Smash TV

Smash TV is making the rounds on all the home game systems. All the fast-moving graphics and action of the arcade classic have been faithfully reproduced in the Game Gear version. However, due to hardware limitations, Game Gear Smash TV doesn't play as well as its SNES and Genesis counterparts. Is this Smash TV worthy of prime time coverage? Stay tuned for full details!

Mo' Money! Mo' Action! Mo' Violence!

It's 1999 and the top form of entertainment is Smash TV - a combination game show and life-or-death slugfest. This one-player, side-scrolling game pits you as a contestant against three levels of unending waves of humanoid, mechanized, and inhuman opponents. Each level consists of a series of interconnected studio soundstages packed with obstacles, enemies, power-ups, and a bevy of cash and prizes. Be forewarned, the cheapskate sponsors are extremely reluctant to award your winnings. In order to cash in, you must first defeat three massive superstar opponents: Mutoid Man, Scarface, and Cobra Head. One waits at the end of each level.

Your basic weapon is a high-powered machine gun with unlimited ammo. Special weapons and upgrades sporadically pop up on the soundstages, such as rapid-fire grenade launchers, screenclearing bombs, protective orbs, multidirectional photon guns, missile launchers, force field rings, defensive discs, speed boosts, and 1-ups. Grab 'em and use 'em since they only appear for a few moments and they don't last much longer.

So Many Foes, So Little Firepower

The Smash TV arcade version's primary feature is battling the nonstop action with two independent, multi-directional, shoot-and-move joysticks. The SNES and the Genesis adequately duplicate these controls. The Game Gear's two lone buttons can't. You've got three different controls: fire in the same direction as you're moving, fire in the opposite direction, and lock your fire in one direction, Although very responsive, these controls are not as effective against the fast-paced action as those of the 16-bit versions.

Even on the small creen, the graphics are nicely rendered and well animated. They capture the intensity and the mayhem that is Smash TV The hip Smash TV soundtrack and an earful of digitized explosions, grunts, and groans flesh out the total gaming experience.

A Nielsen Winner

Despite the limited controls, Game Gear Smash TV is just as challenging as its predecessors. Lightning reflexes and razor sharp endurance are a must if you want to become the grand champion! However, if you expect game play on the Game Gear's Smash TV to match that of the arcade, the SNES, or the Genesis versions, you'll be frustrated. Regardless, this is a solid, entertaining, and challenging cart. Tune into Smash TV, then tune out!

Smash TV is an arcade game released in 1990 and later on published for various platforms. The game was very similar with Eugene Jarvis’ Robotron: 2084, an earlier game of the same developer. The player is controlled with a dual-joystick control and a single of screen areas. The main theme of the game involves a player competing in a game show, set in the future year of 1999.

Players have to move from one room to another within the arena and shoot down hordes of enemies as they advance from all sides. In the same time, they have to collect weapons, power-up items and bonus prizes until the final fight. The showdown will be against the show’s hosts, where the player finally gets his prizes, the promised life and freedom.

The game features an announcer as well, voiced by Paul Heitsch, the sound designer of the game. Jon Hey created the game’s script.

Later on the game was ported to many consoles, including the Nintendo Entertainment System, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the Sega Game Gear, Sega Master System and Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. On the last platform and the SNES the game was called Super Smash TV.

On the home systems (such as the Nintendo Entertainment System), the player had the option to use the directional pad on the second controller. This way the player could have controlled the direction the character will shoot on-screen. This dual aspect of the game worked at its best on the SNES, with its four main buttons (A, B, X and Y) being positioned like a D-pad and enabling the player to shoot a way while running another.

Ocean, a well-known developer back in the 90s, developed version for home computers, such as the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST and Commodore Amiga. All of them were published in 1992. Probably the best home computer version was the one for Amiga, which scored 895 out of a possible 1000 points in a UK magazine review. However, the versions for home computers were different than the original one, and this brought some criticism on board.

A version for the PlayStation was released as well in 1999, while versions for PC, Nintendo, GameCube, Xbox and PlayStation 2 were released several years later. The game was also available on Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade and costs 400 Microsoft Points to purchase. However, the game is not available anymore today.

