Awesome Possum: Tengen's Failed Mascot

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  • čas přidán 8. 06. 2024
  • In 1993, Tengen wanted their own Mario or Sonic. They created Awesome Possum. On the surface, it's nothing special. But behind the game is a story about climate change, possums, and a ridiculous lawsuit.
    CHAPTERS
    00:00 - Introduction
    01:14 - Awesome Possum
    14:21 - The Not-So-Awesome Lawsuit
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    #AwesomePossum #GamingHistorian #SEGA
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Komentáře • 1,7K

  • @GamingHistorian
    @GamingHistorian  Před 4 lety +1247

    Did I really make a 20 minute video on Awesome Possum? Yes, I did! I promise you the story is way more interesting than you think. Stay safe, everyone!

    • @cappythedoge
      @cappythedoge Před 4 lety +10

      Gaming Historian you too! can you also look at more videos about the gameboy (color, light, pocket, advance, advance SP and micro)? like it doesn’t matter what it is just make it about the gameboy, that would be awesome thanks!

    • @kaltse7620
      @kaltse7620 Před 4 lety +3

      Yes

    • @Cliffordlonghead
      @Cliffordlonghead Před 4 lety +3

      Dang it

    • @fatmaabdalla178
      @fatmaabdalla178 Před 4 lety +3

      Yah yeah YEAH!

    • @kaltse7620
      @kaltse7620 Před 4 lety +1

      @Bryant Barth everyone know the history of playstation tho

  • @MiloKuroshiro
    @MiloKuroshiro Před 4 lety +1027

    I mean... There is a game with a mascot that heads a Resistance against a scientist polluting and transforming his native environment for profit and power through automatives processes.
    It's Sonic.

    • @Gaia_BentosZX5
      @Gaia_BentosZX5 Před 4 lety +66

      And Sonic did a better job inspiring hope, but you know how environmental PSAs go. Dr. Suess' The Lorax is a big example of this: It was banned because it blasted controversey, the movie had ironic advertising, and people crushed hard on the mogul "The Onceler", setting the stage for Tumblr's downfall.

    • @yeetleslaw8529
      @yeetleslaw8529 Před 4 lety +18

      barely sorta. There are some themes of that in the first 3 games, but they never really focused on that.

    • @casanovafunkenstein5090
      @casanovafunkenstein5090 Před 4 lety +51

      @@yeetleslaw8529 it's the central conflict of the entire series

    • @Elazam
      @Elazam Před 4 lety +16

      Well, the 3D-games is not about environment, I think..their stories are all over the place, I think the games before 06 is about peace and pacifism though (especially Sonic battle, which is a bit ironic).

    • @WeeWeeJumbo
      @WeeWeeJumbo Před 4 lety +18

      It's Ecco the Dolphin

  • @Mansini77
    @Mansini77 Před 4 lety +604

    Atari Games/Tengen gets taken to court...
    Is there a time when Tengen wasn’t fighting it out in a courtroom??

    • @Invidente7
      @Invidente7 Před 4 lety +20

      To be fair his arcade ports on the NES and genesis were very good.

    • @Trimint123
      @Trimint123 Před 4 lety +18

      At least they won the lawsuit this time around since the attacker had no solid evident that they may had stole their comic idea. Seriously, that lawsuit was so dumb...

    • @Halbared
      @Halbared Před 4 lety +8

      THey were a bit of a cheeky company

    • @Slash0mega
      @Slash0mega Před 4 lety +27

      i just find it funny that its ATARI that started making unlicensed games, considering they fought the battle against that themselves after refusing to credit programers

    • @Halbared
      @Halbared Před 4 lety +10

      @@Slash0mega Yeah, Atari are probably the worse culprits for this considering what they tried to do over the years.

  • @sethlaufy
    @sethlaufy Před 4 lety +550

    Man Awesome Possum's phrase "I'm gonna clean up this world yet" sound like he will go full Thanos if he has the chance

    • @redmage777
      @redmage777 Před 4 lety +13

      Four snaps ought to do it... Five for good measure.

    • @matthewattitotaka1205
      @matthewattitotaka1205 Před 4 lety +12

      Kinda sounds like hulk Hogan "I'm gonna clean this world up yet brother"

    • @technicalmachine1671
      @technicalmachine1671 Před 3 lety +9

      He honestly should.

    • @KamuiCage
      @KamuiCage Před 3 lety +5

      I would read that manga

    • @1Soniccool
      @1Soniccool Před rokem +3

      Well Doug Lawrence a.k.a Mr. Lawrence did the voice

  • @TehVulpez
    @TehVulpez Před 4 lety +471

    I love how this became a nature documentary with interviews from local biologists and actual footage 7:00

    • @logicaldojo1901
      @logicaldojo1901 Před 4 lety +26

      That's the moment I hit the thumbs up button. Every GH video is excellent for a multitude of reasons but that felt next level!

    • @lordofthecats6397
      @lordofthecats6397 Před 4 lety +2

      @@logicaldojo1901 That's 7 minutes 15 seconds later than I hit it.

    • @ze90s
      @ze90s Před 4 lety +2

      would like to know the name of the organisation

    • @TehVulpez
      @TehVulpez Před 4 lety +4

      @@ze90s Lakeside Nature Center in Kansas City, MO

    • @ze90s
      @ze90s Před 4 lety +1

      @@TehVulpez thank you very much!

