8 /10 1 Votes
Initial release date 1983 Mode Single-player video game | 4/5 eBay Genre Action game Platforms Atari 2600, Intellivision | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Designer(s) Atari 2600: Steve Tatsumi
Intellivision: Vladimir Hyrcenko Developers Mattel, The Learning Company Publishers Mattel, M Network, The Learning Company Similar Chase the Chuck Wagon, Tron: Deadly Discs, Tooth Protectors, Masters of the Universe, Night Stalker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kool-Aid Man is an Atari 2600 video game is centered on the Kool-Aid Man, the long time television mascot of the popular beverage Kool-Aid. A second, unique video game cartridge was also made for the Intellivision.
The game remains as one of the most obvious product placements in video game history, and in a further attempt at marketing the beverage, the game could be obtained for free by mailing in 125 proof of purchase points.
While it was initially available exclusively through mail-order, it was later released through traditional retail outlets.
Gameplay
The setting of the game is a simple pool of water, and the object of the game is to quench the “thirsties”. Thirsties are round creatures that try to drink up all of the water in the pool.
Hitting a thirsty who is not drinking water causes the player to be bumped back and lose time. However, when a thirsty is drinking from the pool (an action indicated by a straw of variable length extending from the thirsty to the pool), he is vulnerable. Hitting him will supposedly use Kool-Aid to quench his thirst, and thus saving the pool. Winning a level usually requires quenching around 30 thirsties, which will take the player to a faster level. The game is lost either by running out of time, or by losing all of the water in the pool.
The Kool-Aid pitcher can obtain power-ups, giving it temporary invincibility which transforms him into the Kool-Aid Man.
