Pepsiman, named after the character with the same name, is an endless runner action video game developed and published by KID for the PlayStation. It was released in Japan on March 4, 1999, and is based on the eponymous Japanese superhero mascot for the American carbonated soft drink Pepsi. It focuses the player on avoiding obstacles by running, dashing, and jumping, while Pepsiman automatically runs forward through each of the game's stages.
The game was made on a low budget, prompting the decision to make videos in between stages that show a man drinking Pepsi, as they were cheap to produce. The game also features 2D cutscenes, for which the future visual novel writer Kotaro Uchikoshi created 2D models. While an American publisher did look into acquiring the rights to publish the game in the United States, it remained a Japan-exclusive game.
Reviewers frequently compared Pepsiman to other games, including Crash Bandicoot, and commented on its simplicity and its price, which was thought to be low. A writer for Complex included it on a list of company-branded games that "didn't suck", commenting that it is not a bad game as long as the player can tolerate the large amount of advertisement in it. According to Uchikoshi, the game did not sell well, but it eventually emerged as a cult classic over a decade after its original release due to appreciation for its absurd premise along with the Pepsiman character. The game has additionally become viewed positively in retrospect as a forefather to other runner games such as Temple Run (2011) and Sonic Adventure 2 (2001).
Pepsiman is abandonware and no longer sold or supported by its publishers. Files are archived here for these platforms:
You play as Pepsiman, and your job is to collect Pepsi cans and avoid obstacles. The levels are chaotic, and the gameplay is fun.
If you look past that “advertisements”, you’ll have yourself an enjoyable game. I give it 7/10.