The BEST episodes of GameCenter CX season 14
Every episode of GameCenter CX season 14, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of GameCenter CX season 14!
GameCenter CX (domestically imported as Retro Game Master) is a Japanese television series where Shinya Arino, a member of comedy duo Yoiko, plays Japan's most popular classic video games and records his progress. From shooters (his worst genre) to puzzles (his best) and anything in between, Arino tackles an amazing variety of games. He is supported by his Assistant Directors (ADs) and staff, who offer moral support, tips and tricks, and occasionally take the controller and play themselves. He also gets the chance to interview game designers and to visit arcades all over Japan.
#1 - Tower of Babel
Season 14 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/17/2011
Being the Puzzle Chief, Arino actually selected this game to be his last challenge of the fourteenth season during the new year's special. And so he will attempt to build a series of staircases to heaven in Namco's puzzle classic, Tower Of Babel. It is the final round of To Catch A Catch Copy and Arino and Nakayama are evenly poised to take the honors. One will attempt to pull ahead for good by matching games to taglines about the number one arcade port, a terrifying experience and a challenging game fit for a genius.
#2 - Paris-Dakar Rally Special
Season 14 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/28/2010
The first game to be challenged in season 14 is the bewildering Paris-Dakar Rally Special. While the title might suggest that this is a straight forward racing game it actually contains a series of strange stages that just happen to contain a car, and that's after the ordeal you have to go through to even get a vehicle. In a short piece of Game Center CX news we get the annual report from the Tokyo Game Show where Arino was a presenter at an awards ceremony and also made his regular appearance at the merchandise booth. To Catch A Catch Copy is the new segment for the season and this time it is a competition between Tojima, Nakayama and Arino. They have a pile of games in front of them and when read the game's tagline have to be the first to match it to the correct game. The first taglines speak of dreamy adventure, dramatic action and new fun.
#3 - Kamaitachi no Yoru (Night Of The Sickle Weasel)
Season 14 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/3/2011
Night Of The Sickle Weasel is more interactive story than it is a traditional video game but it is very interesting nonetheless. Arino will attempt to identity the killer in this classic story setup of a group of strangers trapped in a cabin during a fierce snow storm. To keep with the theme of the challenge, Arino will be paying a visit to a charming convenience during dusk. Arino tries his hand at a typical coin flipping game before he shares some games and conversation with a couple of local kids. Arino will try to make up his deficit in To Catch A Catch Copy by picking out a historic adventure, a puzzling fantasy game and a co-operative adventure.
#4 - Rockman 4: Arata Naru Yabou!! (Mega Man 4) (1)
Season 14 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/17/2011
With the record for this series leaning slightly in his favor, Arino takes on its fourth instalment, Mega Man 4. While this entry is not known for introducing too many innovative features to the franchise it did make once major addition, the ability to charge up your mega buster shots, which Arino must make heavy use of if he wants to see the ending. On a cold and miserable day the best way to warm one's soul is with an arcade visit and so Arino will be visiting the Chiba North Skyland recreation center. The activities that are offered include a batting center, indoor fishing, mini-bikes and games which are all sure to keep Arino warm as he waits out the weather. Tojima and Arino will attempt to catch up in today's To Catch A Catch Copy by identifying an international game, a game that's sure to make you cry and a game that's suitable for everyone.
#5 - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1)
Season 14 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/25/2010
It was 5 years ago that Arino first challenged a Nintendo 64 game when he took on Mario's jump to 3D and now it's Link's turn. Arino will finally be challenging Nintendo's masterpiece, The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time. Will Arino be able to become the hero of time or will the world of Hyrule be thrown into eternal darkness? Ribbit! It's a frog filled TamaGe when Arino takes a night scroll to Honjo Kaeru Honpo. While they do have a couple of frog themed arcade games it's not long before Arino and Kibe are enjoying some monjayaki together instead. The subject of the taglines in To Catch A Catch Copy are described as a true mystery, a real fighter and an awakening.
#6 - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (2)
Season 14 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/9/2010
As it was with Mario's leap to 3D so it is with Link's, it's part 2 of Arino's challenge of The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time. In the second part of this epic challenge, Arino has two more medallions to collect before he must fight for the fate of Hyrule against the dark lord himself, Ganondorf. Tojima and Nakayama attempt to take an outright lead in the latest To Catch A Catch Copy by spotting a dangerously fun game, a Roman sequel and a game that thinks quite highly of itself.
#7 - Jerry Boy (Smart Ball)
Season 14 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/11/2010
Another of Game Freak's lesser known games is the subject of today's challenge when Arino slowly rolls his way to victory in Smart Ball. Will Arino be able to clear 8 stages and rescue the princess or will the curse afflicted Jerry Boy be stuck as a slime ball forever? Jambo is an arcade situated near a railway station that's usually frequented by salary men but today Arino will be paying it a visit. Arino and Takahashi take their aggression out on the pitch in Pro Evolution Soccer before teaming up to shoot baddies in the latest Time Crisis release. There's some more mental gymnastics in To Catch A Catch Copy as the guys try to identify which games had taglines about growing stronger with Mario, a reluctant hero and a hard but fun game.
#8 - Saigo no Nindou (Ninja Spirit)
Season 14 - Episode 6 - Aired 1/20/2011
While Arino would probably fair poorly against Irem's shmups he might have a better shot at their action classic, Ninja Spirit. Similar to another ninja themed series of games, Ninja Spirit can be very difficult and the player has to contend with one of the hardest gauntlets in any TurboGrafx-16 game. Arino goes back to basics with a country excursion to Nagatoro where he takes in the scenery on an electric bicycle before heading to the local arcade, Game Cosmos. After working up a sweat Arino wins a prize of questionable origin that he can use to dab his face before moving on to games with more traditional prizes. To Catch A Catch Copy has games in all shapes in sizes that hopefully match taglines about excitement in the outfield, beating 100% and the gong show. Lastly there is a small bit of Game Center CX news from a recent Santa themed stamp rally to promote the latest DVD release.
#9 - Rockman 4: Arata Naru Yabou!! (Mega Man 4) (2)
Season 14 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/3/2011
As it was with the third game so it is with the fourth. Mega Man 4's challenge has entered its second day. After finally reaching the evil Doctor's castle last time out Arino has an uphill battle ahead of him as each stage is harder than the last until the final showdown with the Doctor himself. Once you get past the bizarre German theming and angel pig mascots, Tokyo German Village houses a traditional arcade inside its walls. Arino tries his hand at feeding some zoo animals before taking on some ADs at a game of soccer with a unique control mechanism. With the race relatively even one contestant will try to pull ahead in To Catch A Catch Copy by identifying a mysterious game, a game with strong enemies and a bird simulator.
#10 - Super Star Force: Jikureki no Himitsu
Season 14 - Episode 5 - Aired 1/6/2011
Arino has a horrid record when it comes to traditional shmup games so it might be lucky that Super Star Force isn't strictly that. Unlike the original that Arino previously challenged, Super Star Force is a mix of shooting and adventure gameplay which will hopefully be better suited to his unique set of skills. Today's TamaGe jaunt will take place at the developer owned Plaza Capcom. As you'd expect the entrance is teeming with Street Fighter iconography and the arcade proper is filled with a number of their classic and latest games, including Super Street Fighter IV on which Arino battles Nakayama. Chess dreams, hungry wolves and sumo are the subjects of the taglines in To Catch A Catch Copy as Arino tries to close the gap.