Running games have seen a rise in popularity since their inception in the early to mid-80s with the release of BC's Quest For Tires, per Moby Games.
This genre in video gaming gained public attention from games like Temple Run, Despicable Me: Minion Rush, and even the infamous Flappy Bird. However, they were made for mobile devices - a platform that suits the genre excellently due to their simple gameplay.
But did you know that a runner game exists on video game consoles as well?
Here's the story of the video game titled Pepsiman.
Pepsiman Game History And Gameplay
Pepsiman is an action game developed and published by the Japanese game development company KID (short for Kindle Imagine Develop) for the PlayStation's Japanese market on March 4, 1999, per Old Games Download.
According to the game's IMDb page, the game focuses on the story of Pepsiman, the Japanese mascot for Pepsi Co., as he rushes to the aid of various people at risk of dehydration unless they get something to drink. This situation means that Pepsiman has to get to the afflicted person as soon as he can, but to do so, he, through the player, must run, dash, and jump over obstacles.
Gamers or anyone in general who previously played Temple Run would be familiar with how Pepsiman is played. The titular character of the game will automatically run at the start of every stage and will remain so until the player directs him to go elsewhere or until he crashes into an obstacle too many times, such as speeding cars, construction cranes, people, and even Pepsi-branded obstacles.
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Unlike Temple Run and other similar games, Pepsiman is not endless - as previously mentioned, Pepsiman's run will end if the player gets him to the person in need of something to drink, which can vary depending on the stage's location.
Speaking of location, four locations are available in-game for Pepsiman to dash to, with three being real-life cities. These locations are San Francisco, New York City, Texas, and the fictional Pepsi City.
Additionally, Destructoid reported that the game comes with gimmicks that offer variety to its otherwise monotone experience. During a stage, Pepsiman could ride a skateboard or have a steel drum over his body, forcing players to navigate Pepsiman to avoid all obstacles or control the titular character with inverted controls.
Pepsiman Reception And Possible Remakes
Pepsiman received mostly negative reviews due to its simplicity and its similarities to another PlayStation 1 game, Crash Bandicoot. Near the end of each stage, Pepsiman will be chased by a giant object and must be outrun to complete it.
However, it is this simplicity and bizarre absurdity that gave the game its popularity among the masses, turning it into a cult classic, per Game Rant.
As a result, the game has become the focus of many a fan-made remake, with Banana Pictures' remake being the closest the world has to a playable and serviceable game. However, the remake is only a personal product, as Pepsi still has the rights to the Pepsiman character, per Dualshockers.
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