Smash TV
1990 · Shooter · Arcade
Overview
Smash TV (1990) is Eugene Jarvis's twin-stick arcade shooter set on a violent 1999 game show, where contestants gun down waves of enemies for cash and prizes.
Deep Dive
In a dystopian 1999, contestants on a television game show shoot their way through arenas full of enemies, collecting cash and prizes and fighting bosses, until they face the sadistic host himself. Like Jarvis's Robotron: 2084, it is played with two joysticks, one to move and one to shoot, and two players can play together. Collecting keys opens the bonus Pleasure Dome, which was added after players complained that the first release lacked it.
Developer Story
Eugene Jarvis designed the game and Mark Turmell programmed it at Williams, which released it in April 1990. Console versions were titled Super Smash TV, and Ocean made the home computer versions, one of which scored 97% in CRASH.
Did You Know?
- Its influences include RoboCop and The Running Man.
- It won the AMOA's most innovative game award in 1990.
- Total Carnage (1992), named after one of the host's catchphrases, shares much of its play but is not a sequel.
Sources & further reading
- Smash TV — Wikipedia
