Polygon Man

Polygon Man, an early marketing character for Sony's PlayStation in North America, was created in 1995 by advertising agency Chiat/Day and SCEA president Steve Race. Designed as an "edgy" mascot to appeal to skeptical audiences wary of the PlayStation name, Polygon Man featured prominently in print ads and at E3 1995. However, PlayStation brand head Ken Kutaragi disapproved, feeling the character misrepresented the console's technological capabilities and detracted from the PlayStation brand. This led to Polygon Man's quick replacement by Sofia from Battle Arena Toshinden.

Reception was mixed. Critics described Polygon Man as "scary" and ineffective, while others appreciated Sony's attempt to resonate with teenage audiences. Despite this early reception, Polygon Man resurfaced in the 2012 fighting game PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale as the final boss. Reactions were split, with outlets like PlayStation LifeStyle criticizing his similarity to Smash Bros.' Master Hand, and others like Edge praising the humor and nod to the rift between Sony's American and Japanese divisions.

Polygon Man's legacy endures through occasional appearances, such as in Sony's 2022 PlayStation Stars loyalty program, where he was featured as a digital collectible statue.

Names	Polygon Man
Gender	Male
Race	Unknown, Polygon
Occupation	Mascot
Origin	Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (December 7, 2018)
Alignment	Evil
Age	Unknown
Created By	Steve Race, Chiat/Day
Height	Varies
Weight	Varies

Appearance

Polygon Man is a floating, disembodied head made entirely of jagged, purple polygons, reflecting the early days of 3D graphics. His hollow, black eye sockets hold glowing yellow pupils that add an unsettling, menacing quality to his appearance. Sharp spikes protrude unevenly from his scalp, resembling hair but giving him a jagged and otherworldly aesthetic. Initially designed with flat shading that ironically undersold the PlayStation’s graphical capabilities, Polygon Man stood out more for his surreal and abstract look than for any visual sophistication. In PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, his design was updated to a more massive and ethereal form, making him an imposing figure on a grand scale.

Personality

Personality-wise, Polygon Man is brash, overconfident, and unapologetically arrogant. He frequently boasts about his superiority, both over the player and the PlayStation characters he faces. His remarks are often mocking and laced with a competitive edge, embodying the edgy, rebellious spirit that his original marketing persona was meant to capture. Despite his villainous role in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, Polygon Man doesn’t take himself too seriously, with self-aware lines that poke fun at his obscure legacy. Statements like "Easily replaced" allude to his swift removal from PlayStation's marketing campaigns, adding a humorous, meta dimension to his character.

Biography

In 1995, Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) faced internal disagreements over how to market the PlayStation console in North America, particularly for its unveiling at that year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Market research suggested that consumers in North America reacted negatively to the "PlayStation" name and preferred "PSX," derived from the console's codename. Despite concerns, SCE president Teruhisa Tokunaka dismissed the criticism, drawing parallels to initial skepticism over the Sony Walkman.

The American branch (SCEA), led by Steve Race, pushed for an "edgy" approach to appeal to North American audiences, particularly targeting the 17-year-old demographic identified through consumer research by advertising agency Chiat/Day. This led to the creation of Polygon Man, a floating, purple disembodied head with spiked protrusions, glowing yellow pupils, and a brash persona. Inspired by Sega's successful "Pirate TV" campaign in the UK, Polygon Man was intended as a hip, edgy master gamer figure to resonate with the market.

Prior to E3, Polygon Man appeared in print ads alongside previews for PlayStation games, with speech bubbles making quips about the titles. At E3, the character featured prominently on press kits, billboards, and booth signage, accompanied by the Japanese phrase "ハマリ度MAX" ("Addictive to the MAX"). This marked Sony's effort to distinguish the console and target the youth market with a bold and unconventional marketing character.

Ken Kutaragi, the global head of the PlayStation brand, reacted strongly against the inclusion of Polygon Man when he saw the character at E3 1995. His criticism focused on two points: the misuse of the PlayStation's limited marketing budget to promote an alternative brand and the character's visual presentation. Specifically, Polygon Man used flat shading, which conflicted with the PlayStation's ability to render smoother, more advanced Gouraud shading, undermining the console's technological strengths.

SCE had envisioned a minimalist branding strategy for the PlayStation, avoiding mascots or celebrity endorsements to emphasize the console's capabilities. Chris Deering, former head of PlayStation Europe, revealed that the Japanese branch interpreted Polygon Man's campaign as an act of resistance against their branding philosophy. Steve Race acknowledged the cultural clash, stating that the Japanese viewed the Sony brand as self-sufficient, whereas the American branch sought an edgier, character-driven appeal.

