The list of washed up VG icons

[Haoie]

Over the many years, once wholly recognisable and respected VG icons [mostly characters within games, but includes others too] have fallen by the wayside. Whether it be appearing in too many awful cashin titles or just disappearing altogether, perhaps replaced by more postmodern characters, these forgotten souls are many in number for you to reminise over.

I myself, contibute to this list what may very well be the biggest washout, Duke Nukem. From humble 2D PC beginnings alongside gods like Commander Keen, to fame and glory in his 3D form with plenty of Arnie style 1 liners, and his eventual fall from grace with whatever the heck DN: Forever is supposed to be. Forever is when it'll actually get to us, for sure.

[punkoffgirl]

The title of this thread gave me some great images in my head of Sonic, Mario, Pac-man, and Bentley Bear sitting around a table, unshaven, with beer bellies, sporting wife-beaters and some heavy five o'clock shadow. HA.

[s1lence]

The title of this thread gave me some great images in my head of Sonic, Mario, Pac-man, and Bentley Bear sitting around a table, unshaven, with beer bellies, sporting wife-beaters and some heavy five o'clock shadow. HA.

Hahaha and Tails and Luigi doing lines.


I agree , Duke Nukem is for sure a dead series.

[Blanka789]

Definitely agree on Commander Keen, what happened there?

Grand Prize has to go to Pac Man though, poor character had no place to go but downhill, but hopefully he'll find his way back to the top.

[kedawa]

If it weren't for Sonic Rush, I'd say Sonic needs to just die.

I think Lara Croft is pretty much passe, not that I ever liked Tomb Raider to begin with, and Crash Bandicoot has been whored out almost as much as Sonic.

Spyro is played out for sure.

[CYRiX]

Mario has really been washed out since GameCube needed some titles to rake in some more dough...

[njiska]

The greatest tragedy of them all. Donkey Kong. If there's a game character on blow it's him.

[youruglyclone]

bubsy?

what do you mean he wasn't that popular to begin with...

[Queen Of The Felines]

The greatest tragedy of them all. Donkey Kong. If there's a game character on blow it's him.

"Sorry, Donkey Kong, but you're just not a draw anymore."

*WHACK!*

"Hey, he's still got it!"

Kristine

[Kid Ice]

Poor Gex coulda been a contenda.

Crash Bandicoot...what have you done for us lately?

Earthworm Jim...now being used for bait?

Parappa the Rapper...Vanilla Ice?

[kedawa]

Mario has really been washed out since GameCube needed some titles to rake in some more dough...I'm so sick of Mario that I refuse to buy any game with him in it, unless it's a new SMB game, of course.

As far as I'm concerned, there hasn't been a Mario game since SMB4.

[Zadoc]

Pitfall Harry/Jr.

Coffin.

Nail.

Shovel.


Welcome home Harry!

[KingCobra]

Frooger, Pac Man and Donkey Kong and Mario.

Archive time LOL :(

[Tron 2.0]

Poor Gex coulda been a contenda.

Crash Bandicoot...what have you done for us lately?

Earthworm Jim...now being used for bait?

Parappa the Rapper...Vanilla Ice?
Agreed that's what comes to mind for me as well.

[mregashu]

I would disagree with some of these picks - characters like Mario, DK, and Pac-Man are still out there and still sell games. Now Q-Bert - there is an icon who's hit the bottom. It's hard to imagine a time when Q-Bert was as big as Frogger, Pac-Man etc.

Others from the top of my head:
Billy & Jimmy Lee
Battletoads
Alex Kidd
The Burger Time Chef

I figure these guys are all sitting around some dank bar, grumbling about that fat plumber and smartass hedgehog who ruined 'em all. "We coulda been contendahs!"

-Doh! didn't see that Kid Ice already had Gex doing Brando

[Chronodriftersx]

I would disagree with some of these picks - characters like Mario, DK, and Pac-Man are still out there and still sell games.

Mario Kart GP comes to mind yep!

[squidblatt]

There's no way Mario is washed up. Some people may have soured on him, but that is also an indication of his mainstream, iconic status. For that matter, Donkey Kong still has a lot of life in him too. Pac Man remains healthy even though he hasn't been in any good games for years. I doubt Pac Man will ever be washed up.

Frogger should be washed up, but he keeps on appearing in titles for every system. He doesn't make blockbusters anymore, but as a "straight-to-video" kind of guy, he' still hanging on.

I'd add Blinx, the Lode Runner guy, Leisure Suit Larry, and Shaq to the washed up list.

[googlefest1]

i think DK, mario, pacman are still living the life and sonic is hanging in there - he may be starting to collect some debts but all he needs is that one good title and hes back in the spot light - just make a sonic game like the the DC ones with the option of changeing the camera to a side scrolling perspective

duke nukem has had to move out of his mansion for sure but i think hes still hangin in there - they should release a decent Fps on the GBA and current systems - forget about 3rd person for now

i never thought the hamburger guy or the beer taping guy as being icons-- werent they one hit wonders.

right now id say the icons that are down on thier luck are the ones that were wana be icons - like bubsy, geks

i think crash can also make a comeback with a DC sonic style game or a ratchet and clank style of game

spyro is out of his mansion too but he still hangin out with the babes - i dont think hes been forgoten in gamers minds - but i think he's stickly stuck in G rated ville

[n8littlefield]

I agree that Mario, DK, Pacman are all still very viable characters. DK sold bongos really well on the Cube and the games are really fun. Mario Sunshine is a vastly underrated game that gets alot of undeserved critism. The Pacman World games have been very solid games, and PacMan VS on the Cube (if you have a few friends with GBAs and link cables) is an amazing party game.

The few that come to mind to me are things like Bubsy who were supposed to be great, but just ended up losing in that transition to 3d gaming. EWJ, Killer Instinct, Banjo Kazoiie are the others that I thought of as well.

BTW, I LOVED Pitfall on the PS2, I realize I'm the only person, but I rank it up in my favorites for the system. It has great play mechanics, bright colorful graphics (a rarity nowadays), and a fun sense of humor.

[Ed Oscuro]

Characters that've actually washed up?

Crash Bandicoot, one of the biggest failures of all.
Duke Nukem. Manhattan Project is fun to play, but not as good as his return to 2D could've been. That said, it's nice that there aren't any obvious Turrican ripoffs in it...
Sonic. Debatable.
Megaman. Absolutely.
John Madden.
Whoever said Billy & Jimmy Lee is a genius. DD5 is simply screwed up.
Not a single character, but a family: The Belmonts.

Bonk isn't washed up, of course, as he's only had a port recently - but it was a great title.

[howdoin]

Cool Spot
Bubsy
Rayman
The Simpsons (I miss the time of Bart's Nightmare and other Simpsons platform games)
Mr Nutz
Tails
Army Men (ok they were washed up since the beginning)
Lara Croft
Zool

[n8littlefield]

Wait a second, the Belmonts? the Simpsons?

Julius Belmont is playable in Castlevania DS, which is could be considered a game of the year contender by some.

The Simpsons were in Hit & Run, which was a ton better than any of their 8/16 bit games before.

[odyeiop]

Grand Prize has to go to Pac Man though, poor character had no place to go but downhill, but hopefully he'll find his way back to the top.
He's round, of course he's going to go downhill :P

[Vigilante]

What, no lovin for Bonk? Now I'm upset......

[Canadian Psycho]

As much as it pains me, Mega Man is done (and has been since after the release of the last Mega Man games that held my attention: 7 and X4).

[Mark III]

Some washed up characters off the top of my head:

-Strider Hiryu

-The Ikari Warriors
The Ikari Warriors may be a half decent King of Fighters team now, but they're shooter days are long behind them.

-Bonk

-Hudson

-Wonder Boy
RIP Westone :(

-Captain Commando
Captain Commando was never really a hit with only one arcade game made for him. However he appeared in virtually every Capcom manual for the NES and seemed to be they're mascot for a number of years so he makes the list, even though at best he's a "B" level video game character.

-Alex Kidd

-Toejam & Earl
They're comeback game on the XBOX was met with resounding disinterest, putting the last nail in their coffin.

-Axel and the rest of the Streets of Rage crew.
Come back Streets of Rage, we miss you.

-Death Adder from Golden Axe

-The Rolling Thunder Guy, I forget his name

-Haggar (Final Fight)
Last seen "slammin' punks" in Saturday Night Slam Masters, his Tag team partner Alexander "the Grater" could not be reached for comment http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c314/River_Raid/grater2.jpg

[Famidrive-16]

I wouldn't say characters like Mario or Sonic are washed-up... the games are stilling selling high and getting great reviews. And Mario's been getting a good DS reputation as of lately (Mario Kart, Partners in Time, sidescroller soon) so I'd say he's far away from that.

