Total carnage! I love it!
GAMEPLAY
Smash TV was a simple game. Yet its design was so well done, that it was very challenging and fun to play. This holds true even now as the XBL download is almost an exact port. The left analog stick is used to control movement, and the right stick is the direction of fire. Add to this the many power ups, enemy types, and slick “game show” style presentation, and you’ve got a winner.
GRAPHICS
Back in 1990, Smash TV had some of the best graphics around. Although the XBL game has “enhanced” graphics for HD support, they still show their age. The graphics are stylish, the levels and characters look cool. They’re just a little pixilated.
SOUND
The sound has also changed little, but it doesn’t show it’s age as clearly as the graphics. There isn’t much in the way of music. The effects for each weapon are cool, and so are some of the ambient effects like the crowd shouting when you die.
VALUE
Because you have unlimited continues, you can easily beat this game in about 2 hours. But the real value comes in co-op, and the achivements. Microsoft did a great job of making the achievements challenging and rewarding to unlock. They also did a great job of balancing the points system with the number of continues you use.
XBL Arcade has potential to be one the best online services Microsoft offers. If they keep releasing great classic games like Smash TV, it’s sure to get even better.