZ, giving Growler the opportunity to attack. After both machines escaped, Twisted Metal EVO turned and hit Slamtilt again, knocking a wheel off. The Refbot counted out the axlebot, which then took severe damage from the House Robots and Drop-Zone.

Twisted Metal Evo Flepser

Twisted Metal EVO skirts dangerously over the lip of the Pit

Twisted Metal Evo Flepser 1

Twisted Metal EVO slashes through the front of Flepser

In the Heat Semi-Final, Twisted Metal Evo went up against another newcomer Flepser, a wedge shaped robot. Twisted Metal's first attack on Flepser cut through its flipper. Twisted Metal EVO activated the pit and almost drove straight down, but escaped and punctured one of Flepser's tyres, leaving it spinning around in circles. A merciless Twisted Metal EVO closed in and ripped the front armour of Flepser to shreds before nudging it into the vertical flywheel of Matilda, who flipped Flepser onto its side where, incredibly, it was still moving, under a hail of debris. The next attack by Twisted Metal EVO almost made it bounce straight into the Pit of Oblivion. Flepser was systematically ripped apart by attacks from the House Robots, losing both wheels, and Twisted Metal EVO was through to the Heat Final against Krab-Bot.

GrabbingTwistedMetal

Krab-Bot grabs hold of Twisted Metal EVO

Twisted Metal Evo vs Krab Bot

Twisted Metal EVO takes damage from Matilda

FedToSirK

Krab-Bot holds Twisted Metal EVO in the CPZ as Sir Killalot comes in

Twisted Metal came onto the attack, hitting one of Krab-Bot's claws, but failed to cause any damage. Krab-Bot grabbed the static front disc of its opponent and slammed Twisted Metal EVO into the arena side wall and into a CPZ. Here, Sir Killalot took over from Krab-Bot and lifted the former grand finalists into the air before letting go. Twisted Metal EVO simply couldn't get its spinner to work like in the first two rounds, and it spun into Matilda's CPZ where the flywheel flayed a piece of armour on the front of the machine. Krab-Bot repeated its tactic of pushing Twisted Metal EVO into the corner patrol zone and this time Killalot spun Twisted Metal around and threw it. Twisted Metal lasted the full five minutes but was eliminated on the judges' decision.

Results[]

TWISTED METAL - RESULTS
Series 1
Dutch Championship
Grand Final, Round 1
Heat B, Round 1 vs. Pyramid of Chaos Won
Heat B, Semi-Final vs. Alien Destructor Won
Heat B, Final vs. Pullverizer Won
Grand Final, Round 1 vs. Lizzard, Slicer Eliminated
TWISTED METAL EVO - RESULTS
Series 2
Dutch Championship
Heat Final
Heat C, Round 1 vs. Slamtilt Won
Heat C, Semi-Final vs. Flepser Won
Heat C, Final vs. Krab-Bot Lost

Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins: 5
  • Losses: 2

Series Record[]

Dutch Series Twisted Metal Series Record
Series 1 Grand Final, Round 1
Series 2 Heat Final

NOTE: Dutch Series 1 team member Chris Mennenga would later compete in Dutch Series 2 with his own robot, Trazmaniac.

Gallery[]

Outside Robot Wars[]

Twisted Metal

Twisted Metal at the Dutch Robot Games in 2001

Between Dutch Series 1 and 2, Twisted Metal made an appearance at the Dutch Robot Games in 2001, but could not enter the main competition due to spinning weapons being prohibited at the live event[4]. Despite this, it still fought in two exhibition matches without using its disc, with a win against Infinity and a loss to Arena Killer.

Twisted Metal Evo 2003 Flipper

Twisted Metal EVO with a flipper

Twisted Metal EVO briefly competed on the live circuit in 2003, sporting a rear-hinged flipper at the Dutch Robot Games. It lost its only competition fight to the eventual champion Tough as Nails. It also fought in a rumble against No Fear and PulverizeR, with PulverizeR winning the battle and avenging its loss in Dutch Series 1[5].

Twistedmidget

Twisted Midget with its team

Twisted Midget Leeuwarden 2002 arena

Twisted Midget at a live event in 2002

The team created an antweight version of Twisted Metal named Twisted Midget, weighing exactly 150g. It competed at the inaugural Dutch Ant Battles and reached the finals. It fought against Angelfire, Smok, Antcrusher, War Ant and PulverizeR.

Team Twisted Metal also had plans to create another heavyweight robot named W84NXQS (pronounced Wait For an Excuse), to compete alongside Twisted Metal EVO[6]. It is unknown if the machine was ever completed. The team's website also alluded to a 'secret project' named Inzayne, but did not specify what this project involved.

Trivia[]

  • In the space of two battles during Series 1, Twisted Metal fought three robots who would go on to win or come second in both Series of Dutch Robot Wars.

References[]

External Links[]

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