A playthrough of XSeed Games' 2009 license-based, retro-themed game collection for the Nintendo DS, Retro Game Challenge.

This video shows all of the challenges completed for the ending.

Developed by indieszero, who have also worked on things like Electroplankton, Final Fantasy Theatrhythm, and NES Remix, Retro Game Challenge is a video game adaptation of the Japanese TV show "GameCenter CX."

For those not familiar with the program, episodes feature the star, comedian Arino Shinya, as he struggles to beat a wide range of classic retro titles with little help, no cheats, and a strict time limit.

Between the constant flow of game trivia, Arino's (extremely Japanese) sense of humor, and the regular looks at the local Tokyo old-school gaming scene, it makes for an extremely entertaining bit of viewing. You know, if you like video games.

Retro Game Challenge is framed by a delightfully contrived setup that matches the fun spirit of the program: Arino, jealous of your gaming skill, turns you back into a child and sends you back to the year 1984. There you befriend Arino as a young boy, and are informed by the crazed future Arino that you must complete his challenges if you want to return to your own time.

(That whole computerized psychotic head schtick, though... I wonder if anyone on the art staff was a fan of RoboCop 2...)

There are eight games,spanning a wide range of genres, that you'll have to try your hand at. Each of them faithfully adhere to the tenets of NES game design, and they do an impressive job of feeling like legitimate games.

All eight are fully complete games, with most containing far more content than you'll ever see sticking to just the challenge requirements. (Hence why I didn't attempt to 100% everything the game offers - the video would've been a few times the length it already is had I tried.)

For each game, I begin with showing the full manual, the latest magazine, and then playing through each of the games' challenges. Here's a brief description of each, with the time codes:

2:11 Cosmic Gate
A Galaga-style shooter.

30:41 Haggle Man
An action-platformer based on Ninja JaJaMaru-kun with heavy Mega Man vibes.

1:02:08 Rally King
A top-down racer, similar to Road Fighter and Thrash Rally.

1:26:37 Star Prince
A vertical shooter, based on Star Force.

1:52:36 Rally King SP
A "reissue" with sponsored ads, similar to games like Gradius Arukimendesu, Kaettekita Mario Bros., and All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros.

2:16:57 Haggle Man 2
A new and improved take on Haggle Man.

2:41:32 Guadia Quest
An unexpectedly lengthy RPG based on Dragon Quest, but it also includes lots of love for Final Fantasy.

4:50:35 Haggle Man 3
A mixture of Ninja Gaiden's platforming with Simon's Quest's ARPG elements.

5:30:19 Final round of challenges begins
"Last day of the 80s"

7:03:53 Ending

Most of the games are of excellent quality. Though I could have happily done without Rally King, I had a lot of fun with all the others. Especially Star Prince! They all feel like games that could've existed in the late 80s, and the accompanying banter with Arino keeps the whole thing feeling personable, fun, and hopelessly nostalgic.

I mean, between the references to The Wizard, Takahashi Meijin (and Hudson Soft in general), and even the NES Metal Gear's Engrish, it's clear that the people working on the game cared a lot about the subject, and that they relished the opportunity to load the script with fond reminders of things long since forgotten.

Retro Game Challenge is an easy recommendation to make to anyone that played video games as a kid in the 80s. It's great.
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