Punky Skunk
Encyclopedia
Punky Skunk is a video game for the original PlayStation platform. The player takes the role of an anthropomorphic skunk
, Punky, who needs to save the world from the evil Wolf Pack. The two-dimensional levels are side-scrolling, which is uncommon for PlayStation games. The game plays much like Mario
and other side-scrolling action games; however, the game features a set of special tools at Punky's disposal, including a skunk spray, parasail
, a pogo stick
, inline skates
, digging claws, and a snowboard
. Although released, the game was not finished to completion. It remains a collectors curiosity due to the generally unfinished nature of the game and the unfavorable reviews given at the time of release.
(issue number 201) has included Punky Skunk in their EGM Retro article "Mascot Hell", along with Bubsy
, The Noid
, Kya
, and Boogerman. The article centered around bad mascots in video-gaming history, and explained why they were so bad. For Punky Skunk, they complained that the game's marketing team continually claimed that Punky Skunk had attitude, saying that he was:
The titular character is ranked eighth on Game Informer’s list of "the top 10 worst character names."
Skunk
Skunks are mammals best known for their ability to secrete a liquid with a strong, foul odor. General appearance varies from species to species, from black-and-white to brown or cream colored. Skunks belong to the family Mephitidae and to the order Carnivora...
, Punky, who needs to save the world from the evil Wolf Pack. The two-dimensional levels are side-scrolling, which is uncommon for PlayStation games. The game plays much like Mario
Mario
is a fictional character in his video game series, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo's mascot and the main protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation...
and other side-scrolling action games; however, the game features a set of special tools at Punky's disposal, including a skunk spray, parasail
Parasailing
Parasailing, also known as parascending, or "parakiting" is a recreational kiting activity where a person is towed behind a vehicle while attached to a specially designed canopy wing that reminds one of a parachute, known as a parasail wing...
, a pogo stick
Pogo stick
A pogo stick is a device for jumping off the ground in a standing position with the aid of a spring, used as a toy or exercise equipment. It consists of a pole with a handle at the top and footrests near the bottom, and a spring located somewhere along the pole...
, inline skates
Inline skates
In-line skates are a type of roller skate used for inline skating. Unlike quad skates, which have two front and two rear wheels, inline skates have two, three, four, or five wheels arranged in a single line...
, digging claws, and a snowboard
Snowboard
Snowboards are boards, usually with a width the length of one's foot, with the ability to glide on snow. Snowboards are differentiated from monoskis by the stance of the user...
. Although released, the game was not finished to completion. It remains a collectors curiosity due to the generally unfinished nature of the game and the unfavorable reviews given at the time of release.
Reception
The March 2006 issue of the gaming magazine Electronic Gaming MonthlyElectronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly is a bimonthly American video game magazine. It has been published by EGM Media, LLC. since relaunching in April of 2010. Its previous run, which ended in January 2009, was published by Ziff Davis...
(issue number 201) has included Punky Skunk in their EGM Retro article "Mascot Hell", along with Bubsy
Bubsy
Bubsy is a series of video games created by Michael Berlyn and released by Accolade for the SNES, Mega Drive/Genesis, Atari Jaguar, the PC and PlayStation in the early and mid-1990s....
, The Noid
Noid
The Noid is an advertising character for Domino's Pizza created in the 1980s. He was a villainous red-suited character with red rabbit ears who attempted to ruin Domino's pizza but was constantly thwarted. The Noid was created in 1986 by Group 243, the advertising agency for Domino's Pizza and was...
, Kya
Kya: Dark Lineage
Kya: Dark Lineage is a third-person action-adventure game for the PlayStation 2, developed by Eden Games and published by Atari...
, and Boogerman. The article centered around bad mascots in video-gaming history, and explained why they were so bad. For Punky Skunk, they complained that the game's marketing team continually claimed that Punky Skunk had attitude, saying that he was:
"...a Generation XGeneration XGeneration X, commonly abbreviated to Gen X, is the generation born after the Western post–World War II baby boom ended. While there is no universally agreed upon time frame, the term generally includes people born from the early 1960's through the early 1980's, usually no later than 1981 or...
skunk with an attitude!" However, this was far from the truth; Punky's "attitude" had more to do with snuggling kittenKittenA kitten is a juvenile domesticated cat.The young of big cats are called cubs rather than kittens. Either term may be used for the young of smaller wild felids such as ocelots, caracals, and lynx, but "kitten" is usually more common for these species....
s and wearing flowerFlowerA flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s in his hair. Which means that he was such an abysmal mascot, that his own marketing team had to lie about him. And that's just sad. (But not as sad as the "sexy" pictures of Punky's female animal friends that appear throughout the game.)"
The titular character is ranked eighth on Game Informer’s list of "the top 10 worst character names."