I haven't played a new Mega Man game (besides the collection) since the first Battle Network. C'mon, five frikkin' games?

Kirby hasn't done much besides Canvas Curse for a while. I'm still dissapointed at how his racing game turned out though.

[filmbucket]

Kid Ikarus could've had a lot going for him, but seems to have just sort of faded away...I think there was a game slated to have been released at one point for the GC, but was canceled? :(

[MegaDrive20XX]

Alex the Kidd
Kid Icarus
Bonk
Jester Night from NIGHTS (will you ever fly again?)
Hudson
Bubsy
Gex
Sparkster (The Rocket Knight)
Ristar
Pulseman (Never even got to really see the USA)
Vectorman
Streets of Rage series...all characters
Golden Axe....all characters I can agree on as well
Clockwork Knight himself...
BUG!
Spyro the Dragon...oh dear god what happened...
Earthworm Jim...yup dead on
Duke Nukem...oh you poor bastard..now just a myth like Elvis...
Leonard and Bubba from Redneck Rampage...gone just like Duke 3D..
Descent...that plane will never fly again...
Turok....will you ever slaughter Dino's again?
Art of Fighting....you never truly had a part 4
Last Blade...will you ever see a part 3?

[Necron99]

what about Bub and Bob from Bubble Bobble? They were pretty big and after the second there was only spin-offs(parasol stars, rainbow islands) and the Bust-A-Move/Puzzle Bobble.

Haven't seen much from the Street Fighter II cast in awhile either.

Altered Beast?

Shinobi?

[kedawa]

I think I saw James Pond and Zool the other day, fighting over a half-eaten danish one of them found in the gutter.

Haven't seen much from the Street Fighter II cast in awhile either.SFA3 is headed to PSP, and the gang's all there. And then there's always crap like CFE and SVC:Chaos.

[filmbucket]

what about Bub and Bob from Bubble Bobble? They were pretty big and after the second there was only spin-offs(parasol stars, rainbow islands) and the Bust-A-Move/Puzzle Bobble.


They had come out with Bubble Bobble Old & New for the GBA not too long ago and just came out with Bubble Bobble Revolution for the DS. Long live Bub and Bob! :)

[GarrettCRW]

Alas, poor Robbit.....after single-handedly creating the first-person platformer, you were last seen (in your native land only) performing menial tasks of heroism because Baron Aloha has given up (so much so, in fact, that many of the awards available in your second adventure are still unknown).

[Dire 51]

How about these?

Rick Taylor from Splatterhouse
Yuko Ahso from Valis
Elta from Magician Lord
Alyssa from The Guardian Legend
Sparkster
Kid Niki
Psycho Fox
Kelesis from Golvellius
Bayou Billy
Lolo
Karnov

There's more... a lot more. And why are some of you guys including characters like Shaq and The Simpsons? I thought this was about washed up video game characters, not washed up characters that starred in a video game or two (or in The Simpsons' case, fifteen or twenty). Eh, maybe it's just me.

[Tron 2.0]

-The Ikari Warriors[/b]
The Ikari Warriors may be a half decent King of Fighters team now, but they're shooter days are long behind them.

Well Ralf&Clark isn't realy over they will be in MS6.

I know it's no, Ikari Warriors but better then nothing at least ;)

http://enomosiki.zftp.com/main/screenshots/ms6/ms6-x007.jpg

[Necron99]

I think I saw James Pond and Zool the other day, fighting over a half-eaten danish one of them found in the gutter.

Haven't seen much from the Street Fighter II cast in awhile either.SFA3 is headed to PSP, and the gang's all there. And then there's always crap like CFE and SVC:Chaos.

good to know!



what about Bub and Bob from Bubble Bobble? They were pretty big and after the second there was only spin-offs(parasol stars, rainbow islands) and the Bust-A-Move/Puzzle Bobble.


They had come out with Bubble Bobble Old & New for the GBA not too long ago and just came out with Bubble Bobble Revolution for the DS. Long live Bub and Bob! :)

also good to know!

what about Aero the Acrobat?

Bomberman?

