Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Name: Pepsiman
Item: Pepsiman
Author: Retro Replay

Pepsiman adopts a fast-paced, on-rails running formula that’s instantly accessible yet surprisingly varied. Players guide the titular hero down narrow courses littered with hazards—drying wells, falling debris, traffic cones, and more—as they sprint toward a gleaming Pepsi vending machine at each level’s end. The controls are simple: tap to jump, hold to slide, and steer slightly to collect Pepsi cans scattered along the path. This streamlined setup ensures you’re never bogged down by complex inputs, keeping the focus squarely on quick reflexes.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

Each stage feels like a comical obstacle course, designed to echo the mascot’s commercial appearances. One moment you’re bounding across a construction site, the next you’re dodging barrels in a laboratory. Though levels recycle a set number of environments, cleverly placed jumps and slides inject new surprises as you progress. Collecting extra cans not only pads your score but also acts as a buffer against injury: a near-miss that clips your Pepsiman suit sees you lose a few cans instead of an immediate game over.

Difficulty ramps up steadily through the five stages, rewarding memorization and precise timing. Early runs might see you marooned in a canyon or flattened by a runaway crate, but repeated playthroughs reveal secret shortcuts and optimal paths. While the absence of a free-roaming camera can occasionally obscure obstacles until they’re too close, the game’s forgiving checkpoint system—paired with generous continues—keeps frustration at bay and encourages experimentation.

Graphics

Visually, Pepsiman is a quintessential late-’90s PlayStation title. Its blocky polygonal models and pre-rendered backgrounds deliver a distinctive, almost surreal charm. Levels burst with color—sun-baked deserts glow orange, labs hum with neon green, and city streets shimmer under a midday sun. Despite low-resolution textures, each environment brims with personality, from rusted scaffolding to cartoonish billboards that reference real-world Pepsi branding.

Pepsiman himself is a shining example of simple yet effective character design. His gleaming silver suit reflects ambient light in a way that belies the hardware’s limitations, while his trademark red “P” and Pepsi logo stand out crisply against drab backdrops. Animations are smooth, with fluid running strides and dramatic sliding sequences that sell the illusion of speed. Hazardous obstacles—rolling barrels, collapsing platforms—are easy to read at a glance, ensuring you have enough time to react.

Cutscenes peppered between stages employ FMV clips lifted straight from Japanese commercials, lending an authentic marketing-edge aesthetic. These brief interludes star Pepsiman zipping into a parched crowd, hurling a can to a grateful bystander, then inevitably tripping over his own feet. Though grainy by today’s standards, they capture the offbeat humor that defined the mascot’s ads and tie the entire presentation together.

Story

True to its commercial origins, Pepsiman offers minimal narrative beyond the bare essentials: thirst, heroism, and slapstick injury. There’s no overarching plot or dialogue trees—just a simple premise: people everywhere face dehydration, and only Pepsiman can save them. This lightweight framework keeps the focus squarely on running and can-collecting, punctuated by humorous near-miss falls that echo the mascot’s television exploits.

Each level represents a different scenario inspired by vintage Japanese Pepsi commercials. One might find you racing through a crowded street to deliver refreshment to a sweaty salaryman, while another plunges you into a perilous power plant to bring a cold can to a group of lab technicians. In every case, your reward isn’t gold or glory, but the sweet fizz of Pepsi—stocked neatly in an awaiting vending machine at the finish line.

While purists seeking a deep storyline may feel short-changed, fans of campy advertising will appreciate the game’s self-aware humor. Rather than forcing a convoluted narrative, developers leaned into the absurdity: a costumed hero sprinting past existential threats simply to quench thirst. The result is a lighthearted romp that feels less like a story-driven adventure and more like an interactive commercial—an intentional choice that bolsters its nostalgic appeal.

Overall Experience

Pepsiman is, at its core, a novelty—a product of corporate marketing transformed into a surprisingly addictive runner. Its brevity is both a blessing and a curse: five stages can be blitzed in under an hour for seasoned players, but repeated runs to master every obstacle and collect every can extend the lifespan considerably. If you crave a bite-sized challenge with a quirky premise, this game delivers ample replay value.

The game’s high-energy soundtrack, cheeky cutscenes, and constant forward momentum create an irresistible momentum that’s difficult to put down. Occasional camera quirks and predictable level designs are minor hiccups in an otherwise slick package. What Pepsiman lacks in depth, it more than makes up for with pure arcade-style fun and tongue-in-cheek humor.

For retro gamers and fans of oddball marketing spin-offs, Pepsiman offers a delightful diversion that stands apart from its more serious peers on the original PlayStation. While it may not redefine the runner genre, its colorful visuals, energetic pacing, and unabashed Pepsi-centric premise make it a must-play for collectors and curious newcomers alike. Strap on your silver suit, brace for impact, and prepare to sprint straight into soda-fueled nostalgia.