Thirst-Quenching Superhero: What's The Deal With Pepsiman?

Some games, especially on the PlayStation (1994), are oddities that were never released outside of Japan. Pepsiman, developed and published by KID, is one such game. But that hasn't stopped it from becoming a cult classic of sorts, however.

What feels like a fever dream or a bizarre modern art installation turns out to be one of Japan's most delightfully weird video games.

Spend some time on Twitter or on the depths of the gaming internet, and you'll notice just how revered it is by some.

It helps that the game was rather decent, even if aesthetically there's no reason to believe that it'd be anything other than a cash grab.

Some folks would even suggest that it feels like a nod to Crash Bandicoot, and that can be no bad thing, right?

And why is a man adoring aluminium (or is he aluminium all through?) any stranger than a bandicoot named Crash?

Picture this: A shiny, silver humanoid figure with no face, sporting nothing but a Pepsi logo on his chest and a pair of red boots, sprinting towards you at full tilt.

Okay, maybe that is odd. But it exists, and the PlayStation catalogue of games is all the better for it.

Released exclusively in Japan in 1999, Pepsiman for the PlayStation is a game that perfectly encapsulates the wild world of 90s advertising mascots, and we'll probably never see anything like it again.

A Japanese Iconic Oddity

The cover features our carbonated crusader, Pepsiman, in all his aluminium glory. He's pointing directly at us, presumably because he'd rather we drink Pepsi over Coke.

A thick silver chain rests against his neck. The definition of bling.

His featureless face somehow manages to convey intense determination.

"Drink!"

Is he running to save the world? To fight crime? Nope! He's on a mission to deliver refreshing Pepsi to thirsty civilians! This is, after all, a mascot based on a carbonated cola drink.

"Drink!"

But what about Pepsiman himself, how'd he come about? And even so, how on earth he eventually started in his own game?

Conceived by the talented Canadian comic artist Travis Charest, this silver-suited superhero actually sported three distinct looks, each mirroring a 90s contemporary Pepsi can design.

There was also a series of commercials shot too.

A dozen (!) commercials showcased Pepsiman's adventures, where he would materialise at precisely the right moment, quenching the thirst of parched individuals or satisfying those with a sudden soda craving.

Crying kids, thirsty business men and every other conceivable American stereotype as demanded by a Japanese audience.

While the commercials were shot in the US, they were only ever intended for the Japanese market.

His uncanny ability to arrive just when Pepsi was needed most became the character's signature trait, "delighting" audiences and reinforcing the brand's presence in popular culture.

It is gloriously over-the-top and all too surreal, especially when viewed through the lens of serious, stuffy and boring marketing of today.

What's The Game Actually Like?

Pepsiman often drew comparisons to games like Crash Bandicoot, with reviewers highlighting its simplicity and budget-friendly price.

A writer from Complex praised it as one of the few company-branded games that "didn't suck," noting it’s quite fun if you can handle the pervasive advertisements.

And let's not forget that advertising in this manner isn't entirely unique. Remember Cool Spot for the Mega Drive/Genesis?

Despite the acclaim, lead artist Kotaro Uchikoshi suggested that the game didn't initially sell well. And why would it? It was never going to set the world alight.

Perhaps there there was some hope that word of mouth would life sales when traditional marketing methods couldn't, but alas, the game was destined to be an oddity and little more.

Eventually, it found new life over a decade later, gaining a cult following. Gamers appreciated its quirky premise and the character of Pepsiman.

It was a game that while frustrating at times became enjoyable in short blasts. A precursor, if you will, to infinite running games like Subway Surfers today.

So if you see a copy of it, is it worth adding to your collection? I'd say it is just for the cover art alone.

So the next time you're feeling parched and see a silver blur out of the corner of your eye, don't be alarmed.

It's just Pepsiman, racing to quench your thirst and remind you of one of gaming's most memorably offbeat titles. Just try not to crush any cans in your excitement!

"Drink!"