If you follow the show Game Center CX, you might be quite familiar with the fact that video games based on the show exist. One of these was even brought over to the west as Retro Game Challenge, which sadly didn't prove quite successful. The series continued, though, with a DS sequel that was also a lot of fun. Both of these titles were developed by Indieszero, the studio responsible for Theatrhythm Final Fantasy and NES Remix. A new developer is taking over the series with the third one, now on the Nintendo 3DS. So far, it seems like a terrible decision. A demo has never turned me off so severely and it is extra painful because it is about a show that I hold dear.

In Game Center CX 3, you control an avatar character of your own creation. After that, you go on adventures with young Arino, but that is where the problems begin. The previous games had fantastic style, with 3D characters moving about in spaces and talking to one another. CX 3 has simply drawn 2D characters instead. The look is just awful for the series and for the Nintendo 3DS in general. I can understand going for something that looks simple, but it isn’t lovely on the eyes.

As the deformed 2D characters, you just tap to go to a location. It features some people from the show, such as the cameraman and some of his helping hands during challenges like Inoko MAX. None of it was engaging, though. That game highlighted in the demo wasn't very interesting either, as you play a different take on the original Mario Bros. Instead of slamming enemies from beneath, you just break blocks and the creatures drop into traps that appear on those spots. You have to quickly move across these traps to empty them and score massive points. By clearing the set amount of enemies, you move on the next stage. There were just a couple of stages on display, so maybe it becomes better, but the impression was not everlasting.

I was prepared to give Game Center CX 3 a download on launch day, but I am cancelling those plans. The demo isn’t what I was hoping for at all, eschewing lots of the fun concepts of the first two entries in the game series. That is perhaps somewhat unfair to say, but even on its own merits, the title did not leave a strong first impression. The graphical style is somewhat laughable and the retro game on display wasn’t interesting. I will probably just replay the first two games now instead. It is a shame.