[squidblatt]

And why are some of you guys including characters like Shaq and The Simpsons? I thought this was about washed up video game characters, not washed up characters that starred in a video game or two (or in The Simpsons' case, fifteen or twenty). Eh, maybe it's just me.

No, I shouldn't have included Shaq. It's just that for a while he was so hyped up in everything from movies, to rap, to video games that it just seemed like a good idea. His game is still one of the iconic "bad idea" titles, but I guess that's a different thread.

Instead of Shaq, how about Croc? That's about as washed up as it gets.

[Dire 51]

Instead of Shaq, how about Croc? That's about as washed up as it gets.

Croc works. Man, whatever happened to him?

[kirin jensen]

KC Munchkin, my peoples...

[sickdrummer420]

Mario has really been washed out since GameCube needed some titles to rake in some more dough...I'm so sick of Mario that I refuse to buy any game with him in it, unless it's a new SMB game, of course.

As far as I'm concerned, there hasn't been a Mario game since SMB4.

damn, what about mario 64? that was an awesome game

[Ed Oscuro]

I thought "washed up" meant that the character's series had gone downhill...not stalled completely. Crash the Bandicoot took a major dive, but the Streets of Rage team? Nah, the series simply died (at least for a while).

[kevin_psx]

Pitfall Harry. He's like Clark Gable during his last 10 years - a has-been who no longer draws the crowds to see his work.

[Slate]

There are plenty out there, but i have to disagree with some of the ones listed here..

Pitfall Harry, Pac-Man, Sonic, Mario, Frogger, Spyro, Crash, DK.. None of these guys are retired from gaming yet..

In my opinion, Characters who are REALLY retired are ones like KC Munchkin. Bounty bob is still kicking, Though.

[Ed Oscuro]

There are plenty out there, but i have to disagree with some of the ones listed here..

Pitfall Harry, Pac-Man, Sonic, Mario, Frogger, Spyro, Crash, DK.. None of these guys are retired from gaming yet..
But that's the thing. "Washed-up" means you're still trying to make a comeback, but it hasn't happened (usually because the actor/company needs the revenue). "Retired" would seem to suggest that the series/character left the scene on a high note.

[EricRyan34]

ughhhh, Sonic, Pac-Man


and umm....yeahhh thats all I can think of

[Bloodreign]

I would've said Dig Dug, but he has a new DS game, so no.

The Chinese Hero guys (or Kung Fu Heroes, though they really aren't popular) haven't seen a new title in years, just a couple of remakes on GBA.

When's the last time Kunio had a new game, and not remakes?

[kevin_psx]

Pitfall Harry, Pac-Man, Sonic, Mario, Frogger, Spyro, Crash, DK.. None of these guys are retired from gaming yet..

No but some should retire. You see the last Pitfall Harry or Crash or Pac-man game? TRASH. As I said - like Clark Gable in his last 10 years - one piece of crap after another.

[Snapple]

Mario has really been washed out since GameCube needed some titles to rake in some more dough...I'm so sick of Mario that I refuse to buy any game with him in it, unless it's a new SMB game, of course.

As far as I'm concerned, there hasn't been a Mario game since SMB4.

You're missing out on some tremendous games because of your pride, then.


Mario isn't washed up. Sonic isn't washed up. Bomberman isn't washed up. They're all churning out smash hits every year. Just because their single best game might be behind them doesn't make them washed up. That's like saying Russell Crowe has been washed up since Gladiator, even though he's done other great moves like A Beautiful Mind and Cinderella Man since then.


How about Alex Kidd and Wonderboy? They're probably still holding out for a "Best of the Master System" collection on Gamecube so they can get royalties checks.

Turok is a great example. He really did kinda fade out slowly along with the sales of his last couple sequels. I never saw the draw of Turok anyway.

Bonk needs to try a comeback. So the last couple outtings on the SNES failed. Big deal. Now the technology is better, which opens the door for a completely fresh look for Bonk.


Spyro the Dragon...oh dear god what happened...

What happened is that the company that invented Spyro decided to stop making Spyro games after Spyro 3 so that they could start work on Jak and Daxter. The Spyro games that have could out since then are a result of other companies trying to cash in on the old license, which is why the quality of the series has gone down. It's not a coincidence.

[Haoie]

Why did they never make another Tombi [AKA Tomba to the US] game? It's unfortunate.

Ditto Colony Wars, except I know the reason for that.