  • @ErikNilsen1337
    @ErikNilsen1337 Před 4 lety +643

    The goofy, wide-eyed stare of American opossums always make me crack up.

    • @ChristopherSobieniak
      @ChristopherSobieniak Před 4 lety +4

      Especially since their blind I'm told.

    • @TheUnluckyEverydude
      @TheUnluckyEverydude Před 4 lety +58

      @@ChristopherSobieniak nah they aren't blind. They just can't see super well.

    • @ChristopherSobieniak
      @ChristopherSobieniak Před 4 lety +14

      @@TheUnluckyEverydude Thanks. We had one once in our backyard a couple years back.

    • @dolantrimp1691
      @dolantrimp1691 Před 4 lety +9

      But what about the deranged stare of an Australian possum?

    • @Sergito800
      @Sergito800 Před 4 lety +25

      its kinda cute isnt it?

  • @Tribladeofchaos
    @Tribladeofchaos Před 4 lety +262

    I'm surprised you didn't show the ending! It actually has Awesome Possum kick Dr Machino's butt, for once no false advertising in the title!

    • @trevorsgamingroom5284
      @trevorsgamingroom5284 Před 3 lety +7

      Well At Least Its A Lil Reward For All The Gamers Who Had To Play And Go Through Awesome Possum.

    • @hilariousskullnamedcatzo647
      @hilariousskullnamedcatzo647 Před 2 lety +3

      Did he kick him off a cliff?

    • @benitosierrajr3958
      @benitosierrajr3958 Před 2 lety +11

      @@hilariousskullnamedcatzo647 nah, he just sends Dr. Machino blasting off like Team Rocket

    • @hilariousskullnamedcatzo647
      @hilariousskullnamedcatzo647 Před 2 lety +8

      @@benitosierrajr3958 more satisfying

    • @justanotheryoutubechannel
      @justanotheryoutubechannel Před 9 měsíci +3

      That’s pretty epic, the game may not be great and it’s a shame it didn’t turn out better, but I love how he actually kicks his butt at the end. They really didn’t falsely advertise at all. I feel like an environmentally conscious but cool mascot genuinely is a good idea, I think if would be fascinating to see an alternative take on this game with a brighter more comic-themed art style, and improved code with less slowdown. If Awesome Possum was less annoying and slightly cooler and had more charm, like Sonic does, I think this could’ve been great. Imagine if you could see the game’s levels become more polluted and dark as you go through it then see things get better in a prologue level after beating Dr. Machino.

  • @jedisquidward
    @jedisquidward Před 4 lety +154

    WOW. 6:24 The fact that you had an interview segment about the actual animal itself is SO AMAZING!!!

  • @apexone5502
    @apexone5502 Před 4 lety +162

    "I'm awesome!"
    Well, we know one thing......Awesome Possum wasn't humble.

    • @deezy81
      @deezy81 Před 4 lety +3

      Sounds like that loser Elliott Rodger..

    • @bubsy3861
      @bubsy3861 Před 3 lety +3

      Talking about humble... It's one game about bobcat that shake ass on start screen. XD

    • @bakedboy3265
      @bakedboy3265 Před 3 lety

      lmao

    • @Dowlphin
      @Dowlphin Před 3 lety +2

      It exemplifies the common worldsaving do-gooder attitude.
      Might have to do with the whole advertising approach for the agenda which is reminiscent of the MMO concept of telling everybody they are a hero ... (for making the corporation profit).

    • @Dowlphin
      @Dowlphin Před 3 lety +1

      @Nobody comments are not funny you troglodyte Of course you have to believe it is not real. Your inferiority complex got triggered, that is why you perceive it as obnoxious.
      If you are still a teenager, you have a good chance of growing out of it.

  • @Sporkmo
    @Sporkmo Před 4 lety +79

    This was so wholesome! Glad you made such an extensive video about this weird lil game. The possum lady interview was so good 100/10

  • @bouncyrobots2658
    @bouncyrobots2658 Před 4 lety +94

    I remember playing this game as a kid and being super excited about the fact that character talks a lot. To me this was the first time when i had an experience with voice in videogames (there was EarthWormJim but it had only few phrases, seeing character talking with voice just like in cartoons was cool at that time).
    However even as a kid i didn't like the art style that much. The style of the game could have been a little more polished.
    For example the comic book version looks great. If they kept that bright simplified style and not the muddy mess that we got, the game would get more praise even with that terrible level design (i beat that game as a kid but my god that water level...how i hated going through it...i was just rushing through those late levels without caring about the game itself)

    • @ricky-sanchez
      @ricky-sanchez Před 4 lety

      Game was also killed by oil indusrty. At the time anywayz.....

    • @user-bj1id6dh3t
      @user-bj1id6dh3t Před 4 lety +3

      Yeah! I had it too. I live in Russia and in the 90s the coolest console you could get was the Megadrive or the SNES. My father (he's the sailor) got me a japansese Megadrive in 1995 with the three games which were Sonic & Knuckles, Awesome Possum and Virtua Racing))))) That voice in AP got me hooked and I played all the shit of it! Questions were the pain in that Japanese though!)))) Funny to think now of how my father got it bought in japan)) Like "Is it discounted?? Well, then I want it and the best 3 games please!"))))))))

