Social media exploded this evening with adoration for a new hero. Well, actually, an old hero. A hero from 1990s, specifically. No, I’m not talking about Crash Bandicoot. I’m talking about the one and only Pepsiman. If you’re not familiar with the name, don’t worry. Before tonight, most people weren’t. After twitch streamer Theboyks completed a speedrun of the game for Summer Games Done Quick (SGDQ)’s charity marathon, Twitter, Tumblr, and the rest of the internet erupted in a moment of collective wonder at the newly discovered carbonated crusader. But just who is this mysterious Pepsiman?
Like most incomprehensibly amusing things, Pepsiman’s roots can be traced back to the country of Japan. As the official mascot of Pepsi’s Japanese branch during the 90s, the blue-and-silver hero appeared in 12 different commercials over the course of the decade, showing up to bring Pepsi products to thirsty citizens wherever he was needed. After appearing as a special guest character in the 1996 Fighting Vipers, and in 1999 finally got his own self-titled video game.
The game’s premise and mechanics are fairly simple. Actually, they’re extremely simple: Pepsiman runs through city after city and delivers Pepsi to those in need of a cool, refreshing drink. The twist? All the while, he’s collecting Pepsi cans, dodging oncoming Pepsi trucks, outrunning giant rolling Pepsi cans a-la Indiana Jones. Yeah, I wish I was joking, too.
After over a decade of silence, Pepsiman started making a resurgence as players began to spread word of the game online. The mascot’s popularity finally came to a head last night when #Pepsiman was trending for the first, and likely last time on Twitter. He wasn’t the only hero to receive attention in the wake of the the outbreak, however. Actor Mike Butters, who appeared in FMVs throughout the game, has gained over a thousand followers on his twitter. Most importantly, tonight Pepsiman and Summer Games Done Quick reminded us that with the united forces of video games and delicious Pepsi, a community can come together to make a difference for a good cause. As of Games Done Quick’s latest update, their Summer marathon has raised over $700k for MSF USA.
We will never forget your heroism, Pepsiman. #SGDQ2016 pic.twitter.com/8jjtoCBhgZ
— Games Done Quick (@GamesDoneQuick) July 9, 2016
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