Episodes List
Ep.1 Super Mario Bros. 2
Air Date: 2004-05-30
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.
Ep.2 DVD-BOX1 Challenge: Transformers: Convoy no Nazo
Air Date: 2005-12-23
Ep.3 The Far North Game Travelogue Part 1-2
Air Date: 2006-04-12
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.
Ep.4 The Far North Game Travelogue Part 3-4
Air Date: 2006-04-26
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.
Ep.5 The Far North Game Travelogue Part 5-7
Air Date: 2006-05-10
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.
Ep.6 The Far North Game Travelogue Part 8-9
Air Date: 2006-05-24
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).
Ep.7 DVD-BOX2 Challenge: Ikki
Air Date: 2006-06-23
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.
Ep.8 DVD-BOX3 Challenge: Twinbee
Air Date: 2006-12-22
Ep.9 DVD-BOX4 Challenge: Bomberman
Air Date: 2007-12-21
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?
Ep.10 Nintendo Channel 1: Mega Man 9 (Part 1)
Air Date: 2008-09-24
Ep.11 Nintendo Channel 1: Mega Man 9 (Part 2)
Air Date: 2008-10-01
Ep.12 The Far South Game Travelogue
Air Date: 2008-12-15
Arino and company search for the game center that's the farthest south possible in Japan.
Ep.13 New Years Live Special: Tower of Druaga
Air Date: 2008-12-31
Ep.14 Game Center CX: Arino no Chosenjou
Air Date: 2009-02-26
Special episode released as a bonus DVD with the release of Game Center CX: Arino no Chosenjou 2.
Ep.15 Nintendo Channel 2: Wii Virtual Console demonstration
Air Date: 2009-04-08
Games included: Youkai Douchuuki, Ninja JaJaMaru-kun, The Super Shinobi, Kaizou Ningen Shubibiman, Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Golden Axe, Super Gussun Oyoyo.
Ep.16 Nintendo Channel 3: Star Force
Air Date: 2009-04-15
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.
Ep.17 Nintendo Channel 4: Downtown Special: Kunio-kun no Jidaigeki da yo Zenin Shugou!
Air Date: 2009-05-14
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.
Ep.18 Game Center CX Live Special: Takeshi no Chosenjou
Air Date: 2009-06-13
Ep.19 Nintendo Channel 5: Splatterhouse
Air Date: 2009-06-17
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.
Ep.20 Nintendo Channel 6: Volfied
Air Date: 2009-07-01
Ep.21 Nintendo Channel 7: Super Mario Kart
Air Date: 2009-07-22
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.
Ep.22 Nintendo Channel 8: Super Mario Bros. 3 (Part 1)
Air Date: 2009-11-11
Ep.23 Nintendo Channel 8: Super Mario Bros. 3 (Part 2)
Air Date: 2009-11-25
Ep.24 Nintendo Channel 8: Super Mario Bros. 3 (Part 3)
Air Date: 2009-12-02
Ep.25 REVENGE Against "Legend of the Mystical Ninja"
Air Date: 2009-12-18
Ep.26 DVD-BOX6 Challenge: Yie Ar Kung Fu
Air Date: 2009-12-18
Ep.27 Game Center CX Live Special: Lemmings
Air Date: 2009-12-25
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.
Ep.28 Nintendo Channel 9: Super Metroid (Part 1)
Air Date: 2010-04-28
Ep.29 Nintendo Channel 9: Super Metroid (Part 2)
Air Date: 2010-05-06
Ep.30 Nintendo Channel 9: Super Metroid (Part 3)
Air Date: 2010-05-12
Ep.31 Nintendo Channel 10: Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem
Air Date: 2010-07-07
Ep.32 DVD-BOX7 Challenge: Binary Land
Air Date: 2010-12-24
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.
Ep.33 Nintendo Channel 11: Excitebike 3D
Air Date: 2011-06-07
Ep.34 Nintendo Channel 12: Xevious
Air Date: 2011-06-15
Ep.35 Nintendo Channel 13: Star Fox 64
Air Date: 2011-07-06
Ep.36 DVD-BOX8 Challenge: City Connection
Air Date: 2011-12-22
Ep.37 REVENGE Against "The Genji and Heike Clans"
Air Date: 2011-12-22
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...
Ep.38 Nintendo Channel 14: 3DS Virtual Console, Donkey Kong
Air Date: 2012-02-22
Ep.39 Nintendo Channel 15: Kirby's Dream Collection: Kirby Super Star
Air Date: 2012-06-22
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.
Ep.40 Nintendo Channel 16: Kirby's Dream Collection: New Challenge Stages
Air Date: 2012-06-22
Ep.41 Game Center CX in ASIA
Air Date: 2012-10-05
Ep.42 Nintendo Channel 17: Iwata Asks, Balloon Fight
Air Date: 2012-10-26
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.
Ep.43 DVD-BOX9 Challenge: Spelunker
Air Date: 2012-12-21
Ep.44 Nintendo Channel 18: Balloon Fight (Wii U VC)
Air Date: 2013-01-24
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.
Ep.45 Nintendo Channel 19: Fire Emblem: Monshou no Nazo (Wii-U VC)
Air Date: 2013-02-20
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.
Ep.46 Nintendo Channel 20: Mother 2
Air Date: 2013-03-20
Ep.47 GameCenter CX in Paris
Air Date: 2013-10-14
Ep.48 DVD-BOX10 Challenge: Pooyan
Air Date: 2013-12-20
Ep.49 Arino's Challenge in Budokan
Air Date: 2014-01-01
Ep.50 DVD-BOX11 Challenge: Castlevania
Air Date: 2014-12-19
Ep.51 DVD-BOX12 Challenge: Resident Evil: Director's Cut
Air Date: 2015-12-18
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.
Ep.52 Mega Drive Special: Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Air Date: 2016-09-02
Ep.53 DVD-BOX13 Challenge: Ganbare Goemon 2
Air Date: 2016-12-16
Ep.54 DVD-BOX14 Challenge: Super Dodge Ball
Air Date: 2017-12-22
Ep.55 DVD-BOX15 Challenge: Resident Evil 2 (Part 1)
Air Date: 2018-12-21
Ep.56 DVD-BOX15 Challenge: Resident Evil 2 (Part 2)
Air Date: 2018-12-21
Ep.57 DVD-BOX16 Challenge: Tokimeki Memorial 2
Air Date: 2019-12-20
Ep.58 DVD-BOX17 Challenge: Gyakuten Saiban
Air Date: 2020-12-18
Ep.59 GameCenter KBX
Air Date: 2021-03-28
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.
Ep.60 DVD-BOX18 Challenge: Momotarou Dentetsu V
Air Date: 2021-12-17
Ep.61 DVD-BOX19 Challenge: Metal Gear Solid
Air Date: 2022-12-16
