Creating a mascot for a video game can be like catching lightning in a bottle. When it works, the mascot can become wildly successful and create a franchise that will live through the ages. Unfortunately, however, things don’t always work out that way.
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When it doesn’t work out as intended, the mascots can fall into obscurity and fade from memory. That doesn’t mean that these characters should be forgotten though. Quite the opposite, in fact. Despite not being the most memorable characters, this list will honor their memory, and celebrate their place in video game history.
10Dynamite Dux
Sega was responsible for someincredible side-scrolling beat em’ ups in the 90s. TheStreets of RageandGolden Axeseries are two of the most notable. One side-scrolling beat em’ up which is slightly less known isDynamite Dux.Produced by legendary Sega game designer Yu Suzuki,Dynamite Duxis quite possibly one of the most obscure games from his esteemed catalog of classics.
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Originally released in the arcade in 1988, and later on theSega Master Systemand home computers, the player must save Lucy from the evil Achacha. Dynamite Dux features some quite frankly bizarre enemies, including dogs with lots of teeth and no legs, roller skating foxes, and sumo pigs! Dynamite Dux is well worth seeking out even just to experience something a little different from Sega’s long and celebrated history.
9James Pond
James Pondhad a decent run in the 90s as a video game mascot. In his first outing released in 1990,James Pondsees the titular hero facing off against the bad guy “Doctor Maybe,” which is an obvious pun on the 1962James Bondmovie,Dr. No. The levels in the game also spoofed various 007 movies including “Leak and Let Die,” and “A View to a Spill.”James Pondwas a success, so a year laterJames Pond 2: Codename RoboCodwas released. The game even featured a rendition of the famousRoboCoptheme as heard in the movie. The final game of the trilogy,James Pond 3was released in 1993.
James Pondhas also appeared inThe Aquatic Gamesand the platforming gameRolo To The Rescue, both of which were released in 1992. DespiteJames Pond’ssuccess coming mainly in the 90s, a new game was released in 2011 for iPad and iPhone calledJames Pond in the Deathly Shallows.James Pond 2: Codename RoboCodis also now available for Nintendo Switch, so this 90s hero’s legacy can still be enjoyed today.
8Rick Dangerous
Released in 1989,Rick Dangerousis a platforming game that fairly blatantly copies elements of theIndiana Jonesmovies. Rick himself wears a hat that is much like Indy’s and the opening level sees him being chased by a boulder.
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Rick Dangerous 2was released the following year and changed up the style slightly so that the character and levels resembled something similar toFlash Gordon. These days, super-hard platformers such asSuper Meat Boy,Celeste, andCupheadare extremely popular.Rick Dangerousdeserves to be remembered and included in the conversation when gamers discuss their favorite difficult platforming games.
7Superfrog
The prince and his bride are enjoying a day out when the evil witch kidnaps the princess and turns the prince into a frog. With a quick drink of Lucozade (thanks to some handvideo game product placement) the slimy frog is transformed into the heroSuperfrog.
Released in 1993 by Team 17, platformerSuperfrogreceived praise for its fun gameplay and music. In 2013, two decades after its initial release, an HD remaster became available on PSN. Unfortunately, however, the game was removed from the store in 2016, meaningSuperfrogis confined to a brief moment in history.
6Prehistorik
The caveman platform game genre has surprisingly more entries than most people might think possible. Games includingChuck Rock, BC Kid, Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja, andBig Nose The Cavemanall feature prehistoric heroes.
Released in 1991 by Titus Interactive,Prehistorikis another entry in this packed genre, which seems the titular hero on a quest for food. Titus released a sequel calledPrehistorik 2in 1993 for the Amstrad CPC-464 and MS-DOS. Incredibly, Titus made yet another caveman game calledPrehistorik Man, which was released for the SNES in 1995.
5Soccer Kid
If nothing else, the story of Soccer Kid is quite inventive. A trophy-obsessed Alien has stolen the World Cup which has broken into different pieces. These have been scattered around the globe, and it is up toSoccer Kidto save the day. Originally released in 1993 for the Commodore Amiga,Soccer Kidwas later ported to multiple systems including the SNES, and the 3DO.
Soccer Kidattempted to combine soccer with platforming and the results were mixed. Despite being a platformer,Soccer Kidused his ball to damage enemies. The fiddly controls and harsh difficulty were the main criticisms leveled against the game.Soccer Kidcan still be played today and is part of theEvercade Piko Collection 2, along with several other titles.
4Boomerang Kid
Codemasters has been making games for over 35 years. They are more well known now for theirfantastic driving gamesincluding theDirtseries andF1racing games. Codemasters was bought by EA in 2021 for approximately $1.2 million, no doubt with an eye on their expertise to revitalize theNeed For Speedfranchise.
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However, their rich and varied history includes games like the classicMicro Machinesand many platforming titles such as the little-knownBoomerang Kid. Released in 1991 for the NES,Boomerang Kidis a surprisingly fun platform game with jaunty music.
3CJ’s Elephant Antics
CJ Elephant (AKA Columbus Jumbo) enjoyed a brief period of success, featuring in three platforming games in the ’90s. These wereCJ’s Elephant Antics,CJ In The USA, andCJ: Elephant Fugitive.
CJ’s Elephant Anticssees him trying to find his way home to Africa after escaping from a plane that was transporting him to a zoo. CJ can fire peanuts from his trunk and also throw a limited supply of bombs. CJ also carries an umbrella that slows him down if he falls from a great height.
2Titus The Fox: To Marrakech And Back
It’s no surprise that game developer Titus Interactive created a platforming game calledTitus The Fox. Their mascot was a fox, and they were well known for making platformers with varying degrees of quality.
The aim of the game was for Titus to make his way through numerous levels to rescue his girlfriend. His main method of attack was to find various items lying around and throw them at his enemies. As well as being available for home computers,Titus The Foxwas also released for theGame Boyand Game Boy Color.
1Bonanza Bros.
Couch Co-op gamesare very popular these days with titles such asIt Takes Two, Overcooked, andMoving Outrequiring players to work together to complete their objectives.Bonanza Broswas released by Sega in 1990 and was fairly innovative at the time as the game’s screen was split, meaning both players had to work together to achieve their goal.
Taking the role of either Robo or Mobo (AKA Mike and Spike) the objective is to break into various buildings and steal items. Various enemies stand in the players' way. As well as stunning them with a gun, players could also use doors to knock enemies out.
