Which iconic video game character was originally created as a placeholder sprite but became so popular the developers changed their entire game concept to feature them as the protagonist?

Gaming mascots can make or break a brand, becoming the face that players recognize across generations. Some have become cultural icons beyond their original games, while others have evolved in surprising ways. This trivia question explores a fascinating pivot in gaming mascot history that changed the trajectory of a major gaming company. Test your knowledge about how brand mascots have shaped the gaming industry!

This is a live public trivia poll on AIPolls.Net. Vote and see real-time results.

Kirby from Nintendo's Kirby series
Sonic the Hedgehog from Sega
Master Chief from Halo
Crash Bandicoot from the Crash series