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[Stumpokapow]

This is the localization (by XSeed Games) of the Japanese game Game Center CX: Arino's Challenge, based on the TV show Game Center CX, which is to be released on DVD later this year domestically. The original game was made by Bandai-Namco.

The game releases today (can be found on shelves today/tomorrow depending) in North America, and has no European release currently planned. It retails for $29.99.

The Premise:

A Japanese comedian sends you back in time and you must complete ridiculous parodies of 1980s video games. Along with the games, you have a stack of faux 1980s video game magazines with hints, tips, and cheat codes.

(screenshots cribbed from GamesRadar)

The point is to finish the challenges you're given in each game (so, basically you're looking at an achievement-style system here), but each game is a full-length experience so if you feel like it you can keep going and play the whole thing.

The Games:
- Cosmic Gate: A knock-off of Galaga
- Hanguru Man / Haggle Man: A knock-off of early Famicom/NES platformers, including Ninja JaJaMaRu-kun (+ 2 sequels)
- Rally King: Top-down racer in the NES tradition (+ sequel)
- Star Prince: A more advance space shmup, boasting vertical movement
- Guardia Quest: A full-length takeoff on Dragon Quest.
A total of 8 faux-retro games for you to play.

Impressions:
Kohler's impressions of the Japanese release

Hey, remember the 80's? Remember poring over game magazines for cheat codes to help you get past the impossible sections of the short, difficult NES games of the era?

Remember sitting around with your friends on lazy summer days trying to be the first one to get past that tricky part? So do the people who designed Game Center CX, an homage to 1985's game culture.

The game opens up with you and your pal in the family room (your pal is the child-version of Arino, who can't believe that he grows up to be an evil old man), with little to entertain you but a Famicom and a copy of Cosmic Gate, a Galaga-inspired shooter. If you want, you can pop the game in the system and just start playing, but Arino starts assigning you challenge after challenge. Clear Stage 5. Use the "warp gates" twice. Blow up a giant asteroid. Get 200,000 points.

Eventually, you realize that you're not quite sure how to pull off some of these objectives. For example, to make a Warp Gate appear, you have to make sure that the flashing enemy in a certain wave is the first one you kill. This information is in the game's instruction booklet, which you can flip through by pausing the game and going back to the main menu on the lower screen.

And each game, of course, has secrets. You can enter in secret codes for powerups, or find Super Warp Gates on certain levels. To find these, you'll have to flip through back issues of Game Fan Magazine (no, not that Game Fan), which also contain previews of upcoming games, fictional Top Ten lists, and editorials from the fictional staff.

Ray Barnholt, 1up

(About Guardia Quest) [It's] the collection's uncannily accurate take on classic Japanese role-playing games. This Dragon Quest look-alike's got all the same trappings as early localized JRPGs, from a retro, pixelated font to truncated item names that rarely go above eight characters. Thankfully, the game's also got some modern touches, like dialogue-skipping and autobattle options.

Between game challenges, you'll receive instruction manuals (they even include cartridge-safety precautions!) to help you along, and your companion, the adolescent Arino, frequently provides new issues of GameFan Magazine. The mag's got plenty of coverage on the games you're playing, including both entertaining (if nonessential) reviews and Q&A sections and valuable tip and cheat-code write-ups. While the Japanese version used staff from Game Center CX as GameFan's frequently rotating roster of editors-in-chief, Retro Game Challenge features "cameos" from a few well-known Western game journalists. Expect to see columns from "Dan Sock," "Milkman," and "Johnny England" -- and, though this GameFan's got no relation to the fondly remembered '90s gaming mag of the same name, what would it be without a certain "Dave H."?

MEGA RETRONAUTS BLOWOUT--5 days of Retro Game Challenge. (thanks jj984jj)

Need more info? Check the website: RetroGameChallenge.com.

 

[Like the hat?]

i shall be picking it up

 

[sprsk]

Really should get this game, it's great.

Have the sequel's special edition on preorder.

 

[Regulus Tera]

Gonna get it tomorrow morning. So hyped.

