It's been on hiatus for a bit, but welcome back to the RFGeneration Community Viewing of GameCenter CX!
This week's episode will be Arino's hardest challenge yet - Makaimura, also known as Ghosts 'n Goblins outside the US. For those that have played this game, you'll get to relive all of those frustrating moments, including watching Arino's first encounter with Red Arremer, the red flying demon. Will Arino be able to defeat him, and what will Arino's response be when he realizes the true ending of Ghosts 'n Goblins?
Also on tap for this episode will be the second part of the Try Amusement Tower TamaGe, and interview with Sega's Yu Suzuki, and the first Sega SG Series / Mark III collection.
I hope everyone enjoys! I'll get back to posting these on a regular schedule now.
Welcome to Season 2 of GameCenter CX. This season commemorates the beginning of full episodes, which include various segments besides the game challenges. In Season 2, new segments were added to this show, which include visits to game centers and featured game collections, as well as the original industry interviews from the first season.
This week's challenge features Atlantis no Nazo (Mystery of Atlantis), a game released by Sunsoft for the Famicom that was set to compete with Super Mario Bros. It contains 100 different stages, power ups, and warps. This video and the Challenger video later in the season were the ones that initially got me interested in GameCenter CX, so I'll be more than happy to discuss these!
Arino's Challenge: Clear Stage 100.
Since we're nearing the end of Season 1, and we've got a holiday weekend (of sorts), I thought I'd provide everyone with the rest of the episodes for Season 1, and start off November with the beginning of Season 2, where full episodes begin!
S1E8: Door Door
Arino takes on Chunsoft's challenge for this episode. Door Door is a Famicom-exclusive Puzzle/Platforming game in which the User traps aliens behind doors to clear a level.
RFGeneration Entry:
http://www.rfgeneration.c...nfo.pl?ID=J-027-S-01470-A
Arino's Challenge: Trap six aliens at once, forming the "mystical six-alien trap" to earn a bonus.
Challenge Video:
S1E9: Three Challenges
This episode, Arino is tasked with clearing challenges for 3 titles: Yie Ar Kung-Fu, Gradius, and Hyper Olympic (Track & Field outside JPN). This episode features an extended length challenge, so dig in an enjoy.
RFGeneration Entries:
http://www.rfgeneration.c...nfo.pl?ID=J-027-S-02790-A
http://www.rfgeneration.c...nfo.pl?ID=J-027-S-02310-A
http://www.rfgeneration.c...nfo.pl?ID=J-027-S-03150-A
Arino's Challenges:
Yie Ar Kung-Fu: Obtain the special bonus on the bonus stage.
Gradius: Unlock 3 secret features - Get 5000 points by touching the volcano in Stage 1, Get a 1-UP by touching the diamond rock in Stage 1, and Warp 2 levels by destroying the Big Core while it glows blue in Stage 2.
Hyper Olympic: Beat the game records for all 4 sports.
Challenge Video:
S1E10: Super Mario Brothers
In this episode, Arino challenges Super Mario Bros. 2 on the Famicom DiscSystem (Lost Levels outside JPN). In preparation for the challenge, he takes on the original Super Mario Bros. How will he fare against the extremely challenge of Super Mario Bros. 2? Do you, the viewers, feel that Nintendo's decision to port Doki Doki Panic with Mario sprites and name it Super Mario Bros. 2 instead of giving consumers the actual Super Mari Bros. 2 due to the extreme challenge was warranted after seeing this challenge?
RFGeneration Entries:
http://www.rfgeneration.c...nfo.pl?ID=J-027-S-00810-A
http://www.rfgeneration.c...nfo.pl?ID=J-093-S-00560-A
Arino's Challenge: Clear Super Mario Bros. 2.
Challenge Video:
Sorry for taking a week off, but things have been hectic lately! As such, I'm including two videos this week showing Arino taking on Astro Robo SASA and Galaga.
Arino infamously has problems completing challenges for shmup titles, so the staff has decided that he needs to overcome this problem by throwing two more shooting titles at him.