The Japanese branch's disapproval led to Polygon Man's immediate shelving. He was replaced in subsequent advertisements by Sofia from Battle Arena Toshinden, and earlier ads were reprinted with Polygon Man removed. Steve Race continued exploring alternatives for a PlayStation spokesperson, even considering collaborations with Marvel Comics, but these efforts were abandoned before his departure from SCEA.

Polygon Man reemerged in the 2012 fighting game PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale as the main antagonist and final boss. Game director Omar Kendall explained in an interview with IGN that while considering a final boss, the team explored multiple ideas, including the Helghan Army from Killzone. Ultimately, they decided that the antagonist should symbolize the PlayStation brand as a whole. Polygon Man, described as "the ultimate manifestation of PlayStation," was chosen due to his past role in advertisements, which conveyed the "power and potential" of the brand rather than traditional villainy. The game's narrative framed events as taking place within the "world" of the PlayStation console itself.

In the game, Polygon Man attacks the arena as a stage hazard while players face AI-controlled opponents from the roster. After defeating the opponents, players can damage Polygon Man in his original form. The sequence repeats, escalating with fights against two and then three opponents before Polygon Man is destroyed. Upon his defeat, the player character absorbs the energy within him. Despite having spoken dialogue, no voice actor is credited for Polygon Man.

In 2022, Polygon Man returned as a digital collectible in Sony's "PlayStation Stars" loyalty program. Participants in specific campaigns could earn and display a digital statue of the character in their profiles via the associated smartphone app.

In the 2024 video game Astro Bot, a character named Forgotten Mascot was modeled after Polygon Man, paying homage to his role in PlayStation history.

Powers and Statistics

Tier: At least 8-B, 2-C Environmental Destruction

Powers and Abilities:

• Superhuman Physical Characteristics
• Flight
• Large Size (Type 0)
• Inorganic Physiology (Type 1; Composed of an arrangement of purple crystals made of the essence of the PlayStation multiverse gathered around a core of pure energy)
• Fusionism and Reality Warping (Was merging many different universes plus his own realm into a single one)
• Body Control (Controls the crystals he is made of in order to form or deconstruct his body)
• Transformation (Can transform into a variety of different beings)
• Corruption (Can turn defeated enemies into subservient Polygon All-Stars)
• Summoning (Can summon the Polygon All-Stars he has enslaved)
• Likely Fourth Wall Awareness (His plan to reclaim his role as the only PlayStation mascot implies a certain awareness of the real world)

• Superhuman Physical Characteristics
• Large Size (Type 0)
• Multiple Selves (Type 3; Has three heads)
• Bodily Weaponry (Has sharp fangs he uses to bite the opponent and will occasionally swing one of his heads against them)

• Superhuman Physical Characteristics
• Large Size (Type 1)
• Weapons (Wields two giant blades)
• Energy Manipulation (Can release energy waves from his blades)

• Superhuman Physical Characteristics
• Large Size (Type 0)
• Inorganic Physiology (Type 2)
• Flight
• Body Control (Can shoot his fists and call them back)
• Bodily Weaponry (Has missiles integrated in his body)
• Energy Manipulation]] (Can fire energy beams)

• Superhuman Physical Characteristics
• Large Size (Type 1)
• Inorganic Physiology (Type 2)
• Flight
• Bodily Weaponry
• Explosion Manipulation
• Fire Manipulation (Can shoot fireballs from his right arm and explosive heads from his mouth)
• Body Control (Can twist his head to show his second face)

• Superhuman Physical Characteristics
• Large Size (Type 0)
• Inorganic Physiology (Type 2)
• Enhanced Senses (Has four eyes)
• Flight
• Gravity Manipulation (Uses a purple ray to suck the opponent into his mouth)

• Superhuman Physical Characteristics
• Multiple Selves (Type 3; Composed of nine Patapons)
• Weapons (Uses to throw spears against the opponent)

• Superhuman Physical Characteristics
• Large Size (Type 0)
• Enhanced Senses (Has six eyes)
• Acid Manipulation (Barfs acidig spray on the opponent)

• Superhuman Physical Characteristics
• Large Size (Type 0)
• Multiple Selves (Type 3; Consists of two units)
• Inorganic Physiology (Type 2)
• Bodily Weaponry
• Explosion Manipulation (Fires explosive rounds)

