GameCenter CX — Specials

May 20041h

After 13 hours of playing, Arino died mere inches from the flag at level 8-2. Exhausted and depressed our intrepid host threw in the towel. Revenge shall be had in this special episode of Game Center CX! Meanwhile, Arino and the staff visit a variety of hot spring resorts to learn more about the retro game centers that can be found there.

Dec 200525m

Apr 20061h

Arino starts the journey at Tonekko no Yu, an indoor hot spring center in Monbetsu-cho. He steps into the game center, where the "Money Exchanger" sign is bigger than the actual "Game Corner" sign. Consider it all too telling: as soon as he steps in, Arino’s surprised by the small size of the place compared to the rest of the building. And there are more prize and pachislo machines than video games.

Apr 20061h

The gang travels to downtown Asahika. Unfortunately the larger number of people around hasn’t made it any warmer. At any rate, he walks down to the next target: a dedicated game center called the Sugai Amusement Factory.

May 20061h

This time we’re in Kayoru, and the gang is getting ever closer to the northern tip of the island. The next place to visit is Sun Pillar, another hot spring center surrounded by trees.

May 20061h

Arino’s arrived at Wakkanai Station, signifying the northernmost town in Hokkaido and the home stretch of the journey. But there’s still a couple more places to check out! Arino heads over to Hitoshi no Mise for a bite to eat, and he asks the owner about the area before settling down with an order of kanimeshi (crab & rice).

Jun 200643m

It's time for Arino to take on Sunsoft's Ikki in a challenge that carries an ending so shocking that viewers are asked not to spoil it for others. But don't go in thinking that the ending will be the only thing to leave you in awe. It's a challenge filled with twists and turns with a riddle at the center of it that will leave Arino guessing till the very end.

Dec 200639m

Dec 20071h 5m

In this exclusive challenge from the fourth DVD box set, Arino will attempt to finish all 50 stages of the seminal Bomberman. At least that was the original intent of the staff but when Arino is cruising they decide to spice things up. To get his own back Arino grills them about their personal lives but they needn't worry as no one will ever see this challenge, right?

Sept 200810m

Oct 20089m

Dec 20081h

Arino and company search for the game center that's the farthest south possible in Japan.

Dec 20081h

Feb 20091h

Special episode released as a bonus DVD with the release of Game Center CX: Arino no Chosenjou 2.

Apr 200915m

Games included: Youkai Douchuuki, Ninja JaJaMaru-kun, The Super Shinobi, Kaizou Ningen Shubibiman, Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Golden Axe, Super Gussun Oyoyo.

Apr 200914m

After sampling the best of what the Wii's Virtual Console has to offer, Arino will be challenging the arcade version of Star Force. But before he sits down with the Virtual Console version an actual arcade machine is wheeled in for him to warm up on. What challenge is he warming up for exactly? A challenge he succeeded in all the way back in season 1, defeat Larios and be awarded 50,000 points.

May 200915m

The unbelievably wordy Downtown Special: It's Kunio's Samurai Drama! Gather 'Round Everybody! is the subject of today's challenge. This instalment in the long running Kunio series of game is set in the Edo period and Arino has been tasked with beating this period piece in only 5 hours. Downtown Special features the same great cooperative gameplay that made another Kunio game, River City Ransom, such a big hit and Arino will have to make use of that feature if he has any hope of completing this time sensitive challenge.

Jun 20091h

Jun 200915m

A bright conference room isn't the ideal environment for playing horror games but chills will soon run down Arino's spine when he challenges Splatterhouse. This gory arcade classic follows the possessed protagonist Rick as he tries to rescue his girlfriend Jennifer from the clutches of evil. Arino has 5 hours to clear this challenge and save Jennifer otherwise she'll be lost forever in the blood soaked halls of the West Mansion.

Jul 200915m

Jul 200915m

In this Nintendo Channel challenge Arino will take to the asphalt of Super Mario Kart's first track. Arino will attempt to beat Nintendo's goal time of 1 minute and 3.68 seconds to claim victory and stand atop the podium. It's not long before the challenge hits a road block though, as Arino can't even decide which racer to pick.

Nov 200920m

Nov 200920m

Dec 200920m

Dec 200918m

Dec 200921m

Dec 20091h

Game Center CX first 24 live show held in the Fuji TV Multi Theater on August 29th, 2009 in front of a live audience. Arino once again challenges Lemmings.

Apr 201020m

May 201020m

May 201020m

Jul 201026m

Dec 201042m

The goal of the game is to reunite the two love birds. In order to spice things up, the staff has prepared cards with romance questions written on them. Each time Arino clears 10 stages he must draw one of the cards and answer the questions written on them.

Jun 201117m

Jun 201115m

Jul 201126m

Dec 201137m

Dec 201121m

Immediately after his DVD special challenge City Connection, Arino is given a chance to get his revenge on The Genji and Heike Clans, however he has a 3 hour time limit to do so. If he loses this time, the challenge will be declared a loss forever. To help him through this hurdle AD Takahashi summons a special helper...

Feb 201233m

Jun 201220m

When the Kirby series turned 20 Nintendo decided to celebrate by releasing Kirby's Dream Collection which contains 6 entries from the beloved series. Today Arino will be challenging one of the games on the collection that he has unfinished business with, Kirby Super Star. During the new year's special he managed to clear 5 of Super Star's mini-games with his comedy partner Hamaguchi. Today he will attempt the clear the sixth, a boss rush style mode, The Arena.

Jun 20127m

Oct 20121h

Oct 201215m

Just as Arino sits down to record a Nintendo Channel challenge of Balloon Fight he's informed that he'll have a rather special guest for today's challenge. That guest is none other than Satoru Iwata, the CEO of Nintendo and one of the developers who worked on Balloon Fight. It turns out the President is here to interview the Chief for his Iwata Asks series were he interviews various game creators and luminaries. They discuss their own relationship to and histories in gaming before taking turns at a Balloon Fight challenge.

Dec 201236m

Jan 201318m

Balloon Fight was recently released on the Wii U Virtual Console to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Famicom. This makes for a great excuse to film a challenge in HD as well as revive a recent Nintendo Channel challenge. That challenge was to pop 20 green balloons in trip mode and was attended by the CEO of Nintendo, Satoru Iwata, who explained he later went home and cleared it on his own time. He suggests that Arino should try and get his revenge as well, but it isn't long before things start to escalate.

Feb 201345m

Arino previously challenged Fire Emblem: Mystery Of The Emblem when it appeared on the Wii Virtual Console but its release on the Wii U makes for a perfect excuse to double dip. Given that Arino has played it before you may think he has an advantage but fortunately he has absolutely no memory of playing the game let alone what it even entails. So his challenge to clear Book One: Chapter 3 without the loss of a party member could prove tough.

Mar 201335m

Oct 20131h

Dec 20131h

Jan 20141h

Dec 20141h

Dec 20151h 20m

Join Arino as journeys into darkness to solve the mystery of the Spencer Mansion in Resident Evil: Director's Cut. This is going to be a spooky DVD Challenge so Arino is going to have a few very special companions along the way.

Sept 20161h 21m

Dec 20161h

Dec 20171h

Dec 20181h

Dec 20181h

Dec 20191h

Dec 20201h

Mar 20211h

A one-hour special broadcast where GameCenter CX staff writer Masayuki Kibe takes on the main character role, and Chief Arino appears as a guest.

Dec 20211h

Dec 20221h

Dec 20231h