A recompiled version of Pepsiman lets you play the PS1 cult classic natively in your browser at 60 FPS

If you’re fond of retro oddities that turned into niche releases restricted to Japan, then you might know about the 1999 Pepsiman game, which featured an addictive endless runner, the first of its kind, where Pepsi’s mascot Pepsiman would sprint, slide, and jump over obstacles through different levels to get a fresh, fizzy can of Pepsi from a vending machine.

Pepsiman never received a Western release on the original PlayStation, but that didn’t stop the internet from discovering the odd Pepsi-mascot-themed game, which became a cult classic among retro fans. Now, thanks to a new fan project, you can play Pepsiman without a PS1 or an emulator, right in your browser, provided you own a legally dumped copy of the game.

Video Game Esoterica posted footage of Pepsiman Recompiled v1.0 on YouTube:

The Pepsiman browser recompilation project was originally developed by kem0X as RepsiMan. RepsiMan uses a framework called PSXRecomp to translate the original PlayStation 1 code into WebAssembly, so it runs natively rather than relying on PSX emulation.

According to the official release notes:

“Pepsiman Recompiled v1.0 is the first WebAssembly-first release of the project. It runs the original PlayStation game logic in a modern browser while keeping the player’s legally obtained BIOS, disc, and memory card data local.”

Once the project went public, the word “recompilation” was picked up immediately, and the title went viral online under the same moniker. However, it’s not merely a WebAssembly recompilation port, as Pepsiman Recompiled v1.0 adds quality-of-life enhancements and features the original PS1 title never received, like a 60 FPS patch, the ability to play in widescreen, the option to stick to the original 4:3 aspect ratio, corrections to textures and geometry, and the ability to play Pepsiman offline via an installable Progressive Web App. You can also save your game progression directly in your browser.

Furthermore, Pepsiman v1.0 features a leaderboard system where players can post their fastest runs and compete with other Pepsiman enthusiasts.

So far, Pepsiman Recompiled v1.0 runs exceptionally well on Chromium on macOS. However, there are still a few bugs and kinks to iron out in other browsers and on mobile devices.