Retro Game Master/Recap
Main games
NOTE: An asterisk (*) is noted beside the episode number to indicate the episode's localization and release on Kotaku. Western titles in "quotes" are unofficial names Kotaku uses to refer to Japan-only games.
- 1st season
(This season featured a game series or game company as its main focus with Arino's challenge game as a secondary feature)
| Game Challenge | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Status | |||
| Takeshi no Chōsenjō | cleared | |||
| Angelique Trois | failed (bad ending) | |||
| Steel Battalion | cleared mission 3 | |||
| ROOMMANIA#203 | cleared, after pausing footage to read the ending | |||
| Star Force | cleared | |||
| Astro Robo Sasa | failed | |||
| Galaga | cleared | |||
| Door Door | cleared with help | |||
| Yie Ar Kung-Fu Gradius Track & Field |
failed failed cleared with help | |||
| Super Mario Bros. Super Mario Bros. 2 |
failed failed (later ruled a draw) | |||
- 2nd season
(episode numbering started with Arino's challenge games being the main feature)
| Ep # | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 * | "Mystery of Atlantis" (Atlantis no Nazo) | cleared |
| 2 | Challenger | cleared |
| 3 | Ghosts'n Goblins | failed (only beat game once) |
| 4 | Konami Wai Wai World | cleared |
| 5 | Metroid | cleared, but did not get "unmasked Samus" ending |
| 6 * | Solomon's Key | cleared |
| 7/8 | Prince of Persia | cleared |
| 9 | Mega Man 2 | failed |
| 10 | Super Mario Bros. 3 | failed |
- 3rd season
| Ep # | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | J.J. & Jeff | cleared |
| 12 | Takeshi's Castle | cleared |
| 13 | Tokimeki Memorial | cleared |
| 14 | Famicom Jump Eiyuu Retsuden | cleared |
| 15 | Doki Doki Panic (Super Mario Bros. 2) | partial clear |
| 16 | Hi no Tori Hououhen: Gaou no Bouken | cleared |
| 17/18 | Super Mario World | cleared |
| 19 | Milon's Secret Castle | cleared |
| 20 | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | cleared |
- 4th season
(The season mascot changes from King to Queen)
| Ep # | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Ultraman (Super Famicom) | failed |
| 22 | Final Fight | failed |
| 23 | Adventure Island | failed |
| 24 | ActRaiser | failed (demoted two ranks to Senior Staff) |
| 25 | Quiz Tonosama no Yabou | cleared (promoted two ranks to Chief) |
| 26 | Doraemon (Famicom) | cleared |
| 27/28 | Super Mario 64 | cleared |
| 29 * | Ninja Gaiden (Famicom) | cleared |
| 30 | Kid Icarus | cleared (got worst ending) |
- 5th season
(Season was shortened due to birth of Arino's daughter)
| Ep # | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Umihara Kawase | incomplete clear (called a draw by Urakawa) |
| 32 | Contra (Probotector) | cleared |
| 33 * | Bonanza Bros. | cleared |
| 34 | Ghouls'n Ghosts | cleared |
| 35 | Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom | cleared |
| 36 | Yokai Dochuki | cleared (got 2nd worst ending) |
- 6th season
(The season mascot changes from Queen to Dark King)
| Ep # | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Street Fighter II | Cleared single-player with Dhalsim (2-3 Vs. Staff, deemed a loss) |
| 38 | Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse | Password Skipped Level 7-5, failed 3rd ending boss |
| 39* | Mighty Bomb Jack | Failed, Rematch requested |
| 40 | Gargoyle's Quest II | Failed |
| 41 | Mighty Bomb Jack (Live show, 12/23/06) | Cleared |
| 42 | Adventure Quiz: Capcom World / Hatena Hatena no Daibouken | Cleared |
