The team that built Pokémon built this first.
Pulseman was released in July 1994. Satoshi Tajiri directed it, Ken Sugimori designed the characters, Junichi Masuda composed 34 tracks for the Mega Drive, and Atsuko Nishida drew the graphics. One year later, the same core team at Game Freak released Pokémon Red and Green. Pulseman had an electricity-surfing mechanic and a techno-influenced soundtrack that Masuda described as inspired by German electronic music. It sold modestly, and the game is barely remembered outside Japan. The team that would build one of the highest-grossing media franchises in history was, at the time, building something small for a console most people had stopped buying. Nobody was watching.
— inspired by Satoshi Tajiri
About this game
Pulseman, published by Sega for the Mega Drive in July 1994, was developed by Game Freak — the studio best known for Pokémon, which they would release the following year. The player controls Pulseman, a human-computer hybrid who can ride electrical currents at high speed and transform into a ball of pure electricity. With 34 original tracks, composer Junichi Masuda created a soundtrack inspired by German techno using the Mega Drive's FM synthesis — one of the most technically accomplished and distinctive soundtracks on the hardware.
Gallery
The Story Behind
In North America, Pulseman was distributed exclusively through the Sega Channel digital subscription service in 1995 — it never received a physical cartridge release outside Japan. This makes original Japanese cartridges among the more collectible Mega Drive items in Western markets today. Game Freak had previously developed games for various platforms before partnering with Nintendo on Pokémon; Pulseman represents their period of independent development.
The original Pulseman — authentic, tested, shipped from Japan.
Shop authentic Pulseman on eBay →Tricks & Tales
The electricity-surfing mechanic — where Pulseman transforms into a ball of electricity to ride power lines and zip through the environment — required the Mega Drive's FM synthesis to produce sound effects and music simultaneously at a high rate, which Masuda called one of the most technically challenging aspects of the game's production. The game's Japanese name 'Pulseman' and the character design themes of electricity and transformation were later echoed in several Pokémon designs.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
Physical cartridge release in Japan only. North American distribution was via Sega Channel subscription service only (no physical NA cartridge).
Available in our shop
Hand-cleaned and tested units shipped worldwide from Toyohashi, Japan. HP direct purchase exclusive: we include a printed shop owner's note card with every order.
Direct purchase supports this museum directly. eBay Top Rated Seller · 1,750+ reviews · 100% positive feedback.
Unexpected Discoveries
Games you weren't looking for — but might be glad you found.
Memories from around the world
This is a young museum, and this page is still waiting for its first voices. The memories people send reach Taisei personally, and the ones that move him find a home here over time — always with the writer's blessing. Yours could be the very first for this game.
Share your memory ↑