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Smash TV is a futuristic game show where, instead of being incredibly humiliated by the smarmy host, contestants now get blown to pieces. Given a choice between a grotty Michael Barrymore 'jest' before the nation's entire population of morons and a bullet between the eyes, wouldn't you go for the latter? Yep, mass slaughter sounds a lot more respectable and mass slaughter is exactly what you get in Smash TV.

The aim of the game is to blast your way through three dangerous and devious arenas, then confront the game show host to give him some of his own lethal medicine. At this point, coin-ops fans may start squealing about the fourth arena, but never fear, that's been incorporated into the third section and all 46 rooms have been crammed into your C64.

Each room is a single screen which seals you in until all the baddies have been blasted to smithereens. It's frantic, non-stop shoot-'em-up action, rather lie Robotron, and there's a huge variety of enemies - swirling buffalo clouds, laser-firing electroballs, snakes, pudgy guys who carry bombs on their bank, tanks, zombies, snipers... the list goes on and on. To stand any kind of chance you need to power-up by collecting icons for speed-up, power-shots, triple-shot fire, shields, extra lives and the inevitable smart bomb. Don't be too trigger-happy though, ammo is limited - shown by the red-green bar beneath your mega-score.

And then there's the prizes. Yep, it's a game show after all and you too can win cars, wads of dosh, free airplane tickets, a year's supply of meat and dozens of pop-up toasters! At the end of each arena, all your winnings are totted up in a special screen which is exceptionally satisfying and makes high scoring really good fun.

Fans of the coin-op will know all this, of course, so all I need say now is that it's a great conversion and... yep, they've gone down the shops to grab a copy. Okay, those of you still here are probably wondering what makes Smash special? Isn't it just another simplistic shoot-'em-up? Well, it's certainly not a complicated game, but all the enemies have their own attack patterns and the sheer numbers lead to pure mayhem.

So many shoot-'em-ups are too slow and dull. Smash TV just pours on the sprites by the dozen, it's non-stop action - and look out for the mines!

At first sight, speed seems due to mediocre graphics, but the more you play, the more the graphics impress with lots of impressive detail, splendid colour and neat animation. As bullets spray the arena you have no time to do anything other than keep firing, but observers can ogle at the fact that it doesn't slow down; it just keeps throwing more and more stuff at you.

A stack of lives, nine to begin with, plus a continue play, make for good long battles, and when you do finally go back to the start you can try a different route through the arenas. Beginners can search for the fastest route while experts will go for the bonus rooms. Needless to say at the end of each arena there's a superbaddie to defeat, and just watch out for the spectacular death sequence!

There is very little variation in gameplay here - it's rip-roaring shoot-'em-up action all the way, and none the worse for it either. A well thought out learning curve makes sure you just keep coming back for more and it's very difficult to find any niggles. Expert gamers might find it a little easy, I suppose, but even they will have great fun going for the high scores.

Smash TV is simply one of the best games to be released this year, it's just so much fun, and incredibly playable. As Robin Hogg would have said, had he still been here, "It's a Sizzler... and a right good game to boot!"

This is Nick Jones's last C64 game, but boy has he ever gone out with a bang! This is one of the most playable coin-op conversions I've seen in ages. The enclosed arenas create a claustrophobic atmosphere, especially with all the enemies that pour out of the doors. Far from mindless blasting, Smash continually gets your mind whirring with options - should I get that bonus weapon? Where's the best place to attack these new beasties from? Do I really need another pop-up toaster? Can I get that cash without hitting that mine? Argh!

There's a wide range of baddies, all with their own attack patterns, and usually there's a couple of different types to worry about at the same time, loads of 'em, yet the game just doesn't slow down!

Surviving takes so much concentration that collecting prizes becomes just an afterthought - unless you're plain greedy like me! The price is right so come on down and play Smash TV. Win or lose, with this much fun everyone's a winner!

Presentation 90%
Great opening sequence, then the game loads in and it's a single load! Choice of keys or joystick for movement and fire control plus one continue-play.

Graphics 92%
Enemy sprites are detailed, colourful, and there are so many different types!

Sound 94%
Great intro tune and involving in-game FX.

Hookability 95%
Frequent 'life' power-ups and a continue-game option make the game instantly, completely compulsive.

Lastability 94%
The excellent learning curver provides a real challenge, plus you can choose your own route through the arenas and high-scoring is extremely satisfying.

Overall 93%
Smash TV grabs you by the throat and just won't let go - how Ocean managed to get all of this into one load is beyond me. Buy or die!