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7 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Chronological Conundrums, 4 February 1999
Author: Paul Howls from Cardiff, Wales, UK

This was an excellent game show in which six contestants took part in Mystery, Mental, Skill and Physical challenges in four different time zones (Aztec, Futuristic, Medieval, Industrial and later Ocean).

The sets were fantastic ranging from sand-covered mexican temples to a cobweb ridden and a "Titanic"-like ocean liner.

Both Richard O'Brien and Ed Tudor-Pole were in their element, running around the sets leading contestants to either splendid victory or humiliating defeat.

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8 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
Bring Back Crystal Maze, 4 October 2005
Author: pongley from United Kingdom

I wish they would bring back Crystal Maze. With a descent presenter like Richard o' Brian. The later guy couldn't present his own turds. It was the best show on Channel 4 and in the nineties there was never much to choose from. Now we're in an even worse state. The sets were something to behold and the contestant didn't sit around swearing and throwing plates at each other. I especially liked the last part of the show where the tickets or something was blown around the ball and they had to catch them. Superb game show. The British broadcasters have always had a bit of programming dyslexia but Big Brother or Crystal Maze, Dyvina MacAll or Richard O' Brien? I know which I'd chose every time. Andit does not involve a squad of illiterate global infestation invertebrates.

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8 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
I LOVED THIS SHOW!, 23 November 2000
Author: Anthony Einsel from Hastings, NE

I use to live in Hong Kong where the show was broadcasted. It was THE most enjoyable game show I've ever seen.

This show had the strangest but witty host as he gathered 6 people to battle through Physical, Mental, Skill, and Mystery challenges (To get the elusive crystals and to not get themselves locked in) as they go through the Aztec, Future, Medieval, Ocean (then Industrial) worlds. I loved how his witty comments and the complexity of it all to get all the crystals to win stuff in a duration of seconds inside the Crystal Dome. If I were in England, I would watch this show endlessly and never get bored!

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6 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
brilliant, 19 September 2003
Author: ross robinson from england

I always loved the crystal maze as this was i think the best amazing adventure game ever. This first started in 1990 and finished in 1995. The contestents had to get each crystal in the challenges they choose. If they don't get out in time, then they are locked up. The contestents have a choice either to buy the player out with one of their crystals they got or to leave them.

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4 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Probably my favorite game show., 14 September 2002
Author: Catrin Owen (NB2000) from Wales

I used to love this show. It was one where you could easily be a contestant if you wanted to be. You didn't have to be really physical or really smart. You had a go and you had the rest of the team there to help you. Some of the contestants were really useless but most were really good. I've been watching Re-runs of the earlier series i.e. the ones with the industrial zone. And they bring back fond memories. Richard O'Brian was better at the presenting as he would help the contestants if they got really stuck and would occasionally play his harmonica or go off and do something else while they played a rather uninteresting game. Definitely my favorite Game show. Bring it back please.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
One Of The World's Great Game Shows, 22 October 2009
9/10
Author: jparten from Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

I only recently discovered surfing the Web, and even more recently discovered "The Crystal Maze". And I have come to the conclusion that this is one of the world's great game shows. I have not known such an enthusiasm since around 2000, when I discovered the "Harry Potter" books.

There are reasons for this enthusiasm. First, there is ingenuity. The various games that the contestants have to play are usually clever, well-thought out challenges. Some are based on classic puzzles that have teased brains for generations. Others are inspired by tropes found in movies and television. None are "gimmes", and some of them prove to be so difficult that nobody ever got them.

Then, there is efficiency. There is none of the endless analysis found in some of today's game shows. There are no whiny postmortems If a contestant wins a challenge, it's cheers all around. If he or she loses, it's "never mind", and "what do you want to play and who do you want to play it?".

All this is so because the most important element of the show is the game--not the prizes with endless plugs, not the soap-operatics of the various contestants, but the game! This extends even to the endgame in the Crystal Dome.

The theme music catches the ear, and does not let go. I knew I was hooked when, a day after I'd seen my first episode, I found myself entering a shop, and couldn't get the theme song out of my head!

Richard O'Brien adds immensely to the festivities. He seems to be enjoying himself immensely, and it shows. There is a certain elfin quality about his work that makes this show all the easier to take. He is not some bland pretty-boy with sparkling teeth and pomaded hair.

As I have been watching the show chronologically, I have not yet gotten to the episodes hosted by Ed Tudor-Pole. He must have thought it a thankless job, having to follow O'Brien. I'll find out in due course if he's up to the job.

All in all, it's a show that I am happy to tout to those of my friends who are into game shows. It's a winner, all the way around!

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Top-Drawer Entertainment, 18 September 2008
9/10
Author: screenman from United Kingdom

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Like most of the other commentators, this was one of my favourite shows. Richard O'Brien of 'Rocky Horror' fame was perfectly suited to the task of guide, counsellor and inquisitor all rolled into one. I can think of no-one who could have done the job half so well at the time. His personality conveyed just the right mix of fun and authority.

Nothing lasts for ever. Eventually he was replaced by Mr Tudor-Pole, who possessed all the charisma of a house-brick and seemed to have been chosen for the express purpose of winding it down. Certainly the program was doomed from that moment.

Perhaps the simple fun and enjoyment that was a measure of its time just wouldn't work in the cynical third millennium. Better that it died when it did than attempt to live on beyond its age. Still, it's fondly remembered and sadly missed. Top-drawer entertainment with a top-drawer entertainer. Clever, well thought-out, but not overly slick. A very British product.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
One of the few true "game shows", 18 June 2008
10/10
Author: k_mobius1 from UK

Not so much a maze as The Crystal circuit of four inter-connecting play areas, or "time zones", called Aztec, Industrial (later Ocean), Medieval and Futuristic. A team of 6 contestants would make their way through a huge variety of challenges across 4 "zones", winning crystals which give them time in the final challenge, the crystal dome. Collecting 100 gold tokens would win them the star prize. It was consistently entertaining to watch the challenges, and even more so when they failed! It was one of those shows which would always get you talking to the TV, it had me shouting regular phrases such as "Come on, that's it", "You've got it", "Come on, that's easy!" "It's RIGHT THERE! Use your brain!" etc.

The two presenters of The Crystal Maze, Richard O'Brien and Ed Tudor-Pole, both played eccentric roles in their own unique way, even providing some strange anecdotes in the middle of the games. It was ultimately the hosts that helped make the programme what it is. The programme ended when still at the height of its popularity, and I'm glad it did as it couldn't have been done any differently to how it was. A winning formula all the way.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Unique, Original, Different And Yet Very Challenging, 28 October 2007
9/10
Author: waiching liu from London, England, UK

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

The Crystal Maze was not so much a quiz show but almost more of a 90s version of an 80s based UK challenge show entitled: 'The Krypton Factor'. Presented by the impeccable and upbeat Richard O'Brien from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Crystal Maze was a stimulating, yet challenging and fun- filled programme where a group of six contestants take part in a range of games that taxed their mental and physical abilities and skills, in an attempt to obtain as many crystals as they possibly can. In the time limit that they are given they have to get out of the room, regardless of whether or not they have the crystal, otherwise they'd be locked in. Once the person is locked in, he/she cannot be released unless their team decides to forfeit one of their crystals. The difficulty levels of the tasks range from the very easy to the extremely difficult.

Each crystal is worth 5 seconds and thus, the more they get hold of the more time they have in the crystal dome- the so-called finale where they have to collect as many gold tokens. The silver tokens would attribute to the overall total by means of the deduction of their gold tokens. And so if, for e.g., they have more silver tokens than gold ones, then the team would've lost in the end. But if they get more gold tokens and the grand total is over 100, then they would win the contest.

The programme was very taxing, engaging and a rarity coming from Channel 4 themselves, given they are not usually renowned for showing quiz shows and challenging TV shows, well apart from Fifteen to One and Countdown. But The Crystal Maze was just a brilliant effort and Richard O'Brien made a great presenter and guide. At times, he'd even offer encouragement and help, if the group was really struggling with a particular task.

Ed Tudor Pole, wasn't as good as Richard O' Brien when he replaced him during the latter series of the show but still The Crystal Maze was a good effort, up until its unfortunate cancellation. Like many quiz shows, you'd be screaming and shouting at the TV towards the contestants and even go on record and say 'I could do that task'.

There will never be a show of this type ever again -and yet as there is a time for a new series of the show- with the state of TV nowadays at an all-time low , it is most definitely now.

The 90s, like the 80s, was a great decade for TV shows, and The Crystal Maze is and certainly was one of the them. Great concept, intriguing tasks and engaging this was fantastic

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2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Challenges your mind in a more 3 dimensional way., 5 January 2004
Author: Lauren (nova-23) from Newcastle, Australia

I came across this game show while living in Bangkok, Thailand. It is a show which I have long wished would be shown on Australian television. But alas it never has been.

I found that even as a viewer this show challenges your mind in a more 3 dimensional way. Something that most run of the mill game shows lack in their questions.

It's a shame that is no longer in production....but there are always hopes of re-runs right?

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