 

[needlesmcgirk]

Seems pretty interesting, but I still don't really know what its about. Like you just have to play these knockoff games to complete challenges to beat the game?

 

[sprsk]

Seems pretty interesting, but I still don't really know what its about. Like you just have to play these knockoff games to complete challenges to beat the game?

Yes, all you have to do is play games.

Imagine that shit.

 

[Princess Skittles]

Mine's pre-ordered at Amazon, I'll have it by Friday.

Maybe I can buy it Tuesday/Wednesday and just take back my Amazon copy on Friday? :lol

 

[Stumpokapow]

Seems pretty interesting, but I still don't really know what its about. Like you just have to play these knockoff games to complete challenges to beat the game?

Like Kohler says in his preview that I quoted, the premise is that you play the knockoff games. You are given specific challenges to complete. If you want to just play those games straight through, you can do that--they're full length games. If you just want to move on to the next game, complete the challenges. Need help or want a glimpse at upcoming games? Read the instruction manual or GameFan magazine.

 

[Chairhome]

I'm out of town, but I tracked down a Gamestop and pre-ordered it here. I'm pretty hyped for this game. Only 5 different games though? Oh well.

There's an interesting developer blog (3 entries so far) on 1up about the localization process if anyone's interested.

 

[Stumpokapow]

I'm out of town, but I tracked down a Gamestop and pre-ordered it here. I'm pretty hyped for this game. Only 5 different games though? Oh well.

8. Hanguru Man has 2 sequels, Rally King has 1.

 

[jon bones]

frak, this game looks really great... will pick it up down the line, as my backlog reduces.

 

[jj984jj]

Don't forget the Retronauts extensive blowout!

The Guadia Quest entry has me hyped:

The first, Pacts, basically swipes the demon pacts from Megami Tensei; by forging agreements with enemies, you gain the ability to summon them in combat. Sure, you could argue that this is derived from Dragon Quest V, which introduced monster capturing to the series, but DQV's monsters joined up at random and on a whim. In Guadia Quest, you actively choose to befriend them -- very MegaTen.

http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8980542&publicUserId=5379721

I can't wait to pick this up.

 

[beelzebozo]

bought bought bought

i just wish i didn't have to wait until tomorrow consarnit

 

[rollingstart]

did they include EGM jokes in there? that would make me double dip.

 

[AstroLad]

preordered a while ago to support XSEED

 

[Stumpokapow]

Don't forget the Retronauts extensive blowout!

Added that into the OP, thanks dude.

 

[nny]

based on the TV show Game Center CX, which is to be released on DVD later this year domestically.

is this confirmed?? excellent.

I really want to pick this game up, but unfortunately my money is finite, can't buy 'em all. :\

 

[john tv]

DS 2007 GOTY in Japan IMO. Loved it. Cannot wait for the sequel later this month!

 

[speedpop]

I have to import this. Buuuu~

 

[Pureauthor]

Will be mine.

 

[Like the hat?]

WTF

$39.99 at best buy!

 

[beelzebozo]

that's. . . that's not the best buy at all!

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

want want want want want want want want want want want want oh god i am drowning in them want want want want want want want want want

 

[Chairhome]

WTF

$39.99 at best buy!

Its 29.99 at evilstop, I think.

If you don't want to shop there, you could get best buy to probably price match it.

 

[Like the hat?]

Its 29.99 at evilstop, I think.

If you don't want to shop there, you could get best buy to probably price match it.

may have to try that. i have $25 in best buy reward zone certificates that i was planning on using..

 

[Kobiekun]

Cannot wait to get this in the mail!

 

[Bebpo]

Serious question for those who played the import: If you take away the nostalgia/parody aspect, are the games actually good games?

 

[the year 20XX]

I am passing on everything else this month (finances...) and getting this. SO excited.

 

[Dragona Akehi]

Argle bargle. No money right now. NEED. NEEEEED. :S

 

[morningbus]

This is the localization (by XSeed Games) of the Japanese game Game Center CX: Arino's Challenge, based on the TV show Game Center CX, which is to be released on DVD later this year domestically.

Wait, really? Does anyone have more information on this?

