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Game Info

Cover art of Smash T.V.

3.6 / 5

11 votes

Platform
Arcade
Genres
Shooter · Arcade
Player Perspective
Top-down
Developers
Williams
Publishers
Midway Home Entertainment · Williams
Release date
May 1, 1990

Summary

Smash TV drops you into a neon‑lit, futuristic game show where you and a partner blast through wave after wave of enemies while snatching cash, prizes and power‑ups. Each arena is a single screen that scrolls you to the next room, and the exits split into different paths that can lead to a secret “Pleasure Dome” if you’ve collected enough keys. The game’s twin‑stick controls make the chaos feel visceral, especially when you run into the exploding Mr. Shrapnel or the massive Cobra Boss that guards a key‑filled chamber. In two‑player mode the competition is friendly: the player who amasses the most money gets an extra reward, and both can cooperate to survive the relentless onslaught. After defeating the Mutoid Man you’ll face a choice of direction—right to the final showdown with the Game Show Host, or down into the hidden Pleasure Domes where the real loot awaits. The arcade cabinet originally shipped with 19‑inch monitors, later upgraded to 25‑inch screens, and the announcer’s voice (Paul Heitsch) adds a manic commentary that still feels fresh. Though the Pleasure Dome wasn’t in the first release, player feedback forced its addition, earning the title the AMOA’s most innovative game award in 1990. Since then it’s resurfaced on collections like Midway Arcade Treasures and even a brief stint on Xbox Live Arcade, keeping the frantic fun alive for new generations.

Storyline

Smash TV drops you into a dystopian television game show set in the then‑future year 1999. One or two contestants sprint through a series of arena‑like rooms, blasting waves of attackers while grabbing cash, prizes, keys and temporary power‑ups. After each arena is cleared, the exit leads to a new chamber, some of which hide end‑of‑level bosses such as the Mutoid Man and the Cobra Boss. Defeating these foes brings you closer to the elusive Pleasure Dome, the promised reward for total carnage. At the end, the sadistic Game Show Host—who constantly shouts “Total carnage! I love it!”—appears as the final boss, forcing you to choose between confronting him or stepping into the Pleasure Domes.

Edited by Maya Carter

Game Videos

Game Screenshots

  • Screenshot 1 of Smash T.V.
  • Screenshot 2 of Smash T.V.
  • Screenshot 3 of Smash T.V.
  • Screenshot 4 of Smash T.V.
  • Screenshot 5 of Smash T.V.
  • Screenshot 6 of Smash T.V.
  • Screenshot 7 of Smash T.V.

Game Artworks

  • Artwork 1 of Smash T.V.
  • Artwork 2 of Smash T.V.

Arcade Machine

Developers
Williams Electronic Games, Inc.
Machine Style
Upright
Control Panel
Multi-player
Input Devices
Joystick
Screen Orientation
Landscape
Sound
Mono

Multiplayer

Game modes
Cooperative

Alternative Titles

  • Smash TV Alternative