    • @XanthinZarda
      @XanthinZarda Před 4 lety

      Something that isn't a muddy game on the Mega Drive? Well, you'd have to export to Japan where they knew how to do that. It was already doomed from the start since TenGen was a western operation.

    • @user-wj8sl5ue1z
      @user-wj8sl5ue1z Před 5 měsíci

      Too bubsy talking

  • @ruggie.74
    @ruggie.74 Před 4 lety +61

    Dear lord the framerate is giving me motion sickness.

    • @amisner2k
      @amisner2k Před 4 lety +9

      "the most straight-ahead kinetic experience on the Genesis since the original Sonic the Hedgehog"

    • @phattjohnson
      @phattjohnson Před 4 lety +4

      @@amisner2k How much blow did he do with Tengen sales reps that weekend?

    • @amisner2k
      @amisner2k Před 4 lety

      @@phattjohnson That's what I want to know as well.

    • @ricky-sanchez
      @ricky-sanchez Před 4 lety +1

      @@phattjohnson You mean how hard did he blow the tengen sales rep that weekend...

    • @supakusuta
      @supakusuta Před 4 lety +1

      I think it's because he was playing the game on an emulator called 'Kega Fusion' which on Windows 8 and above runs at a poor frame rate.

  • @DeAthWaGer
    @DeAthWaGer Před 4 lety +231

    Robin Williams's agent: "he's not interested in video games"
    Robin Williams: *names daughter Zelda*

    • @SavageGreywolf
      @SavageGreywolf Před 4 lety +57

      what the agent meant was 'I'm not interested in him being in video games'

    • @ultimateman1234
      @ultimateman1234 Před 4 lety +24

      I mean, he was probably busy with Aladdin at the time Atari called.

    • @gabrieleriva651
      @gabrieleriva651 Před 4 lety +5

      And the only videogame he ever voiced... was an edutainment PC software about Aladdin.

    • @gabrieleriva651
      @gabrieleriva651 Před 4 lety +10

      @@ultimateman1234 The cachet of Robin Williams in 1993 would had been bigger than the game's entire budget :)

    • @locobandito7389
      @locobandito7389 Před 4 lety +10

      aka "He's only interested in good video games."

  • @ittybittyfroggy
    @ittybittyfroggy Před 4 lety +218

    “The first design of Awesome Possum was a North American possum... But the character wasn’t exactly cute, and looked too vicious.”
    *could somebody please show me where the North American possum presented in the video looked vicious*

    • @Slash0mega
      @Slash0mega Před 4 lety +36

      i think the meant the drawn character, not the real animal. the fault of a artist.

    • @rinkobayashi8186
      @rinkobayashi8186 Před 4 lety +22

      What are y'all talking about? The real animal scared the heck out of me. Those beady eyes are the ingredients of "don't mess with me".

    • @goatbone
      @goatbone Před 4 lety +16

      Yeah probably because the face is angular it might have looked more vicious as when rendered as an anthropomorphic character while the ringtail does have a cute face and with bigger ears.

    • @brandonporter8509
      @brandonporter8509 Před 4 lety +19

      The actual American possum is a lot mode Vicious looking when scared or angry when they hiss or bare their teeth they are very unfriendly looking . The demeanor of an animal can mean a massive difference in how threatening they look. Case in point wolves can look majestic and can represent the untamed beauty in nature but when angry have been used to represent all of man’s worst fears of the unknown (big bad wolf and werewolf mythology)

    • @xfxrxmxt1981
      @xfxrxmxt1981 Před 4 lety

      Girly Glorious 😂

  • @K-16
    @K-16 Před 4 lety +35

    I like the interview you did with an animal expert. Never would've thought there would be any need for a video game, but it works (such as the bit about playing possum). These in-depth documentaries are so fun and informative to watch! Very well done!

  • @llucero94
    @llucero94 Před 4 lety +153

    The only Genesis game starring an opossum that matters is Rocket Knight Adventures.

    • @duffman18
      @duffman18 Před 4 lety +18

      I love Rocket Knight Adventures. It's such a polished game, one of the few from a 3rd party publisher that matched that Sonic or Mario level of polish. And I love the spin off game Pop'n Twinbee Rainbow bell Adventure. Plays just like Rocket Knight but with a cutesy look to it, and it's quite a bit easier. Sparkster for SNES is great too. Sparkster for Genesis though, is no match for the original Rocket Knight game or Rainbow Bell

    • @elmono6299
      @elmono6299 Před 4 lety +2

      It also got released for the Super Nintendo as Sparkster the opossum and it got a remake for the PS3 and Xbox 360. Sadly it didn't get the love and attention it deserves and it's very unlikely Konami will ever use their armored marsupial because of how shamefully greedy they have been.

    • @ricky-sanchez
      @ricky-sanchez Před 4 lety +5

      @@elmono6299 I'd bet half the executives that work there now don't even know what a rocket knight adventures is.

    • @supakusuta
      @supakusuta Před 3 lety +1

      Agreed

    • @bubsy3861
      @bubsy3861 Před 3 lety +2

      @@elmono6299 Just "Sparkster" and a different game so far. I mean a lot of people thinks its same game and it is completely wrong.

