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The Secret History Of The X-Men Arcade Game
Did you know the classic arcade brawler was based on a cartoon? Want to watch it right now?
PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade recently received a new classic entry. The X-Men Arcade game was a favorite of many arcade-goers in 1992, when it offered up to six-player cooperative brawling with several of the biggest characters in comic books. The X-Men were at the height of their popularity, and by the end of 1992, a brand new cartoon series would begin airing that would last for five seasons.
What many don’t know is that Marvel Comics had attempted an earlier X-Men cartoon series in 1989. While only a single pilot episode was ever aired, that episode mirrors the characters, visual style, and some plot moments apparent in the arcade game that would release a few years later.
“Pryde of the X-Men” (the pilot episode’s title) has a familiar animation style to anyone who grew up in the 1980s. Toei Animation produced the pilot, the same organization that made Transformers and G.I. Joe. There was even some crossover voice talent from those series, including Frank Welker, the voice of Megatron in Transformers.
The episode follows the arrival of Kitty Pryde at Professor Xavier’s institute, and the subsequent attack by Magneto. The X-Men pursue the Brotherhood into outer space, where they throw down with the bad guys on Asteroid M.
There are a number of interesting and/or unusual elements within the episode, especially for folks who follow X-Men comics and characters. Watch for all the following:
*The theme song (just give it a listen)
*Stan Lee as narrator
*Emma Frost, the White Queen, is part of Magneto’s Brotherhood
*Wolverine’s thick Australian accent and strange purring sound
*Wolverine versus Toad in a one-on-one fight
*Lockheed the Dragon as Magneto’s pet
*Kitty Pryde (somehow) defeats Magneto
*Nightcrawler survives orbital re-entry
And so, for as long as they last on YouTube, you can watch the entirety of this strange glimpse into animation and gaming history. Behold, the cartoon that spawned the X-Men Arcade game.
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Part 5:
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