Hollywood Squares (NES) Playthrough
96A playthrough of GameTek's 1989 license-based game show game for the NES, Hollywood Squares.
Of all the game show adaptations that Rare produced for GameTek in the late 80s, Hollywood Squares is perhaps the least remembered. That's probably as much a reflection of the show it was based on as anything else - Hollywood Squares never enjoyed the popularity of shows like Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy! but the game is just as well made as those more famous shows' NES counterparts.
It follows the same simple format as the show. Contestants play Tic-Tac-Toe against one another using a "board" filled with celebrities. Once a square has been chosen, the host asks a question to the celebrity occupying that space, and the contestant has to agree or disagree with the answer that was given. If the contestant is correct, they get the space on the board. If not, the space goes to their opponent. There's also a special prize that can be earned by winning the secret square during the second round.
The winner after three rounds gets to play a bonus game in which they select a key and a car, and if the two match, someone's gets to take home a shiny new tax liability!
The stars were the real draw of the show, and though the game doesn't feature the likenesses of any real-life celebrities, Hollywood Squares' crew of fictional stand-ins do give the game some personality and spark. They all have their own personalized quips to match the questions being asked, and the writing is far better than you might expect from an NES game. The banter is witty and some of the jokes are genuinely funny. If you appreciate that wry, cutting sense of humor that the Brits are known for, you'll appreciate Hollywood Square's ability to make you laugh.
The game is reasonably fun and the music is classic Dave Wise fare, but it is the writing that makes Hollywood Squares such a joy to play. That's not something that could be said about most English-language games from the 8-bit generation, and it really makes this one stand out.
If you like trivia, I'd recommend giving it a go. It's a good way to pass a few hours, alone or with a buddy.
_____________
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (http://www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!