Pepsiman

"You Have to Play This Game!"

Up to the point when my friend showed me this game, I had not heard a single thing about this game. Why am I complaining? Because this game is so unique and amazingly fun!If you know someone who has this, do not wait another minute, buy it now!!This game wins the award for Sleeper hit of the year! Honestly, I hope a sequel comes out, or at least a game similar to his, because I can not get enough of it!

Graphics: 7/10

As you can tell, this game did not have a high budget. That is strange to think about since Pepsi makes a revenue of about one hundred million dollars a day. I am assuming this was 100% for promotion purposes. Well, I don't know about you, but playing a game about Pepsi won't get me drinking more Pepsi. Whatever the case, the graphics are average, and there are some impressive things, but for the most part, the graphics are out of date. People during gameplay are all two dimensional and have a horrible animation sequence. There are no FMV's or Cinematic Graphics, only real life footage of a crazy man that is addicted to Pepsi. But that also, did not get a high budget. Almost every video that comes up will be in the same room, with the same props, with the same guy. Only one time is there an exception. But come on, graphics don't make the game!

Sound/Music: 6/10

Sadly, Pepsiman has a very small and horrible soundtrack, consisting of one song, which the lyrics repeatedly sing ''PEPPSIIIIMAAAAN'' over and over again. It doesn't really bother me, but it would be nice to have more than one song. I am getting the idea that this game is trying to brainwash all the people who play it. Well, so far no effect on me yet. The sound effects are alright, but there is also nothing special about them. All the basic stuff is here, that is all that matters.

Gameplay: 10/10

This is where the game shines. The gameplay is fun, addicting, and very unique. You are Pepsiman, a super hero out to save thirsty people. You run nonstop through levels, dodging everything that gets in your way. This can involve cars, people, moving obstacles, gaps and whatever else. If you hit something, you will stop and lose time, if you run out of time, the thirsty people will die and your mission is failed and you will have to try again. Once you make it to the end, you reach a Pepsi vending machine, and you save the thirsty people. You can speed up or slow down temporarily, duck and jump. Each level takes about 3-5 minutes. In each level there are Pepsi cans that you have to collect if you want to master the game. Not every level is the same in concept. At the end of a stage, you will play a level where you have to run away from something, while constantly dodging stuff, if that big object that chases gets to you and squashes you, you die and have to try again. After completing levels, a guy drunk on Pepsi comes on the screen and talks some gibberish for a few seconds. Its funny the first few times you watch it. OK, something is getting to me, Pepsi just might have gotten a little influence on my caffeine products that I will buy very soon.....

Replay Value: 7/10

This game is short. It will take less than a day to beat. You can master the game buy collecting all the Pepsi cans in each level and beating the time records for each level.
After that, there's really not much to do other than replay the game for fun.

Best Feature: Gameplay
Worst Feature: Too Short! I want more!!!!

Rent or Buy?

Since you probably won't even see a store that sells or rents this game, I suggest that if by some rare occasion you do see it, buy it. Chances are that it will become a collectors item and will be worth a lot. But I would buy it simply because it's a good game. But if the price is higher than you think it is worth, don't bother. After a few hours of playing this game I feel that this game was totally commercialized, but I do respect the developers for thinking of such an ingenious concept. As for Pepsi Company, they almost got me, but games are not the answer for massive brainwashing and advertising. I might not like Coke, but that doesn't mean I like Pepsi, so too bad for you Pepsi, you have failed your mission in getting me to spend my precious well earned money on your products!

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/31/02, Updated 09/15/02