The BEST episodes of GameCenter CX season 18

#1 - Super Mario Land

Season 18 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/17/2014

For his first portable challenge Arino will be taking on the Game Boy classic, Super Mario Land. Released alongside the Game Boy in 1989 this Mario outing did an admirable job of emulating its console counterparts and is perhaps best remembered for its fantastic soundtrack. While very short Arino will have to contend with a unique aspect of this particular Mario game, shooting stages. More recreation center and less arcade, Chichibu Muse Park is today's TamaGe destination. While the park does offer a variety of activities Arino would rather take part in some virtual competition with the staff. Arino picks the perfect game to cool off after a hot bath in the latest NES Box segment when he sits down to play some Ice Climber. Arino sets himself a goal of beating 10 stages in 10 minutes which could prove tough in this slippery platformer.

#2 - Crazy Climber

Season 18 - Episode 15 - Aired 12/11/2014

In today's episode Arino has to scale the immense challenge presented by Crazy Climber. In this port of the classic arcade game the player has to scale a series of buildings of increasing difficulty in order to reach the ending. Will Arino be able to get to grips with the unique control scheme or will he plummet to defeat? On a quiet installment of TamaGe, Arino pops into a small cafe in Tokyo's Nakano ward. Inside he finds the usual fare of manga, food and hopefully games. Arino must do his best to construct a compelling MSX abbreviation from just horse racing and a machine gun-toting skier in GameCenter MSX.

#3 - Tatsunoko Fighter

Season 18 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/10/2014

From the creators of the classic delivery boy simulator Full Speed! Deliver Boy comes Tatsunoko Fighter. While the title may be reminiscent of a more recent game this title is an out-and-out platformer featuring art from a celebrated manga creator. This Tonkin House special will serve as a fittingly difficult and bizarre opening to what is sure to be yet another roller coaster of a season. The new segment for season 18 deals with an odd piece of Nintendo history, the NES Box. The NES Box, which oddly used NES and not Famicom parts, was a coin operated system with a multitude of games available to choose from. Arino decides to start out with a classic before abruptly finding out exactly how much his 100 yen gets him. To celebrate the release of the 3rd Game Center CX game a public event was held in frigid Sapporo. Despite the weather over 120 brave fans turned out to participate in the festivities.

#4 - Satsui no Kaisō: Soft House Renzoku Satsujin Jiken (The Hierarchy of Murderous Intent: The Software House Serial Murders)

Season 18 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/22/2014

A murder has been committed at a small game company and there’s only one man who can get to the bottom of it. Unfortunately, he wasn’t available so it’s up to Arino to figure out the killer in The Hierarchy of Murderous Intent: The Software House Serial Murders.

#5 - Mega Man X (1)

Season 18 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/24/2014

There was no chance that Capcom's celebrated mascot wouldn't make the leap to the next generation and so Arino finds himself challenging the blue bomber's first 16-bit outing, Mega Man X. Having already taken on 4 entries in the series to date Arino will be hoping that his generalization of SNES games being easier will hold true. Either way he's in for one hell of a ride.

#6 - Mega Man X (2)

Season 18 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/8/2014

As Arino's challenge of Mega Man X enters part 2 he must venture deep into the bowels of Sigma's fortress in order to defeat the big bad himself. Along the way Arino will to deal with all manner of robotic opponents and even relive a dramatic scene from his recent past. Arino arrives at Asakusa Batting Stadium in style for the latest TamaGe. Given the decor it's fairly obvious the location is primarily for indoor batting cages which Arino will be able to enjoy after he's sampled their selection of games. As a nice break from the intensity of the challenge we have another instalment of NES Box. This one picks right up where the last one left off with Arino continuing to enjoy Devil World.

#7 - Family Jockey (1)

Season 18 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/7/2014

#8 - Magic Sword

Season 18 - Episode 13 - Aired 11/6/2014

Arino will be in for some classic arcade action when he takes on Capcom's Magic Sword. Consisting of 50 levels, the game finds our hero battling hordes of enemies as he journeys to the top of the tower to vanquish the dark lord Drokmar. Luckily Arino will be able to recruit a number of powerful warriors to fight alongside him. Oh, and Derek. After drifting off into memory lane Arino can focus on the real task at hand, checking out a batting center for TamaGe. While appearing to be your typical Japanese batting center the main attraction at this location is several unique prize game created by the site's manager. That, and Hi-C. It's time for another round of the segment of Game Center MSX, the segment that finally gives the system the attention it deserves. This time around Arino plays a game with a title more exciting than its gameplay in Butamaru Pants, and a game with perhaps a little too literal of a title title in Jump Coaster.

#9 - Gunstar Heroes

Season 18 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/5/2014

At long last the time has come for Arino to challenge Gunstar Heroes! This beloved classic from Treasure features some of the coolest and toughest action on the Genesis and it'll be up to Arino (and red or blue?) to put a stop to Golden Silver and save the world. The Adachi neighborhood of Tokyo is home to a charming little candy store by the name of Cosmo and this will be Arino's destination for his latest TamaGe excursion. Once inside Arino has to deal with the pressure of performing in front of all of his adoring onlookers. Unable to get much gaming in, this visit will have to be continued... Determined to get an NES Box win under his belt Arino selects a classic sports game he's sure will be able to beat in quick time.

#10 - D

Season 18 - Episode 14 - Aired 11/20/2014

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sega Saturn, Arino takes on one of the systems quintessential games, D. In Kenji Eno's horror classic, Arino will guide the heroine Laura on her search for answers to her family's bloody past. In today's TameGe, Arino is north of Tokyo in Ageo, Saitama checking out a game center with some unique titles. The game center features some original prize games as well as one machine that is too hot for TV. And to finish things off, Arino heads to the well stocked vending machine corner. On GameCenter MSX, Arino checks out the very unique math based platformer Balance as well as Heavy Boxing before deciding on how the MSX got its name.

#11 - Tenkaichi Bushi Keru Nagūru

Season 18 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/19/2014

#12 - Super Godzilla

Season 18 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/3/2014

To coincide with the new at the time movie, Arino will doing his beast to save humanity from destruction in Super Godzilla! There will be six stages to be conquered in this unique fighting game if Arino hopes to be able to ensure that Godzilla remains in his rightful place as the true king of the monsters. Up a ropeway in Saitama is where you will find Arino in the latest TamaGe. Even at the top of a mountain Arino can enjoy a few unique arcade machines that are hard to find down below. Arino and Inoue try and get on the board against the CPU in some games of mahjong in the latest Famciom Box.

#13 - The Mysterious Murasame Castle

Season 18 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/5/2015

Another classic is on the cards today as Arino tackles Nintendo's The Mysterious Murasame Castle. While the game only consists of 5 stages, it is known for its high level of difficulty that requires fast twitch responses, two things that will surely suit Arino. Arino takes a step back in time in an old shopping street in Meguro for this episode's TamaGe. After snacking Arino hits a local toy store where he enjoys some old favorites before torturing Takahashi once again. Arino and Kibe sit down to enjoy what is the final rendition of GameCenter MSX. They will go out swinging with their most expensive title Zanac and MSX Baseball.

#14 - Wizards & Warriors

Season 18 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/5/2015

#15 - Family Jockey (2)

Season 18 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/21/2014

#16 - Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi

Season 18 - Episode 11 - Aired 9/18/2014

#17 - Heisei Tensai Bakabon

Season 18 - Episode 12 - Aired 10/23/2014

#18 - Bravoman

Season 18 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/8/2015

#19 - R-Type

Season 18 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/22/2015

#20 - Commando

Season 18 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/19/2015