Since I've started this series, I've run across a bunch of failed mascots that I really wanted to cover, but couldn't because they didn't start out as video game characters. That's why I have created the Special Edition. Of course, the regular series will still rage on, but every once in a while, I'll be covering a failed mascot from another medium which starred in at least one game. Since I believe Destructoid Boot Camp is still going on, I decided that the first of these special editions should focus on a sports mascot. And so, without further ado, today's Mascot that Failed is none other than...


Izzy

Izzy (originally called Whatizit) was created as the official mascot for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia (remember 1996? That was back when Atlanta had water) as a computer animated characer who could change shape at will. As the mascot for a one-time event, Izzy was bound to fail. However, Izzy failure was much bigger and harder than any other Olympic Mascot. This is mostly because he was hated by anybody over the age of five, because unlike other Olympic mascots, he was in no way related to the location in which the Olympics were held.

Despite the hatred he inspired in adults, kids loved him, and so he was granted his own video game in 1994 for SNES and Genesis called Izzy's Quest for the Olympic Rings. The game was a platformer, and was developed by US Gold Ltd (developers of ThunderStrike 2, Shellshock, and a bunch of games with the word "Olympic" in the title). The game followed Izzy as he tried to recover the stolen eternal Olympic flame in order to keep the 1996 Olympics from being canceled (seriously, how the hell do you steal a flame? And couldn't they just light a damn candle if it meant the difference between having the Olympics and cancellation? Who the hell comes up with this stuff). The game had 6 worlds, and Izzy could regain health by collecting Olympic medals. Needless to say, this game sucked (go ahead, download the ROM. I dare you).

So why did Izzy fail? Maybe it's because he didn't symbolize anything important to the history of Atlanta, Georgia or the United States. Maybe it's because, as an Olympic mascot, he was destined to never be seen again. If I had to guess, I'd say it's because he received more hatred from the media than Janet Jackson's right tit (or was it the left one? I always forget). If Izzy were to make a comeback, I would hide under my desk like they taught me to in those 1950's PSAs about how to survive nuclear warfare.

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