  • @kit7une_
    @kit7une_ Před 4 lety +75

    6:07 Tengen predicted sonic ocs

  • @Ralph_Sandwich
    @Ralph_Sandwich Před 4 lety +115

    I'd love to see you do a video on the PS1 title Intelligent Qube and it's little known history. It's an amazing game with some big names attached to it's development.

    • @GilbertTang
      @GilbertTang Před 4 lety +8

      Ralph Sandwich Perrrrfect idea. One of my favorites of all time.

    • @carlrygwelski586
      @carlrygwelski586 Před 4 lety +3

      What about Irritating Stick

    • @nessamillikan6247
      @nessamillikan6247 Před 4 lety +3

      Yes yes yes! I would LOVE an Intelligent Qube episode!

    • @dapperfan44
      @dapperfan44 Před 4 lety +10

      @MultiTarded well, considering your name it's not the game for you.
      (It's "MultiTarded" in case he changes it later future readers)

    • @akxmedia0
      @akxmedia0 Před 4 lety +2

      @MultiTarded Calm your tits.

  • @NickBartolo
    @NickBartolo Před 4 lety +24

    The PBS style end credits are a nice touch.

  • @nicwilson89
    @nicwilson89 Před rokem +7

    The fact that possums look so derpy and cross eyed all the time, like they're the 'special' one in the marsupial family is adorable, at least to someone not from the North American continent

  • @JSSCCluver
    @JSSCCluver Před 4 lety +11

    Im a animal science student and I grew up with more Sonic, and I found it really touching with this info of Awesome Possum. Even though video games and agriculture/biology dont really go together at least its nice to see people’s intentions of making the world a better place

  • @oddojaggins
    @oddojaggins Před 4 lety +23

    I rented this game around 95 for a week and it was a difficult but rewarding time. I've just never met very many people who remember it , I seemed to be one of the few genesis owners in my circles

  • @chocobros1
    @chocobros1 Před 4 lety +30

    The animation in Awesome Possum reminds me of when I was a lazy animation student and I would run my animations at double speed so it looked like I drew more frames than I actually did. In practice it just looked ungodly choppy

    • @supakusuta
      @supakusuta Před 4 lety +1

      I think he's using an emulator called 'Kega Fusion' which on Windows 8 and above it runs at a poor frame rate.

    • @luisjogos821
      @luisjogos821 Před rokem

      @@supakusuta nope, that's the game's actual framerate. It goes up and down like that.
      It is speculated that Awesome Possum was written in (very unoptimized) C compiled to the M68000.

    • @supakusuta
      @supakusuta Před rokem

      @@luisjogos821 1st part, I have known some time after this comment. It runs like this on different emulators and on a real Mega Drive.
      2nd, that's what I thought. The game running on unoptimised C code.

    • @luisjogos821
      @luisjogos821 Před rokem

      @@supakusuta yeah. The dev team probably saw a opportunity for efficiency (since C is higher-level than a 68000 assembler), but not optimizing it was a big L for this game.

  • @armchairrocketscientist4934

    I've always thought this show is one that deserves a series on Netflix or something. It's always very professionally done. Great and interesting video!

    • @amunago080
      @amunago080 Před rokem +3

      So Netflix can get full control over what is created and then is canceled after one season? Idk why people think creators who get millions of views need to sabotage themselves.

  • @cjwilliams1124
    @cjwilliams1124 Před 4 lety +87

    This is so strange! I was in a low mood so I decided to watch some Gaming Historian to calm my nerves (I hadn't done so in quite a while). Once I was finished with Punch-Out you posted this... and it felt so crazy. Thank you, brother!

    • @cjwilliams1124
      @cjwilliams1124 Před 4 lety +3

      Ok... Holy Shit... I'm also from Clarks-Summit, PA area... WTF Haha

  • @viniciusgomes5147
    @viniciusgomes5147 Před 4 lety +100

    Nostalgia focuses so much on the positive stuff sometimes we forget there was stuff like this back then, too. lol

    • @Gotmilk0112
      @Gotmilk0112 Před 4 lety +22

      Shitty games have always been around in large amounts; we just tend to forget them and only remember the good ones.

    • @MileyCyrusPartyUSA
      @MileyCyrusPartyUSA Před 4 lety +4

      In other words, there was more positive stuff back then.

    • @ricky-sanchez
      @ricky-sanchez Před 4 lety +4

      @@MileyCyrusPartyUSA no there were thousands of shitty games back. The ones we all remember we're the good ones.

    • @stinkyham9050
      @stinkyham9050 Před 4 lety +2

      Consoles usually have 75% shit games, 15% good, 10% great.

    • @Assimandeli
      @Assimandeli Před 4 lety +1

      @Sour Puss You mean GRID?

  • @SonofMrPeanut
    @SonofMrPeanut Před 4 lety +48

    I'll give him this: His title jingle is catchy.

    • @L33PL4Y
      @L33PL4Y Před 3 lety +3

      jfc why did I read this as "his tits jiggle" kill me

    • @KamyAnai03
      @KamyAnai03 Před 2 lety +1

      Aaawesome possum!! Kicks Dr.Machino's buuutt!! 🎶

  • @Shrapnel82
    @Shrapnel82 Před 4 lety +27

    Possums pretend to be dead, salivate, and produce a foul smelling fluid... all the game mechanics you could ever want.