Attack Potency: At least City Block level (Manages to defeat at least six PlayStation All-Stars in every story; each of these character is able to withstand a MAWLR's missiles, which are powerful enough to send part of a building flying upward at high speed. Likewise, they habitually take attacks from beings that are able to achieve feats such as: Toppling the floating towers in Columbia, shatter a bridge in Metropolis, tear asunder a solid background in Franzea, lay waste on buildings and destroy the Arc Towers. Polygon Man himself can transform in some of these beings, and when taking the form of the Iron Maiden, he can collapse part of his own stage. Once absorbed, Polygon Man's core could grant each of the PlayStation All-Stars power beyond their imagination, to the point of allowing them to surpass the likes of the Olympian Deities, Calypso and others, but the fact that he could still be defeated by any of them mean he can't harness his own power fully), Low Multiverse level Environmental Destruction via Fusionism and Reality Warping (Initiated the merging of 34 different universes (possibly 35, accounting the two versions of Cole MacGrath), and his own realm, although the completion of the process required time and didn't come to fruition at the end)

Speed: At least Massively Hypersonic+ (Can match the PlayStation All-Stars, can react to and keep up with Cole McGrath/Evil Cole McGrath's lighting. His core grants the Playstation All-Stars power that exceeds their previous speed)

Lifting Strength: Unknown, Superhuman with Transformations (It is unknown how much he can lift. All of his transformations are gigantic in size and most likely possess varying degrees of super strength. As Hades, he can wield giant blades and carry the large metal spikes that stab him)

Striking Strength: At least City Block level

Durability: At least City Block level (Can withstand many hits from the PlayStation All-Stars)

Stamina: Superhuman (Can engage the PlayStation All-Stars in a prolonged fight and survive even with chunks of his body missing)

Range: Several Meters, to possibly Tens of Meters physically and with most powers, Varies with each transformation, Low Multiversal via Fusionism and Reality Warping

Intelligence: Gifted (Set up a plot to fulfill his vengeance and got quite far into its completion. Could defeat at least six PlayStation All-Stars. Uses his transformation powers in a creative way to mimic several creatures and aid his minions in combat. Can fight comparable against characters such as Kratos, Isaac Clarke, Sly Cooper and Raiden who have shown immense skill and mastery with their weaponry, with other Playstation All-Stars being comparable to them as well), likely Nigh-Omniscient (Has lived for a supposedly long time and appears to have knowledge of the multiverse and its functioning)

Standard Tactic: Polygon Man never fights directly and instead prefers to send forward his Polygon All-Stars and provide them support by transforming into various beings. He has a minimum of six Polygon All-Stars stockpiled, which can be any of the Playstation All-Stars. At first he will take the battle lightly, sending out a few minions, but then he will summon more as the battle goes on and gets troublesome for him, with the purpose of outnumbering the enemy. Occasionally, he also tries to crush the opponent by taking advantage of his size and slamming his whole body onto them.

Weaknesses: Quite overconfident and arrogant.

Trivia

• PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale marks Polygon Man's first-ever appearance in a video game, as he had only been seen in early PlayStation 1 advertisements before.
• His introduction quotes are lifted directly from the print advertisements that originally featured him.
• The line "You are not ready!" before his transformation references the "URNOTE" (You are not "red E") TV advertisement slogan for the PlayStation 1, though those ads did not feature him.
• Polygon Man can be damaged by Super Moves, but these moves only stagger him rather than defeating him outright. They, however, inflict enough damage to push him to the next battle stage.
• Super Moves can be used effectively against him if the player gathers enough AP after defeating his minions, the Polygonal All-Stars.
• One of his lines, "You've been practicing," might break the fourth wall, addressing the player rather than the character.
• Despite being the final boss, Polygon Man cannot directly kill the player—only his summoned Polygonal All-Stars can do so.
• It's speculated that the Polygonal All-Stars are corrupted versions of past characters who failed to defeat Polygon Man, hinted at by his unused quotes such as "Your defeat serves me."
• Although he is the game's final boss, Polygon Man’s name is never explicitly mentioned in the game.
• Polygon Man's appearance resembles Iceman, a boss from Capcom's Forgotten Worlds.
• The large AP orb seen during his introduction in Arcade Mode may be Polygon Man's true form, implying that the AP collected during matches is derived from him.
• His line "Easily replaced" may reference how he was swiftly replaced in the original PlayStation 1 marketing by first-party characters.
• An unused quote, "You dare lay a hand on your master?" could be a nod to Master Hand from the Super Smash Bros. series.