Summary
- Release Year: 1988
- Genres: Puzzle, Quiz/Trivia
- Platforms: Amstrad CPC, Commodore C64/128/MAX
Blockbusters (1988)
Blockbusters was a British television game show based on the American game show of the same name. The show aired on ITV from 1983 to 1993 and was hosted by Bob Holness.
The objective of the game was to complete a path across or down a game board of hexagons by answering trivia questions. Each hexagon represented a letter of the alphabet, and contestants had to answer questions related to that letter. If a contestant answered a question correctly, they won the hexagon and could then move to an adjacent hexagon. The first contestant to complete a path of six hexagons won the game.
Blockbusters was a popular game show in the UK, and it helped to launch the careers of several British comedians, including Harry Enfield and Paul Merton. The show was also notable for its use of a computerized game board, which was one of the first of its kind on British television.
Gameplay
Blockbusters was played by two contestants. Each contestant had their own game board, which consisted of a grid of 26 hexagons, one for each letter of the alphabet.
The game began with the host asking a trivia question related to a particular letter of the alphabet. The first contestant to buzz in and answer the question correctly won the hexagon corresponding to that letter. The contestant could then choose to move to an adjacent hexagon or pass their turn to their opponent.
If a contestant landed on a hexagon that had already been won by their opponent, they forfeited their turn. If a contestant landed on a hexagon that was adjacent to two or more hexagons that they had already won, they could create a “blockbuster” by answering a question related to all of the letters on those hexagons. If the contestant answered the question correctly, they won all of the hexagons in the blockbuster.
The first contestant to complete a path of six hexagons won the game. If both contestants completed a path of six hexagons in the same turn, the game went into a tiebreaker round. In the tiebreaker round, each contestant was asked a series of questions related to the letters on the hexagons they had won. The first contestant to answer three questions correctly won the game.
Reception
Blockbusters was a popular game show in the UK, and it helped to launch the careers of several British comedians, including Harry Enfield and Paul Merton. The show was also notable for its use of a computerized game board, which was one of the first of its kind on British television.
Critics praised Blockbusters for its fast-paced gameplay and its clever use of trivia questions. The show was also praised for its host, Bob Holness, who was known for his wit and his ability to interact with the contestants.
Blockbusters was nominated for several awards, including the BAFTA Award for Best Game Show. The show won the award in 1984 and 1985.
Legacy
Blockbusters is considered to be one of the most successful game shows in British television history. The show’s format has been adapted for several other countries, including the United States, Australia, and Canada.
Blockbusters has also been parodied in several British comedy shows, including Spitting Image and Harry Enfield and Chums.
In 2012, Blockbusters was revived for a one-off special on ITV. The special was hosted by Alexander Armstrong and featured celebrity contestants.
Blockbusters remains a popular game show in the UK, and it is still enjoyed by fans of trivia and game shows alike.
Conclusion
Blockbusters was a groundbreaking game show that helped to revolutionize the genre. The show’s fast-paced gameplay, clever use of trivia questions, and charismatic host made it a hit with audiences. Blockbusters remains a popular game show in the UK, and it is still enjoyed by fans of trivia and game shows alike.
Review Score
8/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
