Developer: GameTek
Year: 1989
Genre: Game Show
Platform: DOS, Commodore 64, Apple II, NES

My Rating: 2

I love game shows, even the stupid ones, but it’s really hard to get on board with Hollywood Squares. Much like Match Game, the contestants are irrelevant and it’s all about watching celebrities make jokes. At least when I would catch this show, the celebrities were not near drunk enough to make it work. Not to mention that basing a game show around Tic-Tac-Toe is so basic it makes Deal or No Deal seem high concept.

This version of the game does faithfully replicate the show. The host asks a question. You pick a square. The celebrity gives a wry phony response, then a real one. And then you either agree or disagree. Make three squares in a row and you get a chance to win a fake car, which is somehow more pathetic than trying to win fake money in casino games.

The reason I didn’t rate this a 1 is because occasionally the “celebrity” quips are amusing and it’s easy to play. But my goodness look away from that color palette (in 1989, no less!).