Takeshi's Challenge Review - NES/Famicom: The Whole (Weird) Story - Kim Justice 

Man I didn't know this guy was so big. I first saw him in Outrage years back and man was he amazing. I didn't realize he was so multifaceted a character. What an unbelievably necessary piece of work you've done Kim, thank you.

These documentary style videos are some of my favorite gaming videos on youtube.

I now know why all those episodes of Takeshi's Castle had that fake head Takeshi. Finally, I can die in peace :)

When you mentioned this as one of the first time a celebrity was involved in their own game, it reminded me of one of the other times from this era: Douglas Adams' involvement in the Infocom text adventure of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy. And it seems there's an interesting parallel, because although HHGTTG is by no means as ridiculous as this game, it is nonetheless noted as one of the hardest and most obtuse games of the era. And that's compared to other text adventures, not games known for being approachable and friendly! An interesting link - two comedians involved in the making of their own games, early in the history of video games, and both creating weird, obtuse and hugely difficult works. Although thankfully Douglas Adams famously loved technology, rather than hating it, and so his result is rather more playable, and remembered much more fondly :)

A Scene at the Sea and Kids Return are absolutely brilliant films. I think more than anything else they truly prove Kitano's incredibly diverse creativity. From light comedy to brutal, cold violence to amazingly heart-felt emotion, he's amazing.

Takeshi Kitano is one of a kind artist. His movie carrer began with grim Yakuza flicks, then a return of old Beat Takeshi bizarre humour with "Getting Any?", hits stardom with "Hana-Bi" and "Zatoichi" and makes one of the most (if not THE most) beautiful movies about inconditional love, "Dolls".

I think this is the kind of experimental game that would only resurface again with the Dreamcast (and a few MegaCD titles, like Panic!). One of those things super frustrating and weird if you expect a traditional game but which you have to experience in its own terms. Cool stuff, I had no idea Takeshi had done this.

Kikujiro is easily one of the greatest and one of my favorite movies ever, Beat Takeshi is a great director!

The weird stuff is too surreal to comprehend, but I'm glad the man found some peace.

Great way to find out about a game I had never heard about! And a light round of applause for the singing.

Unpopular opinnion : Takeshi's challenge is just side scroller Yakuza 0.

I saw this game for the first time on Game Center CX. Good old Arino played the game from beginning to end. Crazy game. I loved to watch Takeshi's Castle. There's a part in the game that you have to wait an hour in 'real' time to find a map to continue. WHAT!!!

This is one of those absolutely bizarre games that I can't help but like.

I had no idea this guy done so much and I seen him in loads of movies, great video Kim well edited.

This entire game has a very Penn and Teller - esque vibe. Almost like Desert Bus, only as an adventure with actual stuff happening.

You are too freaking good to us, Kim. I can't wait to sink my teeth in to the story of this strange game.

I was expecting to hear you sing the Karaoke part, I'm disappoint! Just kidding, an awesome review as always, I played the game the first time around 18 years ago on an emulator on my old Pentium 133 PC, I had no idea what I was doing, years later I watched the Gamecenter CX episode and realized I had no chance in figuring it out, because I had no idea back then that the Famicom had a microphone on the second controller, nowadays it's pretty common knowledge.

Very well done video. Thanks for all the hard work.

I'm a big Beat-Takeshi fan didn't know there was a video game related to him.. movies Sonatine, Zatōichi etc are great.

Awesome video kim, its obvious you put in so much work into these.

I'll always know him as Vic Romano **smacks Kenny with a fan**

I only knew of this game because of JonTron's video, but you've just given me so much more insight on why this game is how it is!

Another great review! Kitano is one of my favourite Japanese directors. Plus those Hisaishi soundtracks...

another fantastic review ! soo much research and trivias/anecdotes ! GG Kim ! again and again ;)

Yet again Kim, you create another interesting and unique episode ! I had never heard about this before, but this was the best way i could have found out about it ! Any chance of a Cardiacs bass cover or two in the future ??/

Wow! I had no idea that Zatoichi was the same guy as Takeshi's Castle's host!

Great video, I always love hearing about this game!

Well this was a treat! I've been greatly interested of the game, and am a fan of Takeshi's movies, so thank you.

props to you Kim for using Genichiro Tenryu's theme, i didn't expect it to say the least haha

amazing documentary... great work

Incredibly interesting as always.

That’s the funny thing about artists who get drunk: You’re either Hemingway and you write “The Old Man and the Sea.” Or you’re Takeshi Kitano and you make THIS UNHOLY GODDAMN GARBAGE.

Super awesome and well done! Thank you!

One of the most fascinating games ever, cheers for covering it !

Great stuff as always

Dig the new intro title! Very informative, great job!

amazing video kim, and i love kitano.

Is there something Kitano cant do? This guy is such an amazing multitalent. I love his movies and i read his biography, super interesting dude!

We need Rodney's challenge. Someone - contact the Dangerfield estate!

