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Sugoi! Sugoi!: Game Center CX Coming to DS
Game Center CX is a hilarious Japanese comedy TV show built on a very simple premise. In each episode, one man, comedian Shinya Arino, sits and plays an old-school console game (usually Famicom) while being filmed. The hitch is he has to beat the game in one sitting... or else he loses the challenge for that episode and must face the embarrassment of his failure by being lampooned across the intertube. The show has gained tremendous popularity in Japan and previous years are available on DVD. In the DS-crazed land of stinky ramen and teriyaki shrimpburgers, we can't say we're surprised that it's coming to the DS. But we can say we're glad!
To give you a feel for the show, we've tracked down an awesome episode featuring one of the hardest games ever released for any consoler: Transformers Convoy no Nazo. Also known as, Transformers Mystery of Convoy, Transformers is a ridiculously tough one-shot-and-you-burst-into-flames side scrolling platformer released for the Famicom in 1986. No NES version was ever released. Gorankudasai. (have a look)
8:05 - His first game ends in 22 seconds. Fastest 'game over' in show's history.
7:37 - Discovers he can transform Ultramagnus into a truck.
7:08 - Meets first tank.
6:05 - Grabs his first power up - the letter 'P'.
4:59 - After an hour on just the first stage (and 50 lives later), Director asks if he's ready to give up.
4:30 - Director shows Arino the trick to the first stage.
3:31 - Director informs him that you can continue by holding AB and pressing start.
2:15 - Clears first stage.
0:42 - Forgets to do A/B continue trick and has to start all over.
4:29 - Forgets to continue again!
4:05 - Posts a continue reminder on screen.
2:03 - Becomes frustrated, badmouths director's choice of game.
0:53 - Puts 'Netsusama Sheet' on forehead to cool down.
5:56 - Proudly posts 'I just warped' sticky on monitor and states he needs to go to the restroom.
5:11 - 'Transform.' 'Transform.'
4:27 - 'Who the hell made this game?!'
3:46 - Makes it to the stage 4 boss.
2:07 - After 7 hours, Arino can't finish the show and must leave for Akihabara.
1:22 to end - Staff member takes over and plays game to the end. After beating the final? stage 10 boss, a warning screen appears. Amazingly, despite all that work, the game is not over. He must return to the beginning and collect the letters 'R-O-D-I-M-U-S'. Holy Crap! So after beating all 10 stages for the second time, a total of 18 hours of straight game play, the ending screen appears (at 0:17). BUT WAIT, THERES MORE! If so inclined, he can play through the levels for a third time as Rodimus Magnus. Apparently, unlocking Rodimus is the game's great 'nazo'. (nazo = riddle) Now the real adventure begins.
Announced back in April, the DS version of the show launches November 15, 2007 in Japan.
Links
Official Site: http://www.fujitv.co.jp/cs/gamecenter/
US Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Center_CX
Episode by Episode Guide in English by Crunk Games: http://www.crunkgames.com/?p=87
nande omae dayo. doryoku shitayo
Movable Type 3.2
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