Smash TV is a twin-stick arena shooter, ported to the NES by Beam Software and published by Acclaim from the 1990 Williams arcade original designed by Eugene Jarvis. Set on a violent 1999 TV game show, one or two players blast through waves of enemies in enclosed arenas, collecting cash and prizes and fighting bosses. It supports two-player co-op.
How To Play Smash TV
Control
Action
D-Pad (Controller 1)
Move the contestant
A / B Buttons
Fire in a direction
D-Pad (Controller 2, optional)
Aim and fire independently (twin-stick control)
Start
Start game / pause
About Smash TV
Release date
Arcade (NA): April 1990 · NES (NA): September 1991 · NES (EU): 1991
Developer
Beam Software (NES port); original arcade by Williams Electronics
Publisher
Acclaim Entertainment (NES); Williams (arcade)
Platform
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES); originally Arcade, plus SNES, Genesis, and others
Genre
Twin-stick shooter (top-down arena)
Series
Smash TV (followed by Total Carnage)
Modes
Single-player, multiplayer (2-player co-op)
Also known as
Super Smash TV (SNES, Genesis, Master System, Game Gear versions)
Sheldon has spent over a decade immersed in retro gaming, from NES classics to arcade gems. He's deeply passionate about preserving gaming history and helping others rediscover these timeless titles. When he's not gaming, Shaun writes about the evolution of video games and their cultural impact.