Astro Robo SASA is a Japan-only Famicom release. Gameplay revolves around the User collecting energy by floating in the air and shooting to propel the character towards the targets and avoiding the enemies.
Clear Condition: Complete all 16 stages.
Galaga
Everyone knows Galaga, right?! This version is played on the Famicom, and is available in most regions on the Nintendo NES.
Clear Condition: Obtain 10,000 points on a bonus stage.
Back to our regularly scheduled episode.
In the last episode, Arino was re-introduced to the romance genre with Roommania #203, a life simulator for the Sega Dreamcast. Arino was very familiar with the game, but one scenario had escaped him - the romance scenario.
Arino armed himself with the game's strategy guide and worked through the scenario. However, at the end of the scenario, he was only able to read part of the text for the ending and thought he had lost the challenge. However, that text was documenting the past, and the rest of the text revealed the happy ending!
Poor Arino, he never wins when it comes to romance.
This week, we're introduced to a brand new segment of the show - the collections! At the beginning of the episode, the fansub providers were kind enough to leave in the second portion of the Hudson Collection, and in the next season this segment becomes a mainstay.
Arino's challenge this week is a game published by Hudson, known as Star Force. Shmup fans will immediately recognize this title, as it almost singlehandedly brought the genre to the forefront in Japan.
Win Condition: Earn the 50k bonus for defeating Rarios before it forms.
Bonus: A legendary video game idol is introduced on the show! Guess which video game character is modeled after him?
Welcome to another Let's Watch: GameCenter CX article! This week, I've decided to release this episode early due to the shortness of the episode. Expect another episode on Friday!
Previously, Arino interviewed Atsushi Inaba, a producer for Tekki [Steel Battalion outside Japan] and learned the history behind the infamous controller. He then proceeded to challenge the title and see how far he could make it while playing it on a theatre screen.
This week, Arino's back and playing another Life Simulator game, Roommania #203 for the Sega Dreamcast. He's quite familiar with the title, as he purchased it when he was released. However, there was one scenario he never completed on his own - the romance scenario. Viewers may remember his trials with Angelique Trois in S1E2, but will things be different this time?
Win Condition: Complete the Romance scenario with the good ending.
As always, leave your comments and feedback below and enjoy the show.
Welcome to another Let's Watch: GameCenter CX article!
Last week, Arino was thrown into a strange situation with Angelique Trois, a dating simulation game published by Koei. Surprisingly, Arino took the game to heart and tried his best to date Seiran, but in the end was turned down and failed the challenge.
This time, we find Arino interviewing Tekki's producer, Atsushi Inaba. For those not familiar with the name, Tekki is known as Steel Batallion outside of Japan. Witness the story behind Tekki and watch as Arino learns the controls.
Win Condition: None. There is no pass/fail this time, only seeing how far he can get.
Previous articles can be found here:
http://www.rfgeneration.c...e-Center-CX-S1E1-1894.php
http://www.rfgeneration.c...meCenter-CX-S1E2-1899.php
Post any comments or feedback on the episode below for discussion. If anyone has any gameplay video they would like to post of themselves playing Tekki/Steel Batallion in a "Let's Play" style, PM me and we'll get it added to the blog!
Welcome back, RFGeneration! Since the previous episode had such a favorable response, I've decided to try posting these videos weekly on Fridays pending any setbacks. For the 1st Season, this may be pushed up to twice a week since the episodes only contain Arino's challenges.
Last we left off Arino, he was taking on "Takeshi no Chousenjou", one of Japan's most infamous games on the Famicom. If you haven't had a chance to watch, the episode can be found on the previous blog entry:
http://www.rfgeneration.c...e-Center-CX-S1E1-1894.php
This time, we find Arino interviewing Tomomi Matsushita about the Neo Romance line of video games and taking on Angelique Trois, a dating sim game published by Koei. How will Arino respond to playing a dating sim game, and will he be able to pass the challenge?
Win Condition: Complete the game with a favorable ending.
Post any comments or feedback on the episode below for discussion.
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