The year is 1999. The place is the set of Smash T.V., a great new action game from Williams. Smash T.V. is a futuristic game show with a twist. Imagine if you can a blend of the movie The Running Man and Williams' classic Robotron. Either one or two "contestants" compete in a mazelike studio for cash, merchandise and the most important prize, survival! Of course, with the opportunity to win toasters, VCRs, televisions, the occasional car, as well as oodles of cash, who wouldn't go up against mindless mutants, robots, drones and combustible, obese soldiers (known affectionately as "Mr. Shrapnel") for a piece of the action, right?

Man wasn't meant to kill with hands alone, so your game-show host has generously provided you with a variety of lethal devices to protect yourself as you travel through the various arenas. Grenades, missiles, lasers and the ever - present smart bomb are all at your disposal. Other defensive devices are also available, such as force fields and spinning shields, which help you stay alive long enough to win just one more toaster. Control of each player is by two eight-way joysticks, with one for movement and one for shooting. They are perfect for this type of game, as Robotron players will concur.

While the similarity to Robotron is obvious from first glance, there are many differences that make Smash T.V. a unique adventure. There is a map of sorts presented at the beginning of each area that shows the different ways you can travel through the arenas in order to reach the boss waiting within the last arena. Along the way, you must fight through a menagerie of robots and drones and avoid land mines, tanks and many other enemies too bizarre to describe.

Different weapon power-ups appear with regularity in random spots upon the playing field, along with small gift boxes. The latter, when grabbed, award anything from a 2600-inch television, to a luxurious vacation. Money also appears in large, scattered heaps consisting of gold and silver bars, along with the regular green stuff. The weapons and gifts both disappear from the screen after a few seconds, but the money will stay indefinitely. The weapons are immediately useful and last for a certain number of shots, indicated by a small bar graph near your score. When you run low, a warning tone lets you know without having to take a break from the action on-screen.

Bonus rooms packed with gifts are located in certain parts of each area, and when you enter one of these areas, a few seconds are allocated to allow you to grab as many goodies as possible before they all disappear, and the room is invaded by enemies.

The object is simple: grab as much money and as many prizes as possible, while surviving until the end of an area to collect your bonus money. As if making it to the end weren't challenge enough, a boss monster must be defeated as well. These guys don't lay down after a few shots, either; be prepared to lob a couple of hundred grenades, missiles and bombs, all while trying to avoid getting roasted yourself. If you succeed, you will be rewarded with a crisp, graphic bloodbath as the abomination finally bites the video dust.

Now that you have actually made it through alive - though perhaps short the few quarters if may have taken you to continue - it's time to be rewarded for your effort. Each player is shown on-screen before a podium as the various prize counts mount up, and the equivalent amount of money is added to your score. Don't rest too long; you're soon off to the next area, with new prizes and new challenges to conquer!

Smash T.V. is another game that is destined to join the ranks of previous Williams' classics. Graphically, nothing is missing, from the bloody chunks that fly skyward when a player dies (watch out for that flying eyeball) to the virtual geyser of blood that flies out when Mutoid Man at the end of the first area is dispatched. Of course, I couldn't forget to mention the well-endowed blonde ladies that rest upon each arm of your Smash T.V. host as he puts forth a comment at the beginning of each arena! The sound effects are equally excellent: The "Go, Go, Go!" starting each area and the pounding coupled with frustrated howls of rage from the boss monsters accent the action perfectly.

Although a continue option is available, don't be fooled. This game isn't another in the recent trend of quarter-eating machines that only allow you to advance anywhere in the game by satisfying their unending appetite for metal. While it may take a little time to figure out strategies, the game isn't impossible, and you should be able to advance quite far (especially with a teammate). If you haven't played this one yet, give it try, and see if you aren't hooked. I'll admit I am.

Smash TV for NES

Vanna White and "Wheel of Fortune" are old hat in the future. Instead, the highest-rated TV game show is something a bit more thrilling - Smash TV. Acclaim's newest NES title is a translation of the popular arcade game.

As a contestant on Smash TV, you compete for large amounts of cash and the grand prize - your life. Acclaim says Smash TV will offer two unique features: more on-screen enemies than any other Nintendo game, and the ability to use both controllers at once. One controller lets you move your contestant, and the other lets you direct your firepower. By using the NES Satellite, two people can play.

"Total carnage! I love it"

You heard it right, folks! The famous arcade game that combined winning prizes and slaughtering thousands of creatures is about to make it's way to the homes of all Genesis owners! It is far into the future, and the most popular form of entertainment is the game show Smash TV, where the contestants win incredible prizes or lose their lives.