    • @stinkyham9050
      @stinkyham9050 Před 4 lety +4

      Sounds like me after a night of partying.

    • @locke103
      @locke103 Před 3 lety +1

      sounds like me when i have to actually do stuff at work.

  • @weston407
    @weston407 Před 4 lety +89

    my first thought:
    WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?

    • @scramblesthedeathdealer
      @scramblesthedeathdealer Před 4 lety +8

      Aside from the constant, lame wisecracks, Bubsy was a pretty decent game. My brother and I both enjoyed it growing up.

    • @autistichades5552
      @autistichades5552 Před 4 lety +4

      @@scramblesthedeathdealer a decent game...at causing tons of frustration from it's confusing level design, continuous annoying quips, a very poor system where Bubsy is trying too hard to be both Mario and Sonic while being unique, and no extra cool cheats that can at least make the game fun sometimes.
      You enjoy what you enjoy, but we think it's one of the worst games ever made.

    • @scramblesthedeathdealer
      @scramblesthedeathdealer Před 4 lety +4

      @@autistichades5552 Let me specify that we did not *own* Bubsy, merely enjoyed the memories we had of the rust-colored smart ass.
      I will probably end up purchasing a copy of Bubsy just for shits and giggles, but I have to be careful while modifying a replacement Genesis plastic case to fit this special-shaped cat turd.

    • @autistichades5552
      @autistichades5552 Před 4 lety +1

      @@scramblesthedeathdealer ah I see, good to see you are left unscarred.

    • @autistichades5552
      @autistichades5552 Před 4 lety

      HHAAHHHH, SCARRED...GET IT!!! Kill me

  • @bluescat581
    @bluescat581 Před 2 lety +4

    "I'm Awesome!"
    I think a blue hedgehog says otherwise.
    And a jetpack-toting possum too.

  • @SonofMrPeanut
    @SonofMrPeanut Před 4 lety +55

    7:33 "After watching the movie 'Godzilla,' he wondered what it would be like if an ordinary animal was given extraordinary abilities."
    We now need a game starring a kaiju possum.

  • @russell28533
    @russell28533 Před 4 lety +81

    In my world, I classify my CZcams feed into two categories: "junkfood for the eyes" and "food for the brain". This channel is the latter.

  • @fredskull1618
    @fredskull1618 Před 4 lety +116

    “Awesome Possum” - most popular appetizer at Roadkill Chili’s.

  • @Shindai
    @Shindai Před 4 lety +19

    I feel bad for the dude who never got to publish his book.

  • @pariahazul8653
    @pariahazul8653 Před 4 lety +12

    What’s the name of the music starting at 17:53?

  • @davidfitzpatrick4254
    @davidfitzpatrick4254 Před 4 lety +55

    I actuaLLY really like how The Gaming Historian ends with the Brought to you by Message similiar to the WNED thing I grew up with.

    • @mike_pogo
      @mike_pogo Před 4 lety

      Did you live in western New York? That’s where WNED is broadcasted and I remember it as well

    • @davidfitzpatrick4254
      @davidfitzpatrick4254 Před 4 lety

      @@mike_pogo No I grew up in the GTA right across from Buffalo where WNED was broadcasted and they had offices in Toronto as well,

  • @GilbertTang
    @GilbertTang Před 4 lety +31

    With that opening music I seriously got nervous Norm was going to start with a "hey guys." These are weird times indeed.

  • @mrwassef
    @mrwassef Před 4 lety +7

    Norman makes such great mini documentaries. So informed and well researched. This channel is absolute gold and deserves wayyy more subs.

  • @TheSektorz
    @TheSektorz Před 4 lety +38

    5:18 dude, this was pretty much a jumpscare

  • @tartuffethesprywonderdog5883

    A cherry blossom,
    that gets eaten by a possum,
    isn't that awesome.

  • @hugo182
    @hugo182 Před 4 lety +10

    6:20 hey I'm thankful to this lady for all these good information about the animal. I wasn't expecting this in video game content, but the job is definitely all-around. Well done!

  • @Demonskunk
    @Demonskunk Před 4 lety +96

    This is a surprisingly wholesome story.

  • @joshualisciarelli6960
    @joshualisciarelli6960 Před 4 lety +18

    This channel is like the PBS of gaming. Professional, high quality, and engaging. Amazing work as always!!

  • @bredmond812
    @bredmond812 Před 3 lety +2

    When you did the mascot roll call at 5:33 , i was kinda disappointed that there was no mention of Apollo the Cheetah Man from the game The Cheetahmen by Active Enterprises for their hit multigame cartridge Action 52.

  • @Geek2Meet
    @Geek2Meet Před 4 lety +30

    I need to know the music in the end credit!!!

    • @thaneros
      @thaneros Před 4 lety +5

      Same here

    • @christophersalay
      @christophersalay Před 4 lety +5

      trippnonice131 I Shazam-ed it, but it wasn’t recognized. Anyone figure this out?

    • @pantheonvideo
      @pantheonvideo Před 4 lety +6

      It's a good groove. I'd also love to know the song/artist name.