 

[Tyrone Slothrop]

XSeed are truly gods among men

 

[Stumpokapow]

Wait, really? Does anyone have more information on this?

The box for the game mentions the DVDs. They've been long rumoured. That's about it.

 

[Princess Skittles]

Serious question for those who played the import: If you take away the nostalgia/parody aspect, are the games actually good games?

Yes (if you like NES game, obviously).

 

[Vinci]

XSeed are truly gods among men

I will purchase their every release just to show how much I love and worship them.

 

[botticus]

Wait, really? Does anyone have more information on this?

http://www.siliconera.com/2008/06/23/subtitled-retro-game-master-dvds-seek-distributor/

“They have produced the English subb'd DVDS and are now looking for a US dist for them,” a spokesperson told me.

 

[morningbus]

Uh...

Did I accidentally say something offensive?

I'm sorry. No ill will was meant.

 

[Stumpokapow]

Beg your parents for it. Say it'll count as your Birthday AND Christmas presents. And that you'll take out the trash every week for a month!

d's parents have been dead for about 5000 years now. thanks for bringing it up, jerk.

 

[Diomedeskun]

If this weren't coming out so close to Fire Emblem, I would absolutely be getting it now. Hopefully it's still around in a couple of months.

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

Serious question for those who played the import: If you take away the nostalgia/parody aspect, are the games actually good games?

I doubt anyone's going to be able to answer this question for you. If a person felt any nostalgia, it's virtually impossible to separate that out from the overall appreciation of the games, and if they didn't feel any nostalgia whatsoever I can't imagine what would possess them to play this.

 

[GotchaForce]

The box for the game mentions the DVDs. They've been long rumoured. That's about it.

Yes! Hopefully it's the full run of the show.

 

[sammy]

been waiting for this one!

 

[jaundicejuice]

I'll definently keep my eye open for this game.

 

[AstroLad]

if you don't buy this, i seriously don't see how you could still pretend to be a hardcore gamer by posting on gaf.

 

[Volcynika]

Prolly will try to pick this up Friday when I get another paycheck.

 

[Tucah]

So excited for this, can't wait to go out and pick it up tomorrow.

 

[BitchTits]

Looking forward to finally be able to read it in English :lol

Great game(s), sequel is almost here too.


One thing I hope they fix in the sequel is that when you fulfill one of the challenges, it throws you out of the game, and you have to start from the beginning again. It would be nice if you got the 'achievement', but could continue playing - this would've been good especially for Rally King (lap times).

Serious question for those who played the import: If you take away the nostalgia/parody aspect, are the games actually good games?

Sure. The games are all fun (Rally King is the possible exception - why did they include it TWICE?! :x )

 

[discoalucard]

Serious question for those who played the import: If you take away the nostalgia/parody aspect, are the games actually good games?

Half and half, I'd say. Rally King is terrible, and Cosmic Gate isn't anything special, just Galaga with a few new mechanics. Guardia Quest is good if you like Dragon Quest II, but it drags on if you just want to unlock the last game. (Also, the second Rally King isn't really a sequel, it's just a "special" release to tie in with a fake food company, parodying that ramen edition of Gradius and other similar weird tie-ins. In other words, it makes you play the same awful game twice. Ugh.)

On the other hand, Star Prince is excellent (on the level of maybe Gun*Nac), and the first two Haggleman games are fun - way better than the Jajamaru-kun games that inspired it. If the third Haggleman game was "real" and released around the NES era, it would undoubtedly be remembered as one of the best of its time - it's THAT good. Think Ninja Gaiden with vague exploration elements.

 

[mollipen]

I'm not really sure I'd call Gaudia Quest a "full-length RPG" by any means. It isn't really the size of the original DragonQuest, which would now be considered pretty small in scope to later 8-bit RPGs.

And god-damn fuck all RALLY KING IS NOT TERRIBLE. I can't believe all of the hate that game gets.

 

[dallow_bg]

Getting this tomorrow.

 

[mclem]

Doing my bit for Europe, have already placed an order from VGPlus - which, of course, will guarantee a European release being announced in short order.