Similar to the NES version, you may fashion the controls so that you can have two controllers for multi-directional firing and running, or modify the buttons to have a form of combo attack. All of the classic voices are here from the arcade, from the announcer to the painful sounds caused by the exploding mines! Good luck, You'll need it!

Translated directly from the spectacular coin-op, Smash TV offered a new kind of survival game, one of reflexes, nerves, strength, and cunning. Only the best of the best will survive the hair-raising rounds of action as muggers and booby-trapped robots attempt to blow you from the face of the universe!! Fight back with the multitude of weapons and basic survival gear available to the hardy contestant.

Acclaim's NES version of the smash coin-op is nearing completion. Dual controllers (or the 4 score for 2 player simultaneous game play) will be needed to handle all the action!

Welcome, violent game show fans! We're coming to you live from inside your Genesis system, and it's time for another exciting broadcast filled with mass murder for fun and prizes. That's right, I'm talkin' Smash T.V. by those lethal reprogrammers at Flying Edge! So, grab yer gun and yer indestructible force field, and let the Sega games begin!

Two-Fisted Action

If you've played and died... and played and died on Smash TV. in the arcades, you'll be right at home on tonight's Genesis episode. This game's a fairly faithful translation of the coin-op shooting spree.

Arcadians who loved the coin-op's dual joystick firing system are in for good news and bad news. You can use both Genesis pads in tandem to replicate the effect, but this is a clumsy setup. Alternately, you can use only one controller. The three fire buttons shoot forward, backward, and lock-in one direction. This gets the job done. However, it's not as precise as the Super NES edition's eight-direction firing controls.

It's Total Carnage!

All you faithful Smash viewers will see that the Genesis version's exciting thrills and messy spills are close to the arcade original's gory standards. One or two oh-so-lucky contestants, the Red Guy and the Blue Guy, battle through four over- head-view studios jam-packed with senseless violence. Wave after wave of humanoids attempt to club, zap, and trample you to death. Every demise is bloody explosion.

Even when dozens of gang bangers pollute the screen, there's absolutely no slowdown! Unfortunately, the game does lose some color and background detail compared to the arcade and the SNES versions. The digitized voices sound sweet, but the music tracks don't pop your eardrums.

Run and Shoot Offense

The big and bad tools of the Smash T.V trade include laser pistols, missile launchers, photon guns, speed boosters, and mobile force fields, all of which appear randomly in the maze. Power-up items have a limited duration. You only get seven lives to live and one continue. Don't step into the Smash arena unless you're an ace of arcade aces.

Smash T.V. is a true prize fight. You'll rake in VCRs, new cars, cash, and home video games, but even an intact body is cause for celebration! The grand prize is a trip to the mysterious Pleasure Dome, where you'll chill with a bevy of beautiful co-hostesses.

Smashing Success

Now a shoot-em-up classic in the annals of arcadedom, Smash T.V. has a reputation to uphold. The Genesis version comes close to the high standards set by the Super Nintendo and the coin-op versions, but graphics, sounds, and control fall a bit short. Still, the game brings home all the blasting action you care to handle. Smash T.V is right on target.

Good evening, and thanks for tuning in Smash T.V.! I'm The Game Show Host with the Most, and these are my beautiful co-hostesses, Trixie and Bubbles. Tonight's Super NES telecast by Acclaim is guaranteed to blow your picture tube out of the wall! So sit back, relax, and let the games begin!

Rules to Smash

As always on Smash T.V., you get to play as one or two of our contestants, the Red Guy and the Blue Guy. Working alone or together, you play the ultimate game show for the ultimate prize: your lives! (Heh heh, no wonder we get such high ratings.) Die-hard junkies of the arcade and NES broadcasts of Smash T.V. will recognize our version as a direct translation, but even new-comers, especially those who blazed through coin-op classics like Robotron, can learn our rules and regulations fast. You better learn or you're dead!

Firing up the Airwaves

As our lucky contestants, you get plenty of firepower to help you fight to the finish. You start with regular rapid-fire laser pistols, but they can scrounge up Grenade Launchers, Photon Guns, speed enhancers, and the ever-popular Mobile Forcefields. The Super NES pad provides pin-point accurate controls.

Make the most of your lives 'cause you only get five of 'em to start (you can find more) and four continues.

Big Money! Big Prizes! I Love It!

Smash T.V.'s not just about risking it all for the thrill of total carnage. Not only will you live if you win, you'll retire from ultraviolent game shows in luxury with all the VCR's, cars, toasters, and cold, hard cash your fists can grab. Look sharp or the prizes will slip through your fingers fast!