    • @Bigsecksie99
      @Bigsecksie99 Před 4 lety +1

      Sounds like porn music

    • @marvland6674
      @marvland6674 Před 4 lety +3

      Seems that the song was a remixed/edited version of another song called Lonely Moon by Yton Color

  • @ChinchillaDave
    @ChinchillaDave Před 4 lety +3

    Thank you for the true effort you put into these videos.
    The in-person interview, artists renderings, VO in previous episodes, etc.
    You're one of the best on the platform.
    Thank you for such great content!

  • @WrestlingBios
    @WrestlingBios Před 4 lety +32

    Love your work Norm. Great video.

  • @WorldNetExplorer
    @WorldNetExplorer Před 4 lety +6

    "It's considered one of the best games on the Genesis."
    Shows video of Sparkster tripping balls while swinging upside down.

  • @justinc.5591
    @justinc.5591 Před 4 lety +28

    I can’t tell whether he says “I’m Awesome!” Or “I’m Possum!” on the title screen

  • @pate7899
    @pate7899 Před 4 lety +22

    Those drawings look stunning!

    • @Chadius
      @Chadius Před 4 lety

      The Garfield phone and that coffee mug the PA guy was holding evokes some strong nostalgia from me.

  • @jensiecast
    @jensiecast Před 4 lety +1

    I think you have one of the best, if not the best, gaming history channels on CZcams. I’m always anticipated for the next video you released. I have literally run out of content to watch on your channel is how much I enjoy watching. Also seeing the level of work you put I and to see how your channel has evolved over the years. I wish there was faster content releases, but also understand that would dilute the quality of content that you release. Keep it coming gaming historian. Can’t wait for the next one.

  • @SonofMrPeanut
    @SonofMrPeanut Před 4 lety +6

    Sonic also, in his own way, had a more subtle pro-environmental position in its premise: A hedgehog restores nature from an industrialist who wanted to convert everything to machines. Sonic CD shows nature & technology in cooperation, but it's still a game in favor of reducing the pace of every-increasing industrialization at the cost of nature.

  • @vboy627
    @vboy627 Před 4 lety +9

    Consistently one of the top CZcams creators. Always well researched ,high-quality videos!

  • @dentistrider3874
    @dentistrider3874 Před 4 lety +3

    Very profesional, Mr Historian. With each episode, it just keeps getting slicker and more polished.

  • @svenlewandowski5344
    @svenlewandowski5344 Před 4 lety +2

    Gosh, Gaming Historian, I genuinely hope your smooth, professional and elegant style of video-making becomes more normal. You're 10 notches above most videos, and at least 5 notches above most other video essays

  • @shadowopsairman1583
    @shadowopsairman1583 Před rokem +2

    10:51 the Sound Effect was used in Sonic Spinball when defeating badniks

  • @espfusion
    @espfusion Před 4 lety +10

    Great video, I especially liked the interview with the rescue worker. Kind of surprised to hear the North American possum was rejected, the one you got footage of was a cute little bugger.
    I do think it's maybe a bit of a reach to say that this game or other environmentally themed media at the time were about climate change. Global warming was just one among many broader issues of natural preservation and sustainability and not the overruling concern it is today. I don't think this game actually makes any references to the climate at all, including in the comic in the instruction manual. I'd be surprised to hear this specifically led anyone to wanting to be a climate scientist.

  • @Elazam
    @Elazam Před 4 lety +3

    Even though I like all your episodes, this is the best kind! The ones that focus on the behind the scenes stuff and the factors from outside of the video game inudstry! Great job mr Caruso!

  • @eddiecarrion6176
    @eddiecarrion6176 Před 4 lety +2

    Great video Norman..love learning about games even those that weren’t too popular...so many games I would to see you make a video on but I also respect the process necessary to deliver that quality content 👍🏼

  • @UkyoKuonji2010
    @UkyoKuonji2010 Před 4 lety +2

    I know it's probably not the same thing, but there is a cartoon from the 90's that was called "Pit Possum, Super Dynamic Possum of Tomorrow" that featured a possum who would save his forest city Superman style(and other superheroes were spoofed as well, he does have a superhero car like Batman). One of the bad guys is a French-Canadian lumberjack. I dunno, the similarities are there. Worth a check if you haven't seen an episode. It was funny shit back in the day.

  • @mightyfilm
    @mightyfilm Před 4 lety +5

    Of course they used the word "Butt" in the title. It was the early 90's, and the word "butt" finally crossed that taboo and was deemed okay for use in kid's programming. It was the fart joke of its day. Easiest way to get a laugh out of your fellow school kids was to say "butt." Watch a cartoon from that era, especially Animaniacs or Ren and Stimpy. Hell, there was that weird episode of Tiny Toons that had characters with big butts in it.
    AS far as the lawsuit goes, the name "Awesome Possum" should be absolutely obvious. Wasn't that Bonkers's catchphrase?

  • @pantheonvideo
    @pantheonvideo Před 4 lety +6

    I'm willing to bet that this isn't the most ridiculous lawsuit ever filed by somebody from Clarks Summit. There's some weird people with too much time and money up there.

