The BEST episodes of GameCenter CX season 8
Every episode of GameCenter CX season 8, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of GameCenter CX season 8!
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 - Quinty (Mendel Palace)
Season 8 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/5/2008
The last challenge of season 8 has a subtle connection to the last episode of the first season. It was then that Arino met Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of the Pokémon series who also created the quirky puzzle game featured in today's challenge, Mendal Palace. It wouldn't be a season finale without a TamaGe and so Arino obliges by paying a visit to Fukushima Toys. Arino checks out a couple of sun faded arcade machines before perusing the shelves of forgotten pop culture items in store. In the epic conclusion to the Ring Ring Tactics saga Arino must finish the sixth stage of Championship Lode Runner with the help of a kid named Tatsuya. After the release of Retro Game Challenge Arino decides it's time he checks up on the progress each of the staff members has made in the game. The most accomplished person may surprise you (but probably won't). The Xevious Observation Diary is about to have its plug pulled until AD Tsuruoka steps in to save it, allowing the segment to live long enough to see another season.
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#2 - Flashback
Season 8 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/7/2007
It was only last season that Arino challenged the strange western game, Out Of This World, and now it's time for its spiritual successor, Flashback. Compared to Out Of This World, Flashback features more puzzles, a larger world to explore and unfortunately for Arino's challenge prospects, an increased emphasis on combat. This week's TamaGe takes place in Taitou-ku where Arino visits a café based on a tip from a magazine. After finally locating the entrance he sits down with a Namco cocktail cabinet and enjoys some of the specials they have on offer. Just when the wounds had begun to heal, Ring Ring Tactics returns in full force with a new game in tow. That game being the expert puzzler Championship Lode Runner which Arino will attempt to clear with assistance from the audience. This season will also feature a very short segment known as The Xevious Observation Diary which will study the effects of leaving a copy of Xevious running forever with invincibility on.
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#3 - Kai no Bouken (The Quest of Ki) (2)
Season 8 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/24/2007
Will Arino finally be able to ascend to the top of this accursed tower and escape once and for all? Arino and the ADs will need to pull out all the stops as they slowly claw their way up, floor by floor, in the second part of this riveting challenge of The Quest Of Ki. In a special report, Arino makes his triumphant return to the Tokyo Game Show where he was part of a presentation that gave awards to some classic game creators such as Hideo Kojima. He was then escorted by his bodyguard Tojima to the Game Center CX merchandise booth as well as the Namco Bandai booth to check out Retro Game Challenge. Project: Game Version is getting down to the wire as indieszero focus on the arduous task of bug testing.
#4 - Kamen no Ninja Hanamaru (Masked Ninja Hanamura)
Season 8 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/5/2007
Another week and another game with an odd backstory. It's the game that was later turned into a mascot platformer for a pizza chain, Masked Ninja Hanamura! Don't fret though, the original had skateboarding too. This episode also brings us a mini-documentary of sorts that follows Arino over a single day as he must attend three promotional events in three separate cities to promote Retro Game Challenge. What sounds like three simple fan events crammed into a single day is turned on its head when Arino makes a disastrous mistake on his way to the second event. The test pilot gets some words of encouragement in the Xevious Observation Diary.
#5 - Bonk’s Adventure
Season 8 - Episode 6 - Aired 1/16/2008
Hudson's famous mascot finally makes an appearance when Arino challenges Bonk's Adventure. It's another in a long line of cute platformers which take a quick turn into masochistic territory and will put Arino's reflexes to the test. This episode also features a documentary which covers the Christmas Live Challenge which featured Arino trying to finally complete Quest Of Ki and the increasing levels of drama which occurred as the deadline drew closer and closer.
#6 - Toukaidou Gojuusan-tsugi (53 Stations Of The Tokaido)
Season 8 - Episode 7 - Aired 1/30/2008
The goal of The Toukaidou Gojuusan-tsugi is to guide the fireworks maker, Kantaro through 21 extremely difficult stages. The games difficulty may prove to much for Arino to handle, and in an effort to help Arino AD Tsuroka ends up showing the staff his "singing" skills. At the amusement center, Arino soon spots Namco's awesome Lucky & Wild but it's not really his speed so he persuades Kibe to play him in Puyo Puyo. The trip ends with Arino, Kibe and Tojima trying not to embarrass themselves when they challenge each other to some bowling. There's also the latest instalment of Ring Ring Tactics in which Arino finally receives correspondence from a high school girl. The Xevious Observation Diary hits the 10 day mark and a surprising new character appears in the score.
#7 - Akumajou Special: Boku Dracula-kun (Kid Dracula)
Season 8 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/13/2008
Having had a horrifying experience with the third instalment of the Castlevania series perhaps Arino will have better luck with a spin-off of the series when he challenges Kid Dracula. He better beware though as this platformer is scarily difficult in its own right. Ring Ring Tactics reaches its hardest challenge yet in stage five which will require the use of a special bridge technique to beat. The score grows increasingly bizarre in the Xevious Observation diary.
#8 - Bikkuriman World
Season 8 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/21/2007
A game with a very complicated history but straight forward gameplay is the challenge for this episode. It's Sega's Bikkuriman World! or Wonder Boy In Monster Land! depending on who you ask. It's a leisure center visit for this episode's TamaGe and what a leisure center it is. It has arcade games that require some active participation of the player as well as indoor fishing, pool and something called auto tennis. The second instalment of Ring Ring Tactics picks up with Arino struggling with stage two but luckily there's someone who claims they can help him out with a technique straight out of the pied piper's hand book. 2 days and 18 hours after starting, the Xevious Observation Diary experiences its first score rollover.
#9 - Super Fantasy Zone
Season 8 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/19/2007
Despite his lack of skills with shooters, Arino must face the challenge of Super Fantasy Zone, SEGA's smash hit shooter series. ormer AD Sasano informs Arino of a great arcade that features over 200 classic arcade games in this university town set TamaGe. Though he's spoilt for choice, Arino tries hitting a home run before taking on Tanii in an unfair game of Space Wars. Arino tries to beat the ladder filled stage 3 of Championship Lode Runner in Ring Ring Tactics. Unable to do it himself he turns to a viewer who suggests using a fake-out technique to get the better of the robots. In a one off segment Abe, Arino, Kibe and director Fujimoto discuss what game should be challenged during the upcoming Christmas live challenge. Will it be Quest Of Ki? Another Mario game perhaps? Most importantly of all, will Abe cook anything?