A lot of VG characters have had their careers cut short. Which in another way of thinking, may not be so bad, as they don't descend into "jumping the shark" like so many other long running series.

[klausien]

-Axel and the rest of the Streets of Rage crew.
Come back Streets of Rage, we miss you.


Absolutely. On a side note, has anyone realized that when EA and Rockstar make brawlers (LOTR & The Warriors, respectively), they are critically acclaimed, but all the others "lack innovation" or are "repetitive"? Ridiculous. I wish SOR would return. Sega took a fantastic game, Final Fight, and made it even better.

[Ed Oscuro]

Pitfall Harry, Pac-Man, Sonic, Mario, Frogger, Spyro, Crash, DK.. None of these guys are retired from gaming yet..

No but some should retire. You see the last Pitfall Harry or Crash or Pac-man game? TRASH. As I said - like Clark Gable in his last 10 years - one piece of crap after another.
I'm glad we agree on this point.

If they're still in gaming they can be "washed up."

If they're retired, they are not washed up - but gone. Think of it as you would an actor.

[Nz17]

As much as it pains me, Mega Man is done (and has been since after the release of the last Mega Man games that held my attention: 7 and X4).

Amen to that brother.

[njiska]

http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=109

http://www.vgcats.com/comics/images/040815.jpg

[Famidrive-16]

http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=177

You know, as disgusting as that is, it's pretty true when I think about it. x_x

[diskoboy]

All you Nintendo fans should be ashamed of yourselves for forgetting the most forgotten nintendo 'mascot' ever....

Stanley the Bugman!!! (DK3)

1 game, and the man falls off the face of the earth. Never to be seen again. EVER.

[Teknik_SE-R]

Poor Gex coulda been a contenda.

Crash Bandicoot...what have you done for us lately?

Earthworm Jim...now being used for bait?

Parappa the Rapper...Vanilla Ice?

hit the nail on the head for me.

pretty sure these have all been said, but...

abe from oddworld...couldn't find another job, so he went back to the mines

the 7up spot...now a mascot for the bubbly

chip...stuck in the electronics world forever

keen...did he ever make it home?

cheetahmen...Out-heroed by the TMNT and became members of the "mystery men" with ben stiller

and finally james bond, james bond, james bond, and, you guessed it, james bond

[MegaDrive20XX]

Poor Duke Nukem...damn 3D Realms :(

[idrougge]

What about Randar? He was the ubiquitous cameo actor, but now he's nowhere to be seen.
Another one who has been free-falling since the 80s is Rockford.

However, old video game stars never die, they just turn into mobile games. Both Wonderboy, Rockford and Repton sustain themselves on a bare minimum income level thanks to mobile gaming. Alex Kidd can sustain his beer habit only due to his keyring profits in Shenmue.
Only some old stars like Horace are out in the cold, seemingly never to come back.

[scorch56]

John Romero is my nomination for biggest washed up video game icon. Oh.. wait.. you were talking about actual in-game characters.. weren't you? I thought you meant another kind of icon.

[blissfulnoise]

Some of Sega's other fallen icons:

The E-Swat police [E-Swat]: Sure, they stole most of Joe Musashi's moves, but that armor rocked ass. Wonder if Robocop did them in?

Sketch Turner [Comix Zone]: Think he's living with Bubba and Stix in a one bedroom on the lower east side. Makes a living doing caricatures but still hopes to make it big on the "street art" scene.

Ali [Beyond Oasis] : Thought he was a shoe in for Disney's Aladdin and the King of Thieves but his audition didn't work out. They wanted someone less "ethnic" looking.

The Daytona Car [Daytona USA]: Now working as a Pace car for the class C weekend races at the Nashville Speedway. Nuff said.

Honey/Candy [Fighting Vipers]: Seen Requiem for a Dream? Yeah, it’s about like that.

Dynamite Duke [Dynamite Duke]: The last known contact from Duke was from a "gun for hire" ad in the back of Guns and Ammo Sept/97. Presumed dead or, at the least, very, very hungry.

Stevedore [Shove It!]: Arguably the most successful of the lot. Through hard work and careful planning, he scrounged up enough dough to drop on a new ride. Two days later, after a drunken bender, he was involved in a triple vehicular homicide on the Jersey Turnpike. Stevie-D (as he’s now known) was given three consecutive life sentences. However, during his rehabilitation he’s published a series of children’s books written to keep kids away from "Shoving It!".