A smart bomb, most often found in arcade shooters, is a special weapon that allows the player to destroy either all visible enemies or at least a significant part of them. Smart bombs are limited, making them a last-resort panic button. They are replenished by achieving certain score thresholds or killing specific bomb-carrying enemies. The bomb stockpile may also be filled up to the initial number when the player dies. The smart bomb is not always a bomb; for example, the superzapper in Tempest and the overdrive in Rez are effectively smart bombs. The visual and sound effects of a smart bomb are usually spectacular and the player stays invulnerable throughout the animation.
Smart bombs were first featured in the arcade game Defender (1980).
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