  • @tiger-rx3vq
    @tiger-rx3vq Před 4 lety

    I’m always delighted to see a new video from you, I swear they get better with each upload! I love that you included information about the animal itself, the interview was a brilliant and welcome inclusion! Thank you for taking the time to so thoroughly cover gaming history in such an engaging way. These videos really reflect how much work you put into your content!

  • @ThirteenAmp
    @ThirteenAmp Před 4 lety +1

    I got a family of opossums living out near my shop, they're kinda friendly and come in the shop when I'm in there to just wander around
    I pet one of them before, but it was scared, it's fun to give em fruit though, they love it

  • @casedistorted
    @casedistorted Před 4 lety +6

    Hey I’m here pretty early! Also I remember this awesome possum game as a kid growing up.
    Ok that possum you saw irl was super cute and cross eyed. The possums I see irl that run under my car tires do NOT look that cute. They look like serial killers on drugs

  • @sheeplessinohio
    @sheeplessinohio Před 4 lety +3

    This game was only ever a vague reference to me; just something I had heard about from being alive and being a gamer during the time of its release. So yeah, always fun and interesting to get the story behind something that would otherwise just be a small blip in the vast world of video games. Thanks for the video!
    Also, I know your redesigned logo and overall color scheme has been around for quite a few videos now, but I have to say how much I like it. Suits the channel and content well!

  • @leetisdale8456
    @leetisdale8456 Před 4 lety

    Yet another amazing video! Great work!! Love watching these and talking about it in my local retro game stores. I always tell them to check you out!

  • @ghostwriter4567
    @ghostwriter4567 Před 4 lety

    The footage you are able to track down for your videos never ceases to me. Excellent content.

  • @LombardoJoe
    @LombardoJoe Před 4 lety +4

    New content from TGH during tough times? Heck yes. Thank you so much for this.

  • @Diwasho
    @Diwasho Před 4 lety +3

    Dang, being reminded of the term "Greenhouse Effect" takes me back. Haven't heard of it in so many years, probably decades even. It's still relevant too, we just keep renaming it.

    • @0MoTheG
      @0MoTheG Před 4 lety +1

      We ? Think about it, who did and with what intent?

    • @ricky-sanchez
      @ricky-sanchez Před 4 lety

      Anti environmental agencies killed the term off in 2000.

  • @elucidator1277
    @elucidator1277 Před 4 lety +2

    Great episode as always, Norm.
    Question, what's that music you played during the credits? It was nice.

  • @alexvlk
    @alexvlk Před rokem +2

    That Garfield Phone was too much, haha!

  • @veggito13
    @veggito13 Před 4 lety +6

    Dude, I saw a video of yours of my favorite device ever, the GameGear, yesterday and was in love with this new channel that was recommended. When I looked carefully, the video was from nearly 10 years ago! Damn man, new subscriber here- and your quality has been A 1 since Day 1- good shit!

  • @timpieper5492
    @timpieper5492 Před 3 lety +2

    Super-well-researched and presented, and I'm glad you contextualized WHY early-90s US pop-culture began to focus on environmental issues.

  • @jacksonsparrow1862
    @jacksonsparrow1862 Před 3 lety +1

    Is that a ‘knock-off’ Ziggy mug at 16:48? Lol love it!

  • @ryansandwich1086
    @ryansandwich1086 Před 4 lety +1

    Great video as always! Your production quality just keeps getting better and better!

  • @nulsdodage
    @nulsdodage Před 4 lety +4

    0:25 actually it mimicked the success of Bubsy.

    • @bubsy3861
      @bubsy3861 Před 3 lety

      Yea. Such achievement. It don't even need a 3d game to die out.

  • @TalkSickMass
    @TalkSickMass Před 4 lety +15

    6:18 When did this become a Netflix documentary?

    • @dpj731
      @dpj731 Před 4 lety +1

      It takes away from the video and was a cheap tool to fill up time.

    • @zrobeast
      @zrobeast Před 4 lety +1

      Norm is the Possum King (oh god that would’ve been a great April Fools video)

    • @MalakaiDerg
      @MalakaiDerg Před 4 lety +20

      @@dpj731Imagine complaining about the channel putting up some context about possums and going out their way to have some footage about them.

    • @scrabblehandforaname
      @scrabblehandforaname Před 4 lety +4

      No, this is a PBS program.

  • @NicJohnson
    @NicJohnson Před 4 lety

    Absolutely amazing video, as always. You were able to turn something as mundane as a second rate mascot platformer from the 90's into a wholesome story with real emotion and spirit. Norm, you're really a treasure.

  • @Dowlphin
    @Dowlphin Před 3 lety

    7:26 "speech and debate class in high school" - Man, I could only dream of such in my school years here in Germany, especially in that early school form.

  • @RainingMetal
    @RainingMetal Před 4 lety +16

    I saw this game on Vinesauce streams. Noticing the deforestation equipment that Possum smashes, I had a sneaking suspicion regarding the game's environmental message. Even then, Sonic CD conveyed the message a bit better.

    • @nessamillikan6247
      @nessamillikan6247 Před 4 lety

      Agreed! Driving the point of environmental destruction home with bad futures and the ominous, insanely catchy music accompanying the stages was a fantastic way to drive the point home. Night and day from the constant stream of highly irritating synthesized speech that Awesome Possum had to offer.

