3 90s Video Game Mascots that Went Too Hard
Yes way, brah
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Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, Crash Bandicoot. Beloved by all, and for good reason.
The three biggest video game mascots of the 1990s appealed to kids because…
1) they (mostly) kept their mouths shut
2) their character design is excellent
3) their games are generally considered fantastic (their 90s titles anyway).
(#1 might not seem that important compared to the other two, but just you wait.)
The other 90s mascots – the fifty quintillion of them that were created to make a quick buck in the wake of Mario, Sonic, and Crash’s success – are almost all profoundly irritating, with the occasional exception like Earthworm Jim, Sparkster, and Lara Croft.
Despite this, many of these born-in-a-boardroom 90s mascots received upwards of two games, sometimes more. Kids were either really starved for anthropomorphic animal platforming or concerned parents bought them Bubsy II instead of Mortal Kombat II, hoping the former would satisfy little Jimmy’s digital bloodlust. Little did they know Bubsy II only made Jimmy angrier.
Today, we’re looking at three of the decade’s most questionable video game mascots, which is as many as I can stomach. They’ll be judged based on their appearance, overall game quality (sticking to the 90s here), and all-around demeanor.
I’m really not looking forward to any of this. Away we go!
BUBSY
Starting this list off right with a character that everyone knows, even if they’ve never played his games.
Bubsy is a wisecracking bobcat, because the year is 1993 and if your cutesy animal character doesn’t wisecrack, he doesn’t exist. His jokes are a mix of cat puns and self-aware quips, and… they work? Sort of? They’re as bad as you might think, though. “Is there a veterinarian in the audience?” “Remember: I am a trained purr-fessional,” and “Oh look! An arrow! Aren't these game designers wonderful?” Oy!
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