Japanese video game companies are always trying to get mascots, but while Nintendo and Sega have been successful, Sony keeps trying
Video game companies have tried since ancient times to create mascots to ensure the joy of fans every time they are used. This helps explain the popularity still today of games centered around characters like Mario, Link, Donkey Kong and Sonic, who always give faces to their companies. In the middle of this cake, we have Sony.
The Japanese company entered the video game market in December 1994 with the launch of the PlayStation and has since tried to create a mascot that really lasts in its place, but in almost thirty years of existence it has never lived up to it.
With some characters better known than others, find out what Sony’s attempts have been to have a real mascot to call its own.
9. Astrobots
Astro Bot is Sony’s latest bet to call the PlayStation mascot, already the protagonist of two games and one third part announced for PlayStation 5. The cute little robot appeared first Astrobot rescue missiona PSVR game that almost acts as a demo to help you understand the potential of the device.
The same happened inside Astro’s playroom, a very fun free game for PS5 that serves to show the player the functions of the DualSense, the console’s joystick. Among the most recent bets, Astro Bot is one of the favorites to become the mascot of PlayStation, at least until Sony gets tired of him and tries to put another character in his place.
8. Ratchet and Clank
Ratchet and Clank is a series of games produced by Insomniac Games that appeared in 2002, forming part of all generations of the PlayStation 2 forward, also from PSP and PS Vita.
Although they are still quite popular today, with a cinema animation released in 2016, Ratchet and Clank are friendly mascots, but with a look that ties them very much to a specific era, the early 2000s, which ends up move them away from their fixed position as PlayStation mascots. So much so that, although they starred in one of the PS5 launch games, you hardly see them in any of Sony’s marketing efforts.
7. Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot is a complicated case for Sony, since for a long time he was considered the mascot of the PlayStation 1. The first games in the series were created by Naughty Dog, the same as The last of us AND Unexploredas part of an exclusive agreement between Sony and Universal Interactive Games.
In 2001, this exclusivity ended, with Crash Bandicoot moving on to other consoles, such as Gamecube, Xbox 360 and so on. Just because Crash Bandicoot is a character from another company, and not Sony, he ended up losing the role as PlayStation’s mascot, despite him being a strong candidate for the position. It was the one that reached the public the most and it was a great surprise to see it arrive on other platforms.
6. Spyro the Dragon
Spyro the Dragon can be considered the younger brother of Crash Bandicootdeveloped by the Insomniac Games team and one of the creators of Crash, Chales Zembillas.
Spyro was trying to reach a younger audience, which could put him in direct line with mainstream audiences. Nintendo 64, with its Super Mario 64. But Spyro had the same problem as Crash: they belonged to Universal, which was eventually sold to Vivendi, which then became Activision Blizzard. Yes, today they are owned by two former PlayStation mascots Microsoft. The world spins around.
5. Nathan Drake
It may not seem like it, but Nathan Drake has also been something of a PlayStation mascot for a few years. Despite Uncharted: Drake’s Luckhaving been a moderately successful release, its sequel, Uncharted 2: Among Thievesit was one of the great titles of the era PlayStation 3.
This catapulted the character as one of the figures used by Sony as a mascot for an entire generation of consoles. The fact that Naughty Dog ended its treasure hunting career in Unexplored 4 has somewhat undermined his position as PlayStation’s mascot. Not to mention, it’s not pretty at all, which makes it a little tricky to place it in different marketing pieces.
4. Saccoboy
Sackboy is a completely twisted character, the possible holder of the PlayStation mascot crown who ended up being cast aside without mercy or mercy. The friendly character appeared in 2008, in Little big planet. The title has fascinated millions of players, who over the course of the series have even been able to create worlds and levels for other people to play.
Gradually, Sony seemed to no longer be so interested in using a family character, like Sackboy, as a mascot, and he appeared less and less. His last title on a Sony console was Sackboy: A Great Adventurereleased in 2020, around the same time Sony seems to be keen on making Astro Bot something for fans of the brand.
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3. Taurus
You probably have no idea who Toro, a possible PlayStation mascot, is. However, the character is almost twenty-five years old, being at the center of a franchise with more than 10 games on Sony consoles.
Its biggest problem is the fact that the kitten appears in games that are basically exclusive to Japan. It is impossible to become a mascot for such a console. It’s like Nintendo only released Mario games in Japan. Even so, the kitten appeared in the West in some titles, such as the PlayStation game All-Stars Battle Royale, which tried to make all these mascot prototypes fight.
2. The man from the range
Here it seems that Sony was joking, but the 90s were strange and difficult times, when any polygonal graphics were worthy of applause and admiration. This alone explains the attempt to have Polygon Man as the PlayStation 1 mascot.
Polygon Man was created to be the brand’s most radical spokesperson, being used extensively in magazines and at E3 1995. PlayStation’s then global head, Ken Kutaragi, didn’t really like the character, and he was soon sidelined by ‘agency. Then. And it’s not too hard to imagine why.
At least he resurfaced years later as the final boss of All-Star Battle Royale for PlayStationthe fighting game that brought together several PlayStation characters.
1. Kratos
Kratos, Cleitinho, the Good, no matter what you call him, is one of the most memorable characters in gaming history. Since his first appearance in 2005, Kratos has been the protagonist of one of the strongest franchises linked to PlayStation.
Even though some of the recent titles have received PC versions, it is undeniable God of war and PlayStation are strongly connected, making Kratos a crude and violent mascot, but one that clearly shows the type of game you can find on a Sony console.
More than any other name on this list, Spartan Ghost is the name most linked to the PlayStation brand, making him one of the company’s great mascots, even if his violent history doesn’t match his traditionally cuddlier status.
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Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
