Game Review: Super Smash TV

Game: (Super) Smash TV
Console: Sega Mega Drive
Developer: Probe Entertainment
Release Date: 1992

Originally an arcade game with two joysticks for control (one for direction of movement, the other for direction of shooting), Smash TV was ported to home computers and consoles such as the NES, SNES, Master System and Mega Drive, so there's no shortage of versions. The version I have, for Mega Drive features the option to play with 1 controller (the d-pad controls movement direction and to an extent the shooting direction), 2 controllers co-operatively (like the arcade experience, one d-pad for movement direction and one for shooting), or 2 controllers versus, with the same control scheme as single player with one controller.

Personally I find the 1 controller mode more difficult than using 2 controllers, as the shooting is either in the direction the player is moving, the opposite direction or locked by holding the C button. Although this does work on a general level, using 2 controllers proves to be the superior method for me. With a friend, it can also be fun to control one half of the offensive action each, and it adds strategy and teamwork to the equation.

Before the title screen flashes up the game explains that in the future, the most popular gameshow is called Super Smash TV and you're the next contestant to face a wave of bat wielding challengers with a gun, in an attempt to win big prizes and beat the boss of each level. Challengers enter the levels from any of the four doors at the sides and your task is to eliminate them before they get the chance to do the same to you. Powerups for your gun appear often, and getting these is pretty essential to your survival. Present shaped boxes with toasters, vcr's and other luxuries also appear to increase the player's final score.

Among the different types of attacking enemy are the regular green men who attack en masse, large blue men who explode, distributing shrapnel across the level if they're not dealt with quickly, ufo's and other quirky enemies. The bosses range from a mutant tank man, to an oversized landmine, to a couple of snakes. The difficulty level can be pretty high at times, but there's a good number of lives and continues to make up for that.

Mutoid Man in the arcade version (there's very few Mega Drive screenshots it seems...)

Graphically the Mega Drive version works pretty well, there's not too much detail on the enemies or the players themselves even, but with hoardes of them on screen at the same time, its good to see no flicker or processing slowdown rather than a massive amount of detail. Soundwise, there's just the one track behind gameplay but it doesn't get too old with repeated play. Sound effects are good also, with shooting and powerup sound effects working well within the gameplay. The vocal clips are somewhat distorted as often happens on the Mega Drive.

I like this game a lot as a concept, and with a friend, or on your own with two controllers it plays really nicely and pretty different from many of the games you can play from the time. With a high level of challenge and an almost spammy level of opponents on screen at one time, it's the ultimate frenzied onslaught with comic relief presented in the form of the gameshow the game is based around. With good music and sound also, its a forgotten gem of the Mega Drive (and the other consoles it was released on, I would assume).

Rating: 84/100
Grade: B