This Could Be Your Last Chance to See Retro Game Master

Last year Kotaku readers were enthralled by the daring exploits of Shinya Arino as he desperately attempted to finish a dozen of the most brutal retro games Japan has to offer. Now we’re giving you one last chance to watch before Retro Game Master goes away forever.

It was a grand experiment, broadcasting weekly episodes of an entire season of a Japanese television show centered around the triumph and (more often than not) tragedy of one man’s quest to conquer classic video games. Dubbed and subbed for the Japanese-impaired, the show gathered a small-but-loyal following among our readers. Since the show aired last summer not an event has gone by when I haven’t been asked “When is Retro Game Master coming back?”

To answer that question, it’s not returning, unfortunately, and now our rights to that initial twelve episodes will be up soon, so we’ve gathered the entire first season of Retro Game Master together for one last hurrah.

So gather your friends, roast up some popping corn, and watch video games make a grown man cry.

https://lastchance.cc/retro-game-master-episode-1-ninja-gaiden-5814938%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Retro Game Master Episode 1: Ninja Gaiden

In this first episode of Retro Game Master, our hero, Shinya Arino, faces off against grueling Nintendo Entertainment System game Ninja Gaiden

Released in Japan in 1988 on the Famicom to coincide with the release of an arcade game by the same name, Tecmo’s Ninja Gaiden featured 20 levels spread… More »

https://lastchance.cc/retro-game-master-episode-2-super-fantasy-zone-5817256%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Retro Game Master Episode 2: Super Fantasy Zone

In this second episode of Retro Game Master, our hero, Shinya Arino, faces off against Sega Mega Drive classic Super Fantasy Zone

Released in Japan in 1992 on the Sega Mega Drive and Europe a year later, Super Fantasy Zone didn’t make it to the U.S. More »

https://lastchance.cc/retro-game-master-episode-3-bonanza-brothers-5819025%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Retro Game Master Episode 3: Bonanza Brothers

In this third episode of Retro Game Master, our game-testing everyman, Shinya Arino, faces off against Bonanza Brothers

Released in Japan in 1990 as an arcade game, Bonanza Brothers was later ported to a number of systems including the Sega Mega Drive. More »

https://lastchance.cc/retro-game-master-episode-4-solomons-key-5821189%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Retro Game Master Episode 4: Solomon’s Key

In this fourth episode of Retro Game Master, our game-testing everyman, Shinya Arino, faces off against Solomon’s Key

Released for arcades in 1986, Tecmo’s Solomon’s Key was brought to the Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Master System, Atari ST and other consoles. More »

https://lastchance.cc/retro-game-master-episode-5-clock-tower-5823495%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Retro Game Master Episode 5: Clock Tower

In this fifth episode of Retro Game Master, our game-testing everyman, Shinya Arino, faces off against Clock Tower

Clock Tower was released for the Super NES in 1995. More »

https://lastchance.cc/retro-game-master-episode-6-mighty-bomb-jack-5825355%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Retro Game Master Episode 6: Mighty Bomb Jack

In this sixth episode of Retro Game Master, our game-testing everyman, Shinya Arino, faces off against Mighty Bomb Jack

Mighty Bomb Jackwas released in 1986 for the arcade and the following year for the Nintendo Entertainment System. More »

https://lastchance.cc/retro-game-master-episode-7-the-mystery-of-atlantis-5827283%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Retro Game Master Episode 7: The Mystery of Atlantis

In this seventh episode of Retro Game Master, our game-testing everyman, Shinya Arino, faces off against The Mystery of Atlantis

The Mystery of Atlantis was released by Sunsoft for the Family Computer in 1986. More »

https://lastchance.cc/retro-game-master-episode-8-s-o-s-5830172%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Retro Game Master Episode 8: S.O.S.

In this eighth episode of Retro Game Master, our game-testing everyman, Shinya Arino, faces off against S.O.S.

S.O.S. was developed by Human Entertainment for the Super NES in 1994. More »

https://lastchance.cc/retro-game-master-episode-9-battle-golfer-yui-5832286%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Retro Game Master Episode 9: Battle Golfer Yui

This week on Retro Game Master the Kacho takes on Battle Golfer Yui, a golf game that it is more than it seems.

Launched in 1991 in Japan, Battle Golfer Yui follows the exploits of two normal high school girls who are drafted into a tournament thanks to their exemplary golf skills. More »

https://lastchance.cc/retro-game-master-episode-10-53-stations-of-the-tokaid-5834022%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Retro Game Master Episode 10: 53 Stations of the Tōkaidō

This week on Retro Game Master the Kacho takes on 53 Stations of the Tōkaidō

Released in 1986, Kantarō no Tōkaidō Gojūsan-tsugi is based on a famous set of ukiyo-e wood prints. More »

https://lastchance.cc/retro-game-master-episode-11-the-wing-of-madoola-5836252%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Retro Game Master Episode 11: The Wing of Madoola

This week on Retro Game Master the Kacho takes on The Wing of Madoola

Released in 1986 for the Nintendo Famicom,The Wing of Madoola is a side-scrolling action adventure tale of the Kingdom of Badham (nothing more dangerous than bad ham) and a magical statue that can bring peace to the world. More »

https://lastchance.cc/retro-game-master-episode-12-golden-axe-5840350%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Retro Game Master Episode 12: Golden Axe

This week on the season finale of Retro Game Master the Kacho takes on Golden Axe.

Released in 1989 by Sega for the arcade, this high fantasy side-scroller beat ’em up later made its way to a number of different consoles. More »

And in case you’re new to Retro Game Master, read these (quickly):

https://lastchance.cc/being-terrible-at-video-games-makes-surprisingly-great-5822134%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Being Terrible at Video Games Makes Surprisingly Great Television

People don’t tune into Japanese television show Retro Game Master to watch Shinya Arino whip through video games effortlessly. They tune in to watch him fail, and fail, and fail, and perhaps to finally, painfully succeed. More »

https://lastchance.cc/japanese-gamings-greatest-ambassador-5812482%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Japanese Gaming’s Greatest Ambassador

It’s over. That’s what people say about Japanese gaming. While there are bright spots in Japan, Western games (and gamers) now rule the roost. It’s easy to forget just how great Japanese games used to be.

One man is here to remind you of that. More »