Excellent video, thank you!

Great video!

aka Vic Romano. It was pretty interesting learning about the man himself. What a nut job.

I dunno, I played through Hoshi wo Miru Hito and it's not that bad. It's an absolutely merciless meat grinder but I kinda liked that.

Anova bwiwwiant episode! I'm seriously considering supporting you on patreon. Thanks!

I've loved Takeshi Kitano's movies for years but they're nothing like this game at all. They're usually very serious and violent gangster movies. Thanks for making this! Also, there's an officially licensed Nintendo game where you can punch the shit out of your wife and kids? Game of the year!

It's actually Lost Word of Jenny. Cause you go around collecting letters. Still a better game then Takeshi's Challenge or Super Monkey Daibouken. As for Hoshi, it kinda grows on you because of just how flat out sadistic, "do or go home" it is. What can you say to a game where the first weapon you can get has a lower attack then your default ?

These days the developers would describe this as an "interactive experience" and would probably be praised by the media for not being another COD clone. Another inciteful review Kim.

With regards to his marriage: he wrote in his book "why i still like woman" (or whatever it's called in English), that he was not the most faithfull of all husbands.

He also made Getting Any? (1995) it was a bit of an shock after seeing stuff like violent cop.

i remember the game center CX episode of this game.... it was weird indeed

I finally saw Hanabi/Fireworks. Thought it was ridiculous to be honest but it had some moments. Guess it's not my type of movie or something was lost in translation.

Great video! I love your channel. Would you happen to know more about Hoshi wo Miru Hito? That game is fascinating to me and I've researched it a lot but without knowing Japanese I'm pretty much at a dead end, I suppose.

Watch Beat Kitano's Brother --- it's an excellent flick!!

Hi Kim. Are you going to record a backing track for your credit singing at the end?

Great video, though I thought you would mention him in Yakuza 6 early in the vid :P

He's in Yakuza 6, which is kind of bizarre if he hates electronic things so much.

That music sounds a lot like ALF on the Sega Master System.

every time I listen to "Twisted Scrote" being sung at the end, I laugh hard.... : )

Great stuff. Im off to watch Zatoichi now. Has he lost his mind? Can he see or is he blind? Can he walk at all, Or if he moves will he fall?. Iron Man the samurai

what is music at 3:02 and when was it made? Its almost like giana sisters though Im sure it is not related to that at all

Wow, those look like great movies.

good video

takeshi is like one of the people off chris tarant show in the 90s

Challenge accepted, I'm gonna speed run it.

If you can play it in english on emulation, how do you do the microphone parts?

Grilled Mormons? LOL

"These games, perhaps the very worst known to man..." I see you've never browsed Steam Greenlight. Good for you. Don't.

I know you never reply to my music questions but, what's the music at 6:18 ?

ty for having the only decent review of this game lol

we need tekashis challenge remake for the switch

9:50 More shows should replace actors who were fired or suspended due to scandals or just simply quit the role by having the role taken over by a guy wearing a giant paper-mâché head.

I think this is one of the times Kim Justice is wrong about something In her past videos she's said "No one sets out to make a bad game on purpose" well IMO it seems like Takashi's Challenge is the acception, this is clearly the case where someone did in fact set out to make a bad game on purpose. Takashi himself even insults the player at the end for wasting there time beating a such a shit game.

This is MOMA grade stuff, this game needs to be in a musuem

Still easier, simpler, and more logical than King's Quest 3.

Kim, you are an international treasure.

interesting that he hated new technology, but the older technology (of movie cameras) was fine for him. i wonder if his yakuza6 involvement is because AAA games are so much more like cinema now.

Maybe someone could answer this, but is this the same guy who had a failed run as a wrestling manager, and for a time being got NJPW kicked out of Sumo Hall because of the riots he would cause?

i kinda want to see a movie based on this game

Grilled Mormons? lol.

Well, that was quite entertaining and informative. Any1 up 4 sum grilled mormons?

I don't know how you manged to play as much of this game as you did.

Free my boy Takeshi 69!

so this game was a big fuck you to all gamers , nice XD

(Insert Jontron reference here).

what hear abot yakuza 6 i think takeshi is the bad guy in the game

Not trying to be funny but does he shoot himself at the end of the game too?!

Eh Jontronish remark about Nintendo license after punching kids and wife... you can get more than 4 hearts by drinking a certain drink at one bar... you don't have to shout for minutes.. only for a while .. I know game research it's hard and you can miss some things .. but but... but truth is truth :D

Man, Vic Romano really sucked at making video games!

tl:dr beat takeshi hates video games and gamers, this game was his punishment for gamers.

The game wasn't fun at all. lol.

Takeshi's also an incorrigible racist and homophobe. Ah well. Always glad to hear Thunderstorm! Takeshi was/is legit a fan of wrestling though- his presence in NJPW brought Vader to Japan, and genuine go away heat.

Want a comedy game that's a whole lot better than this crappy game? Play Postal 2.