| 43 * | SOS (Super Famicom) | Failed to get "good ending," but ruled clear by Arino |
| 44 | Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa | Cleared |
- 7th season
(the season changes from Dark King to King. The Dark King makes a brief reappearance in #53)
| Ep # | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Ultraseven | Cleared |
| 46 | Mega Man | Cleared |
| 47 | Wagan Land | Cleared |
| 48 | Another World (Europe) Out Of This World (North America) |
Cleared |
| 49 | The Legend of the Mystical Ninja | Failed, Revenge Challenge Requested |
| 50 | Trip to Korea by Economy Class | N/A |
| 51 | Musashi no Ken – Tadaima Shugyō Chu | Cleared (3-2 Vs. Staff) |
| 52 | Super Ghouls'n Ghosts | Cleared |
| 53* | Clock Tower | Cleared (S Best Ending) |
| 54 | Kai no Bouken: The Quest of Ki | Failed (Reached 79th level) |
- 8th season
| Ep # | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | Kai no Bouken: The Quest of Ki | Failed (Reached 98th level) |
| 56 | Flashback: The Quest for Identity | Cleared |
| 57 | Wonder Boy in Monster Land | Cleared |
| 58 | Yo! Noid | Cleared |
| 59 * | Super Fantasy Zone | Failed |
| N/A | Kai no Bouken: The Quest of Ki (Christmas Eve Live 2007) | Cleared |
| 60 | Bonk's Adventure | Cleared |
| 61 * | Tōkaidō Gojūsan-tsugi ("53 Stations of the Tōkaidō") | Failed |
| 62 | Kid Dracula | Cleared |
| 63 | Mendel Palace | Cleared |
- 9th season
(Season was shortened due to Arino being hospitalized)
| Ep # | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 64 | Sonic the Hedgehog | Cleared (without all chaos emeralds) |
| 65 | The Kacho Goes to the Cannes Film Festival (Aired while Arino was in hospital) | N/A |
| 66 | Super Mario Bros. Dr. Mario (Okaeri! Kachou Returns Special) |
Warped to World 3, but failed to clear challenge Win vs. Nakayama |
| 67 | Zombie Nation | Cleared |
| 68 * | The Wing of Madoola | Cleared |
| 69 | Dragon Slayer IV (Legacy of the Wizard) | Cleared |
- 10th season
| Ep # | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | Dragon Power (NA) DragonBall (EU) |
Failed |
| 71 | Atomic Runner (Chelnov) | Cleared |
| 72 | Yuuyu no Quiz de GO! GO! | Cleared |
| 73 | Lemmings (Super Famicom) | Cleared on Tricky difficulty |
| 74 | First Samurai | Cleared |
| 75/76 | Donkey Kong Country (Super Donkey Kong) | Cleared |
| 77 | Fatal Fury Special | Cleared |
- 11th season
| Ep # | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 78 | Fukuoka Hometown Special | N/A |
| 79 | Layla | Failed |
| 80 | Kirby's Adventure | Cleared |
| 81 * | Battle Golfer Yui | Cleared, (2-0 Vs. Staff) |
| 82/83 | Mega Man 3 | Cleared |
| 84 | Super Gussun Oyoyo | Cleared |
| 85 | Genpei Tōma Den (The Genji and the Heike Clans) | Failed, Revenge Challenge Requested |
| 86 | Punch-Out!! | Failed |
| 87 * | Golden Axe | Cleared |
| 88 | Dig Dug II | Cleared |
| 89 | Lemmings (24-hour challenge) | Cleared on Taxing Difficulty |
- 12th season
(The season mascot changes from King to Fallen Warrior)
| Ep # | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | Dragon Buster | Cleared |
| 91 | Kid Kool | Failed |
| 92/93 | Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer | Cleared |
| 94 | Densha de Go! (Go by Train!) | Failed (Got bad Ending) |
| 95 | Street Fighter 2010: The Final Fight | Failed |
| 96/97 | Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos | Cleared |
| 98 | Pilotwings | Failed |
| 99 | Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 | Failed |
| 100 | Wrecking Crew | Cleared |
- 13th season
(The season mascot changes from Fallen Warrior to King)