    • @edgardeitz2784
      @edgardeitz2784 Před 2 lety

      Ironic, isn't it? ;)

  • @AngDawPac
    @AngDawPac Před 4 lety +5

    That Ziggy coffee cup was quality!!

    • @Chadius
      @Chadius Před 4 lety

      Also, a Garfield phone made me chuckle.

  • @PolarisZenKai
    @PolarisZenKai Před 4 lety

    Amazing job once again Norm! That song at the intro and the credits, that’s a great beat. What was it? Anyways, take care and keep up this amazing work!

  • @middleofnowhereradio
    @middleofnowhereradio Před 4 lety +2

    Amazing! Where did you get the cartoons to aid the story's progression like ones at 4:45?.

  • @edgelord8337
    @edgelord8337 Před 4 lety +6

    Before I watch the video I want to say thank you gaming historian.
    Your videos are some of the most well made and we'll put together videos on youtube.
    No matter how long it takes I'll be in every video if I can.
    Thank you so much for all your contributions to the community.

  • @isaacarmendariz2538
    @isaacarmendariz2538 Před 4 lety +3

    The 90s were filled with game mascots that tried to capitalize on the success of sonic & mario, & they were forgettable.
    Yet we did got some good mascots that were memorable.
    I was thinking about this in my mind.

    • @lh757
      @lh757 Před 4 lety

      Like Crash or Spyro. Then you get the ones we remember for how blatant they were, like Gex or Bubsy. But there is definitely the “forgotten for good reason” category as you described.

    • @isaacarmendariz2538
      @isaacarmendariz2538 Před 4 lety

      @@lh757
      Though im not born in the 90s myself & i haven't played these games (the exception crash bandicoot cause i played it on an emulator), i agree that both crash & spyro are pretty good.
      Their are also some forgotten games in the 90s that i heard are considered decent.

    • @JonathanWillow-zz7rb
      @JonathanWillow-zz7rb Před měsícem

      I think Vectorman would be a good Sega mascot, given how good the game is and how cool he looks. Still dreaming of a new Vectorman game…

  • @justino8935
    @justino8935 Před 7 měsíci +1

    The video game, comic, and lawsuit are interesting to me because I had a friend in elementary school who, in 1990 when we were in 4th grade, created a character named Awesome Possum that he used in some hand-drawn comics and pen & paper games. I believe he also had sent this character and ideas to video game developers but nothing came of it, so when this game came out on the Genesis, there was some local speculation that his ideas had been stolen. So apparently there have been at least 3 instances of an Awesome Possum comic/game character from this timeframe.

  • @ryanhoskin9730
    @ryanhoskin9730 Před 3 lety +2

    I'm surprised Robin wasn't interested in doing the voice, as he loved video games. Perhaps he saw it was just a sonic knock off?

  • @themckennafamilyfarmchanne8189

    Your documentaries are just amazing. Always make me feel great.

  • @hankglidden1463
    @hankglidden1463 Před 4 lety +8

    Great video, this is really some of the best content on youtube.

  • @nikbrownell
    @nikbrownell Před 4 lety +1

    I'm so glad you mentioned Rocket Knight. I forgot what it was called so I assumed that was Awesome Possum. I started to think this whole video was part of the Mandela Effect!

  • @pabloalbertogodoyalegria9343

    love the passion you put in every video or project. Thanks, hope this get as many views as deserves

  • @spacepope-1
    @spacepope-1 Před 4 lety +5

    We had opposums when I was a kid. They're cool critters

  • @mattstyles2498
    @mattstyles2498 Před 3 lety +3

    Rocket Knight was kool and fun as hell. I sucked at it but it still kicked ass

  • @TheRealDeal_81
    @TheRealDeal_81 Před 4 lety +1

    Another quality video and worth the wait as always. Not the story I think anyone would have expected behind Awesome Possum. Thanks Norm, hope you're staying safe :D

  • @jerrymondragon2020
    @jerrymondragon2020 Před 4 lety +1

    The fact that you even interviewed someone to give information about possums! Awesome video :)

  • @azrieldreamer
    @azrieldreamer Před 4 lety +4

    I think I heard about this game a while ago but don't remember much. This video was really good. Always learn something new with your videos. Also I thought the character from Rocketknight Adventures was a dog this whole time

  • @memaimu
    @memaimu Před 4 lety +5

    Didn't really go into why the character went nowhere after apparently going above and beyond projected sales numbers and receiving some good reviews.

    • @amisner2k
      @amisner2k Před 4 lety +2

      I think it only went above projected sales numbers because the projected sales numbers were really low.

    • @ricky-sanchez
      @ricky-sanchez Před 4 lety

      The legal troubles over this game killed it. If awesome possum part two would have turned into a hit franchise, you best believe the original creator would strike back twice as hard, and might win twice as much money. Axe the possem, no more potential law suits.

  • @sethious1
    @sethious1 Před 4 lety

    It's interesting you bring this to light, cause I've seen things claiming the ozone is already healing because of the circumstances as of late. And I find is super hard to believe, when this was a problem all the way back in the day. Great vid as always btw

  • @JP-dv7rf
    @JP-dv7rf Před 4 lety

    I'm always blown away by how well researched and produced these videos are.