Nike’s only gone and taken a massive step into the chunky world of Low Poly gaming with their Air Max 1, and they’re not monkeying around! After their success with streaming sensation Kai Cenat last Autumn, they’re back for another go and this time, they are channelling their inner primate.
While sneakerheads are still waiting for the first batch to arrive on Air Max Day 2025 (who remembers dial up style waiting?) Nike’s already plotting their next move. It’s a real throwback to one of gaming’s legendary moments, absolutely amazing if you ask me!
Taking a leaf out of Donkey Kong Country’s book (or should we say banana peel?), these sneakers are serving up more gaming references than you can shake a Nintendo controller at. While Adidas might have Mario and Puma’s got Sonic, Nike’s gone full banana bonkers with this one! The insoles sport coins marked “DS” for Dot Swoosh – a cheeky nod to those DK coins we all spent hours collecting back in the day. Makes you wonder if New Balance is sitting there thinking about Crash Bandicoot, doesn’t it?
The trainers themselves are quite the sight, sporting Light Chocolate brown suede on the mudguards and quarters (sounds a bit like a fancy pudding at your nan’s, doesn’t it?), paired with a University Red Swoosh that’s about as subtle as Donkey Kong’s tie collection. They’ve dubbed it “Big Head Origins” – though thankfully, wearing them won’t make your feet look as cartoonishly large as those classic game characters.
Speaking of gaming nostalgia, these trainers are proper throwback material – the kind that’ll have you reminiscing about spending your pocket money at the local game shop and begging your mum for just five more minutes on the console. The Low Poly banana icon on these bad boys is giving us more retro vibes than finding an old Gameboy in the loft!
While we’re still waiting for the official release date (much like waiting for your mum to finish on the phone so you could use the internet), word on the street is these beauties will be dropping some time in Spring/Summer 2025. Just enough time to dust off your SNES and practice your barrel-dodging skills, eh? And if you’re keen, maybe start saving your money now – these aren’t likely to cost as little as your old Corner Shop penny sweets!
