Once you get used to the controls, Smash TV is a blast to play
The bad: Controls take a lot of time to get used to
Game-play: 8/10
Graphics: 10/10
Sound: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Tilt: 8/10
Average Score: 8.6/10
If you've never heard of Smash TV, you're not alone. I found this game while on vacation in New York in a karaoke bar. Looking at the demo mode, I needed to play this game. The bosses were HUGE (we're talking covering the entire screen huge), there were hundreds of enemies in one spot you had to kill, and it was a TV show (not in actuality, though). I decided to play it, and for the most part, it was worth it.
If you're not familiar with Smash TV, it's basically a game where one or two players gets chosen to play in a violent TV show for "Big prizes, Big Money. I LOVE IT!!" I certainly love it, because it's simply retro shoot'em-up action once again at its best. You'll never tell if you'll die or run through a bunch of enemies, and that builds up the suspense. It's fun enough in first player mode, but the 2 player mode takes it up a notch for twice the arcade action.
The biggest problem I had with Smash TV was the controls. Unlike other games at the time, you SHOOT WITH A TRACKBALL CONTROL!! That's crazy! My question is, why didn't Midway put in another button to shoot and replace the other trackball controller. Moving is fine, but shooting can take a lot of time to get used to. I still found the game addicting fun, but the controls keep this game from receiving an easy A. It simply receives a B+, which is still great.
The thing that made me want to play this game were the graphics. The stages and characters are absolutely good looking, and as I said before, the bosses cover the entire screen, such as that bald guy. The music and audio are not to disappoint either, providing memorable lines and great effect.
Once you get used to the controls, Smash TV is a blast to play. While this might not appeal to those who would much rather play medium difficult games, the challenges in this game are enough to make it an arcade Gem. It's a shame the controls have a serious learning curve, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't play Smash TV.