| Ep # | Title | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode | Cleared | |
| 102 | Kirby's Avalanche (NA) Kirby's Ghost Trap (EU) |
Failed to clear challenge and against staff in a vs battle | |
| 103 | Koushien | Famicom | Failed |
| 104 | GeGeGe no Kitarō Fukkatsu! Tenma Daiou | Cleared | |
| 105 | Hokkaido Rensa Satsujin: Ohotsuku ni Kiyu | Cleared | |
| 106 | Yuji Horii Interview Special (no game) | N/A |
- 14th season
| Ep # | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 107 | Paris-Dakar Rally Special | Cleared (but did not get good ending) |
| 108 | Smart Ball | Cleared in 9 hours |
| 109/110 | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | Cleared in 3 days |
| 111 | Super Star Force | Failed |
| 112 | Ninja Spirit | Cleared in 2 hours, 10 minutes (the fastest clear ever) |
| 113 | Kamaitachi no Yoru | Cleared |
| 114/115 | Mega Man 4 | Cleared |
| 116 | Tower of Babel | Failed |
- 15th season
| Ep # | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 117 | Mr. Gimmick! | Cleared (but got bad ending) |
| 118/119 | F-ZERO | Cleared (on standard difficulty instead of expert) with AD Takahashi's help |
| 120 | Tant-R | Cleared |
| 121 | Bio Senshi DAN | Cleared |
| 122 | Comix Zone | Cleared (but got bad ending) |
| 123 | Kirby's Dream Course | Cleared |
| 124 | Metal Storm | Failed |
| 125 | Kosodate Quiz My Angel | Cleared |
| 126 | Super Spy Hunter (Battle Formula) | Failed |
| 127 | Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures (Hello! Pac-Man) | Cleared |
| N/A | GameCenter CX in USA/RoboCop (2 Hour Special) | Cleared |
| 128 | Strider | Cleared |
| 129 | Flying Dragon: The Secret Scroll | Failed (only beat game once) |
| 130 | Saint Seiya: Ougon Densetsu | Cleared |
| 131 | Tenka no Goikenban: Mito Koumon | Failed |
| 132/133 | Battletoads | Cleared (Japanese release, with lower difficulty) |
| 134 | Tantei Jinguuji Saburou: Shinjuku Chuuou Kouen Satsujin Jiken (Jake Hunter) | Cleared |
| 135 | Alex Kidd in Miracle World | Failed |
| N/A | Pilotwings (Birthday Live 2012) | Failed |
| 136 | Gradius | Cleared |
- 16th season
| Ep # | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 137 | Kung Fu Heroes | Failed |
| 138/139 | Dynamite Headdy | Cleared |
| 140 | Kattobi! Takuhai-kun | Failed |
| 141/142 | Captain Tsubasa/[Tecmo Cup]] Soccer Game | Cleared |
| 143 | Pilotwings (Iwate Special: Pilotwings Revenge) | Cleared |
| 144 | Vice: Project Doom | Cleared |
| 145 | Famicom Tantei Club: Kieta Kōkeisha | Cleared |
| 146 | Karnov | Cleared |
| 147 | Kawa no Nushi Tsuri 2 | Failed |
| N/A | 2 Hour Special - GameCenter CX in Asia/スーパーマリオカート (Super Mario Kart) | Failed to clear the challenge, but won 3-2 Vs. Staff |
| 148 | Pulseman | Cleared |
| 149 | Kickle Cubicle | Cleared |
| 150 | PaRappa the Rapper | Cleared |
| 151 | Mansion of Hidden Souls | Cleared |
| 152/153 | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | Cleared |
| 154/155 | Metro-Cross | Cleared |
| 156 | Space Hunter | Cleared |
- 17th season
| Ep # | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 157 | The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse | Cleared |
| 158 | Family Trainer Jogging Race | Cleared (Got 2nd Place with help from AD Katayama) |
| 159 | The Adventures of Tom Sawyer | Cleared |
| 160 | Blaster Master | Failed |
| 161 | Best Keiba Derby Stallion | Failed |
| 162/163/164 | Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest | Cleared |
| N/A | 2 Hour Special - Famicom 30th Anniversary Live Special/ファミコン30周年生放送SP (Mega Man 2 / Super Mario Bros.) | Failed |
| 165 | Dragon Ball Z Super Butōden | Cleared (Normal Ending), lost 1-4 Vs. Staff |
| 166 | Shadow of the Ninja (NA) Blue Shadow (EU) |
Cleared |
| 167 | Sky Kid | Failed |
| N/A | 2 Hour Special - GameCenter CX In Paris / マリオとワリオ (Mario & Wario) | Failed |
| 168 | YuYu Hakusho Makyō Tōitsusen | Cleared (Got Bad Ending in Super Mode), Lost in 2 x 2 battle against staff |
| 169 | Rocky Rodent | Failed |
| N/A | 2 Hour Special - Arino's Challenge in Budokan (Punch-Out!! / Ghosts'n Goblins / Super Mario Bros. / Street Fighter II / Derby Stallion) | Punch-Out!!: Failed (Did not defeat Soda Popinski) Ghosts'n Goblins: Cleared (Defeated 1st-stage Red Arremer) Super Mario Bros.: Cleared (World 8-4) Derby Stallion: Cleared (Got Nippon Derby Champion) Street Fighter II: Failed (Did not defeat the staff in VS mode) |
| 170/171 | Aigīna no Yogen: Barubarūku no Densetsu Yori | Cleared |
| 172 | Budokan Documentary | N/A |
| 173 | Oishinbo: Kyūkyoku no menyū sanbon shōbu | Cleared |
| 174 | Woody Poko | Cleared |
| 175/176 | Nosferatu | Failed (bad ending) |
- 18th season
(The season mascot changes from the King to Elephant King)
| Ep # | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 177 | Tatsu no Ko Fighter | Cleared |
| 178/179 | Mega Man X | Cleared |
| 180 | Satsui no Kaisou: Power Soft Renzoku Satsujin Jiken | Failed (Worst Ending) |
| 181 | Gunstar Heroes | Cleared |
| 182 | Tenkaichi Bushi Keru Nagūru | Cleared (Normal Ending) |
| 183 | Super Godzilla | Cleared |
| 184 | Super Mario Land | Cleared |
| 185/186 | Family Jockey | Cleared |
| 187 | Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi | Cleared |
| 188 | Tensai Bakabon | Cleared |
| 189 | Magic Sword | Cleared (Good Ending) |
| 190 | D | Cleared |
| 191 | Crazy Climber | Failed |
| 192 | Bravoman | Failed |
| 193 | R-TYPE I R-TYPE II (PC Engine) |
Cleared Failed |
| 194 | Wizards & Warriors | Cleared |
| 195 | Commando | Cleared |
| 196 | The Mysterious Murasame Castle | Failed |
- 19th season
| Ep # | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 197/198 | Intelligent Qube | Cleared |
| 199 | Quiz Nanairo Dreams: Nijiiro Machi no Kiseki | Failed (bad ending) |
| 200 | Zen-Nippon Pro Wrestling | Cleared, (2-1 Vs. Staff) |
| 201 | Double Dragon | Failed |
| 202/203 | Ninja-kun Ashura no Shō | Cleared |
| N/A | 2 Hour Special - GameCenter CX in Vietnam/ナムコミュージアム Vol.4: イシターの復活 (Namco Museum Vol.4: The Return of Ishtar) | Failed |
| 204 | Yamamura Misa Suspense: Kyōto Ryuu no Tera Satsujin | Cleared |
| 205 | Mole Mania | Failed |
| 206 | Trojan | Cleared |
| 207 | ESWAT: City under Siege | Cleared |
| 208 | Kaizou Choujin Shubibinman | Cleared |
| 209/210 | Zelda II: The Adventure of Link | Failed |
DVD-Exclusive Challenges
Each DVD-Box set released includes a game challenge exclusive to the DVD set. Most of these challenges were Famicom games.
| DVD # | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Transformers: Mystery of Convoy | Failed |
| 2 | Ikki | Failed (Game had no verifiable ending, Arino managed to get the 8 hidden letters) |
| 3 | TwinBee | Failed |
| 4 | Bomberman | Cleared |
| 5 | The Tower of Druaga | Cleared |
| 6 | Yie Ar Kung Fu | Failed |
| 7 | Binary Land | Cleared |
| N/A | Arino's Challenge 2 Special DVD - GameCenter CX: Arino no Chōsenjō (Retro Game Challenge) | Cleared, Except for the Haggleman 2 Challenge |
| 8 | City Connection | Cleared |
| 9 | Spelunker | Cleared |
| 10 | Pooyan | Cleared |
| 11 | Castlevania | TBA |