Kool-Aid Man is a video game released for the Atari 2600 and Intellivision in 1983. Both were published by Mattel (under the M Network label for the Atari version), but each game is of unique design. They are centered on the Kool-Aid Man, the television mascot of the beverage Kool-Aid.
| Kool-Aid Man | |
|---|---|
 Atari 2600 box art | |
| Developer(s) | Mattel |
| Publisher(s) | Mattel M Network[1] |
| Designer(s) | Atari 2600: Steve Tatsumi[2][3] Intellivision: Vladimir Hrycenko[3] Mark Kennedy[3] |
| Artist(s) | Intellivision: Monique Lujan-Bakerink[3] |
| Platform(s) | Atari 2600, Intellivision |
| Release | Atari 2600:
|
| Genre(s) | Action |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Initially available exclusively through mail-order, it was later released through traditional retail outlets.[1]
Gameplay
editAtari 2600
editThe version released on the Atari 2600 is a simple arcade style action game. The player controls a flying Kool-Aid Man, who hovers above a large pool of Kool-Aid. Flying back and forth across the screen are several “Thirsties” who will attempt to run into Kool-Aid Man. The Thirsties will occasionally stop to extend a straw into the pool below and begin drinking the Kool-Aid dry. It is while they are drinking from the pool that Kool-Aid Man can capture them for points. If Kool-Aid Man runs into the Thirsties while they are moving, he will be pushed backwards uncontrollably, giving the Thirsties more time to drink from the pool. The game is over once the Thirsties have drained the pool.[4]
Power ups consist of letters that fly across the screen, which the player can pick up for temporary invincibility. The letters, K, S and W each stand for one of the three main ingredients of Kool-Aid (Kool-Aid mix, sugar and water).[5]
A cutscene at the beginning of the game shows Kool-Aid Man breaking through a brick wall, much as he did in the commercials.[6]
Intellivision
editThe Intellivision version of this game is an adventure game and is more complex than the Atari version. Rather than starting out as Kool-Aid Man, you instead control two children attempting to make a batch of Kool-Aid. In order to do so, the kids must traverse a large three story house in search of the three items (a pitcher, sugar and Kool-Aid mix). Once an item is found, it can be picked up and must be brought back to the kitchen and placed in front of the sink. A fourth item, the step latter must be used to reach the sugar, which is placed on top of a counter.
To further complicate matters, the player must avoid two Thirsties that patrol the house. If the player comes to close to one, they will begin chasing the player, and upon making contact will freeze one of the kids in place. Once all items are placed at the sink, a cutscene will show Kool-Aid Man burst through the wall, and now the player will control Kool-Aid Man, who must hunt down and capture the two Thirsties. Once both are defeated, the level is complete, and the player moves on to the next stage, which features a higher difficulty.[7]
The game is over if the player fails to complete all the level’s objectives before the game’s ten minute timer runs out, or if both of the kids are frozen by the Thirsties.[8][9]
References
edit- ^ a b Bogost, Ian (August 5, 2011). How to Do Things with Videogames (Electronic Mediations). University of Minnesota Press. p. 68. ISBN 978-0-8166-7647-7.
- ^ Hague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
- ^ a b c d "Kool-Aid Man". Intellivision Lives. Archived from the original on 2018-12-31.
- ^ "AtariAge - Atari 2600 Manuals (HTML) - Kool Aid Man (M Network)". atariage.com. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "AtariAge - Atari 2600 Manuals (HTML) - Kool Aid Man (M Network)". atariage.com. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "Atari 2600 CE - Game of the Week - Kool Aid Man". archive.kontek.net. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "INTV Funhouse - Kool-Aid Man". www.intvfunhouse.com. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "Kool-Aid Man game manual" (PDF). Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ^ "Intellivision's Kool-Aid Man: Researching a Videogame Platform". www.humanities.uci.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
External links
edit- Kool-Aid Man at Atari Mania
- The Atari 2600 version of Kool-Aid Man can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive
 | This article about a video game released on an Atari console is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This action game–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |