The Crystal Maze | A PTV 90s British Game Show Retrospective

The Crystal Maze was a British game show aired in PTV Channel 4 in the Philippines back in the 90s usually at around the evening 6-7 PM slot. The Crystal Mazewas produced by Chatsworth Television and shown on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom between 15 February 1990 and 10 August 1995. There was one series per year, with the first four series was hosted by Richard O'Brien and the final two by Ed Tudor-Pole. Let's go down memory lane and reminisce the phenomenal game show that was The Crystal Maze.


The Crystal Maze - The Show
About The Crystal Maze

The objective of The Crystal Maze was to gather as many time crystals (golf ball-sized Swarovski glass crystals) as possible by playing different games in each zone. The multi-million game show set was divided into four zones set in different periods of time and space mainly the Aztec Zone (ancient village amidst ruins), Futuristic Zone (a space station environment), Medieval Zone (a castle set where the host purportedly lived), and Industrial Zone (a present day chemical plant) which was later replaced by the Ocean Zone (a sunken ship, the S.S. Atlantis) on later seasons. Before the team start with a game in each zone, the team captain will be first act on which contestant (team member) will be doing the challenge and which type of challenge the game would be chose (Skill, Physical, Mental, and Mystery). Contestant can be "locked in" if they fail to accomplish the challenged within the set time or have comiited a certain number of fouls (game mechanics violation). Winning each game secured a crystal worth five seconds of time for the team which will be used when they reach the final stage, inside the Crystal Dome. Inside the Crystal Dome, they had to collect as many gold tokens as possible in order to win a prize.

The Crystal Maze Opening Theme
The Crystal Maze Series Intro



Youtubers have uploaded a few episodes online for your reminiscing.
Check out the very first episode of The Crystal Maze Season 1 here:





Have you seen the episode I shared above? Better check it before it gets taken down like it always happen on Youtube (due to Copyright concerns). You can clearly see why was this show that popular. We could say that it was ahead of its time. Little known fact, did you know that The Crystal MAze game show set cost £250,000 to build and was the size of two football pitches? Going back as I said The Crystal Maze was ahead of its time. One testament is the intelligently designed challenges are; which are somehow borrowed and emulated in more contemporary reality shows (e.g. Survivor, Wipe Out, etc.). It was definitely a blast to watch as a 90s kid. We have yet to appreciate the scope (in terms of budget) of this show back then, but looking at it now, I have much more admiration for it now than ever. This is the first game show that I recall popularizing locking in (to a young kid, imprisoning) a contestant for failure to complete a puzzle challenge. The Crystal Maze will be forever be one of the more better quality game show from the past. Now if they can only remade it for the newer generation of game show audience.


How about you guys? Do you still remember the phenomenal The Crystal Maze? what is your fondest and most memorable experience with the 90s game show? Any favorite moment or episode? Share your thoughts and opinion about The Crystal Maze in the comments section below:

Voltron: Defender of the Universe | 80s - 90s IBC-13, RPN-9, SBN-21 Animated Series

Voltron: Defender of the Universe was an American animated television series adaptation of two different Japanese anime television series Beast King Golion and Armored Fleet Dairugger XV. Simply known as Voltron, the series originally aired in various syndicated channels in the United States from September 10, 1984 to November 18, 1985. Voltron: Defender of the Universe aired in the Intercontinental Broadcasting Network (IBC-13) and Radio Philippines Network (RPN-9) around the 80s until 90s. Let's take a look back at this beloved supre robot series of the 80's, Voltron.

Voltron: Defenders of the Universe - The Story
Voltron: Defender of the Universe - Series Plot

The first season of Voltron was based on Beast King Golion (Hykauu Juu Ou Golion). This series is also known as Lion Force Voltron (Voltron of the Far Universe) featured a team of five young pilots commanding five robot lions which could be combined to form Voltron. In this undefined future era, the Voltron Force was in charge of protecting the planet Arus which is ruled by Princess Allura from the evil forces of King Zarkon, his son Lotor, and the witch Haggar who would later create huge Robeasts to terrorize the people of Arus. This is the most popular iteration of Voltron, but was later called Voltron III.

The second season was based on Armored Fleet Dairugger XV (Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV), with the storyline considerably changed. In this iteration of Voltron, which was also known as Vehicle Voltron (Voltron of the Near Universe), the Galaxy Alliance's home planets have become overcrowded, and a fleet of explorers has been sent to search for new planets to colonize. Along the way, they attract the attention of the evil Drule Empire, long engaged in an ongoing war against the Alliance, and the Drules proceed to interfere in the mission of the explorers and the colonists. Since the Voltron of Planet Arus is too far away to help the explorers, a totally new Voltron is constructed to battle the Drule threat. This Voltron was called Voltron I since its setting was set closest to Earth.

This Voltron team consists of fifteen members, divided into three teams of five, known respectively as the Land, Sea, and Air Teams. Each team is specialized in gathering data or fighting in their area of expertise. Each team can combine their vehicles into a bigger machine, with each combined vehicle differing amongst the three teams: the Aqua Fighter (Sea Team), the Turbo Terrain Fighter (Land Team), and the Strato Fighter (Air Team). When necessary, all fifteen vehicles combine to form the mighty Voltron.

A proposed Voltron II, which was set to take the name of Gladiator Voltron (Voltron of the Middle Universe) was to have been based on Lightspeed Electroid Albegas (Kosoku Denjin Albegas) but was later cancelled in the United States because of the lack of popularity of Voltron II (second season).

Voltron: Defender of the Universe Opening Theme
Voltron: Defender of the Universe Series Intro

I was but achild when these series exploded in the Philippines. thanks to reruns of the show which have been very frequent in Philippine television, I was able to experience Voltron. I remember my father giving me a Voltron matchbox toy which was eventually lost. If only I or my father took care of that toy, I could have had a piece of my childhood up until now, but there is no real sense in crying over spilled milk. What matters is that I was able to enjoy my childhood thanks to these robo lions. I prefer and am more familiar with the Lion Force Voltron just like most Voltron fans.

Voltron was one of the most popular super robot series during its time. Both the Englsh dubbed animated series and its toyline became phenomenal. Whether it is on its catchy opening and closing themes, or the sheer awesomeness of a five giant robo lions forming into one robot battling giant monsters terrorizing the galaxy, Voltron has forever joined the ranks of the most popular kids show of the 80's. Just like any other 80's Americanized show, Voltron was heavily censored to cater for kids, but amidst its censorship World Events Productions and Toei Animation still managed to bring something special which up to this day are remembered by those who grew up humming its theme, shouting its formation sequence, and playing with its various toy lines.

How about you guys, what's your fondest memories of Voltron: Defenders of the Universe? Did you also liked the second season? What are your fondest memories of Voltron? Share everything on Voltron at the comments section below: