Where were you during the 1980's? Whether you were a burned out stoner, a soulless Wall-Street investor, or just a gleam in the eye of your sex having parents, you probably spent a lot of time in front of a television with a Nintendo Entertainment System hooked up to it. Unless you were one of those weirdos that owned a Sega Master System. Regardless of certain life choices, I think we all spent countless hours playing those old 8-bit games. With Retro Game Challenge for the DS, Namco, with the help of XSEED's smart localization, warps us back in time to the days when 8-bit was king and creates a sort of video game period piece. For in this one DS game card, you are given eight separate and complete games created in the classic 8-bit style (technically, two of the games are sequels and one is a special edition you win as a prize). These are not mini or micro games; each included title is just about as deep as many stand alone NES games from way back. Rather than just throw all these games at you from the start, you are introduced one by one to each new game; the twist is how you go about completing objectives in order to progress and unlock more games through a series of challenges.



You begin the game after being transported back to 1984 by the evil entity known as Arino. Apparently, he was horrible at current-gen games and chooses you to try and complete his many increasingly difficult challenges. The challenges range from completing a certain number of stages without dying in an action platformer, to performing a certain racing technique in another title. The bottom DS screen actually shows your character with a younger, human version of the villain, while the top screen is where the actual games are played. While navigating the bottom screen you can make small talk with your friend, use the memo pad to take notes, and most importantly read the different gaming magazines acquired as you play. As the games become more sophisticated and the challenges more difficult, these magazines sometimes hold the key to victory. For an example, one issue has a special developer interview but also happens to include an invincibility cheat code for the space shooter in case you were having trouble with that pesky mid boss on level two. Complete enough of the challenges presented for one game and Arino will send you head first into a new title with all new feats to accomplish.



Before I go any further explaining the details of the individual games, I should talk a little about the basis of Retro Game Challenge. The game is actually based on a Japanese television show called Game Center CX, in which the focus of the show involves the lively host, named Arino, who must play through a difficult old video game (many times from the 8-bit era). I'm sure that watching the usually helpless host reminds many people of when they were frustrated at the sheer brutality and unforgiving nature of those older games. No continues and one hit deaths? Really? With the help of his coworkers, strategy guides, and sometimes even a few cheat codes, he soldiers on and completes the game to see the ending sequence. There has been some talk that the show is being prepped for an American DVD release, but nothing is definite at this point. Of course, most anything can be found on the Internet so if the idea for this show interests you at all, I suggest you explore that further. The show is so popular in Japan that it has spawned multiple DVD sets, books, and now even its own video game. Those somewhat familiar with the show will pick up on certain references in the game, such as the fact the evil “villain” forcing you to face each challenge is actually a deranged, digital version of the program's host. However, don't think this game is all inside jokes and references to a show that hasn't made it out of Japan yet.



When localizing the game, XSEED seems to have had a lot of fun bringing this game to an American audience. As you complete certain stages in the game, you will be reminded of the amazingly bad translation work from those early NES games (in the vein of "a winner is you"). The magazines you receive throughout the game feature short articles sprinkled with clever pop culture references that seem a little restrained but still funny. Surprisingly, some of the funniest moments occur when you choose to chat with your roommate. It's never a necessary action but chatting with the young Arino will give you some random, quirky dialogue that is always good for a laugh. Not surprisingly, XSEED managed to take what might be considered a uniquely Japanese game and make it work with a brand new Western audience while keeping its original spirit in tact. The company has become known for bringing over games that otherwise might never see the light of day outside of Japan and they do not disappoint with their treatment of Retro Game Challenge.



At this point, I should get back to the actual games that make up this collection and explain a little about each one since no matter how funny or clever the setup, the games are what truly matter. You start out playing Cosmic Gate, otherwise known as the Galaga clone. Your ship moves left to right and enemy bugs attack in waves. Next you are introduced to Haggle Man, where you play as a robot ninja trying to rescue a princess. This game is more of an action platformer with puzzle elements; you can jump on enemies and throw ninja stars, but the key lies in how you enter the various doors on each level. Later in the game you receive Haggle Man 2, which updates the original by adding some depth and increasing the difficulty. Even later in the game you are given Haggle Man 3; this is the third in the series but completely changes the gameplay from the two before it. Haggle Man 3 is a straight up side-scrolling action game with a much faster pace. Rally King is the game's racer; it has an overhead view and reminds me of the classic Micro Machines games by Codemasters. You will need to learn the "drifting" technique, which is all about timing, if you want to start winning challenges in this game. There is also a special edition of Rally King, appropriately called Rally King SP that seems to focus far too much on product placement, to the disappointment of our in-game characters. The game Star Prince takes the basic shooter formula from the Galaga clone and turns it into a full fledged scrolling shoot-em-up, complete with intricate bullet patterns and hidden powerups. Guadia Quest is the game's resident role playing game in the original Final Fantasy mold where grinding is the name of the game. The collection of games is diverse with clever touches and all seemed to have been created with a lot of love. Playing through the different games and reading the magazines, I had a feeling there was a sense of history throughout the game's development. The games are given to you as you progress through the different challenges and eventually unlock in a free play mode where you can just enjoy them at your own leisure.



I really enjoyed playing through Retro Game Challenge. I love how the developers created all of these separate games that live and breathe 8-bit nostalgia yet seem fresh and new. The music, the graphics, and the gameplay will take older players back, but still give younger players a whole new experience not available many other places. The challenges can become pretty testing at points, but thankfully there are useful tips and cheat codes available if you really find yourself stuck at a certain point. Part of the fun is being given a challenge that just seems too great, only to find that with some patience and focus you manage to overcome it. The game does a great job of explaining what you need to do next to progress and keeps track of all the challenges for you. Retro Game Challenge is the type of game you don't see very often but can be enjoyed by all types of players. Casual gamers will most likely enjoy the short bursts of fun found in the quick challenges, while the hardcore gamers might find joy in making their way to the various games' end screens without using any cheats.



Overall, Retro Game Challenge is well worth your time and well worth adding to your Nintendo DS collection. Whether you want to relive the eighties or just play some fantastic 8-bit games, there truly is something for everyone that enjoys gaming in its purest form. Now, I need to go back to playing some Retro Game Challenge, since later tonight I will be organizing my cassette tape collection while doing some other hilarious eighties cliché. Retro Game Challenge for the DS gets a 9/10

Review by Sheep at videogamenews.com