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Arino’s Challenge: Virtual Console: Downtown Special: Kunio-kun no Jidaigeki Dayo Zenin Shuugou!

Arino is once again checking out the latest games on Virtual Console in Japan. This time, it’s Technos’ Famicom game Downtown Special: Kunio-kun no Jidaigeki Dayo Zenin Shuugou!, better known as the "Kunio Samurai" game; the feudal spinoff of River City Ransom. And this time, Arino has been given only five hours to play it. As painful as that may be, he attaches the Wii remote to his wrist and begins.

Downtown Special looks and operates just like RCR, but against the backdrop of old Japan, of course. Arino runs around with his AI-controlled partner, beating up thugs and just exploring the land. After a few minutes of messing around, AP Nakayama arrives to give Arino a handmade map of the game world, which is, actually, the whole of Japan.

After that, Arino goes right into a boss fight against Gonsaku, a purple-clothed thug. He falls pretty quickly, though. The fighting continues, and after finding another boss (two of them, in fact), Arino and his partner Tsurumatsu both die.

Nakayama returns and asks if Arino would like him to join in and play with him. Of course! Nakayama then joins in and takes control of Tsurumatsu, and then leads Arino to where he needs to be next. They reach the next boss, but Arino uses Nakayama as a weapon a little too much, and the AP dies, leaving Arino to take care of the boss, Kinsuke. But soon, Arino falls, too.

When they restart, Arino has Nakayama grab him and physically carry him to the next area. Eventually, they die in another big fight. Five hours are almost up, but Nakayama has a cheat code for Arino. Arino accepts, then Nakayama tells him what to do. By changing Kunio’s name to Koganemushi, you can get almost a million ryo (money), and instantly learn all the game’s powerful fighting techniques. Nakayama has Arino look at his money, which is totally maxed, and then he activates all the fighting techniques.

Nakayama then leaves, letting Arino fight with the AI partner again. As soon as Arino gets into the groove of rapidly punching dudes with his powered-up fists, he gets the bad news: time’s up! And so ends another Virtual Console adventure.