The 1980’s brought us many memorable video games, and with this came publishers’ realization that their beloved franchises could be pimped out onto all kinds of merchandise. In no time, millions of gamers were powering off their NESes every Saturday morning to watch a lineup of cheaply-made video game animated series, and none of them were prepared for the horrors that they were about to behold. With that in mind, we present a frank discussion about the top ten most atrocious, embarrassing, and hilarious video game cartoons adaptations of all time. Be afraid.

#10: Street Fighter

Joe: So Japan made the fairly cool Street Fighter animé movie, and then they did the awesome Street Fighter II Victory series. Of course, the good ol’ US of A has to stick their nose into everything, which is why the US Street Fighter animated series became G.I. Joe: International Edition

Sinan: I don’t understand how you get from fighting the fuck out of each other to being a peace brigade, with Guile as the leader – what the hell? Street Fighter is all about Ken, Ryu, and Chun-Li ‘cos she’s hot.

Joe: Point taken. Do you remember the toy line for the animated series? It was like “Guile’s Sonic Boom Tank” and “Bison’s Street Slammin’ Missiles.” Despite only being 10 at the time, I was like, “So wait…where is the actual street playset to fight on?”

Sinan: Ha-ha! Anyway, I reckon Street Fighter underlines the overriding theme with all of these cartoons: when you put voices to previously mute characters, everything goes to shit.

Joe: Word.

9: #Pac-Man

Sinan: So this is the one on our list that offends me the least...

Joe: The problem that I have is this, taken directly from Wikipedia: “Most episodes of the series center around the ongoing battle between the Pac family and…the Ghost Monsters (with their leader) Mezmeron, a mysterious figure bearing a likeness to Darth Vader. His sole mission is to locate and control the "Power Pellets", which serve as the primary food and power source for the city.” OK…Mezmeron??

Sinan: Yup! When you see him, he is very much out of place; you’ve got this cutesy world -- even down to the ghosts -- and then this evil bastard with a weird mouth guard shows up.

Joe: I especially like how they came up with a reason why people want Power Pellets. Here is the real reason: because Pac-Man is hungry.

Sinan: Actually, that’s the stuff I like about the cartoon; its strange take on Pac-Man’s world, like how Mrs. Pac-Man somehow embodies 80s fashion, and the odd addition of Sue, the female Ghost Monster. That’s why I don’t get offended by it…because it’s quirky and harmless. It’s just a bit shit, that’s all.