Meet Mr. Shrapnel!

Wait 'til you get a load of our mutant humanoid masses here at Smash T.V. Red Guy and Blue Guy get gooey with gang bangers like the Club Creeps, Satellite Orbs, Cyborg Tanks, and everybody's favorite explosive personality, Mr. Shrapnel. All are captured in crisp overhead-view, splatter-happy detail. Each of our four levels of stage frights concludes with one of my associate mass murderers, such as Scar Face and Cobra Head.

And to earn the Grand Champion trophy, you gotta dethrone me, the Host of Smash T.V. I'm waiiiitting!

Get Smashed!

All right, we gotta admit our show isn't as graphically intense as some SNES broadcasts, but, hey, the digitized voices and stereo beats are 16-b'rt superb and the action's right on target with the arcade original. Come on down and take your best shot at Smash T.V!

Tired of watching that mindless blonde spinning vowels and consonants? Looking for a TV game show with plenty of punch (along with flying shrapnel, cannons, landmines and lasers among other things?) Then you're ready for the ultimate in TV game shows -- SMASH T.V.!

Yes! It's SMASH T.V. where one or two lucky contestants race through a labyrinth of studio stages filled with cash and prizes! All each contestant has to do is to pick up the prizes, leave through the marked exits and it's theirs to keep forever! Oh, there might be a couple minor obstacles along the way -- nothing major, just mobs of baseball-bat-wielding maniacs, snipers, cyborg-driven-tanks and a 30-foot 1/2 man, 1/2 machine called Mutoid Man at the end of the bonus stage!

The contestants aren't exactly helpless though; they're each armed with an Uzi with unlimited firepower. There is also a vast arsenal of special weapons that pop up randomly from time to time, including: triple-barreled machine guns, cannons, forcefields, grenades and a Super Zapper that wipes out all the nasties on the screen!

Fans of the classic Williams game Robotron are going to love the return of their unique two-joystick controls. Light-speed action, crisp detailed graphics and a dynamite concept makes this one game you won't to miss!

It is the year 1999 and television has adapted to show the violent side of man. Game shows are more popular than ever and one show has always dominated the ratings: Smash T.V. In this show, one or two people compete for big money and prizes. There is, however, one catch... Smash T.V. is a true shoot-a-thon! You are placed in an arena where you must shoot to kill your attackers. Sporadically, you may find super power-ups that can increase your firepower.

The levels consist of small rooms linked by corridors. Shoot your way through each of the rooms to ultimately confront a huge boss that will require all your skill and courage to destroy.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, something has to take our minds off the never-ending alien invasions — something like Smash T.V. from Williams Electronic Games.

The year is 1999, and the setting is a game show with a live audience in which contestants compete not only for cash and prizes, but also for their lives. It's a tough game, and it's a good idea to play Smash T.V. with a friend. You'll need the additional firepower to battle the club-wielding mutants and drones who try to distract you (terminally) from the cash and prizes.

You control your contestant with a pair of joysticks. The left stick controls the direction to move, and the right stick controls the direction to fire (just like Williams's 1982 classic, Robotron 2084).

While you blast away the mutants, the screen announces your prizes: A Brand-New VCR! A Luxury Vacation! A 2600-Inch TV! As you fight your way through more than 100 arenas, you'll encounter flying orbs that can laserslice you from across the room, and you'll meet Mr. Shrapnel, who explodes and spews razor-sharp metal that turns you into a prize for somebody else — A Year's Supply of Good Meat!

All of this carnage is cheerfully presented by your crazed robotic host, Evil MC. He occasionally appears on the monitors with two lovely showgirls, encouraging you with phrases like "Big money! Big prizes! I love it!"

The four bosses are incredibly powerful monsters. Mutoid Man is half-giant, half-battletank. You must destroy his twin turrets, both of his arms, his torso, and then his head. Scarf ace is a sinister abomination with no less than 16 outer sections to destroy before you can even begin to tackle his ugly face and withered skull. The Die Cobras are two of the biggest snakes you've ever seen in one small room. All it takes to kill them is about a zillion shots to their heads and necks.

Finally, you have to face Evil MC himself, now in the form of a Mutoid Tank-Man. He shoots flaming eyeballs at you while trying to run you down. Blasting off both of his arms reveals his polka-dotted underwear.

As Evil MC would say, "Bingo! I'd buy that for a dollar!"