There are overt ways of telling the world that you’re a fan of something and then there are more subtle ways (I believe the term is “sneaky geeky”). Nike has made it their business to offer understated homages to different pop culture references. I remember the Kermit dunks when I was in high school were actually cool to wear — if you could get a pair. That was 2004 and the Swoosh hasn’t run out of ideas yet.
For those of you who loved the retro-flared “Donkey Kong” Air Max 1s that debuted a few weeks ago but couldn’t see yourselves wearing the furry sneakers out in public, Nike’s newest 8-bit-inspired offering might be a little more accessible, nodding to one of the best N64 games ever made.
A Sneaker Based on the Game Based on the Movie
Amidst the Marios and Donkey Kongs that came out on the N64 console was a first-person shooter based on the latest James Bond movie GoldenEye. Revolutionary upon its debut in 1997, the video game introduced mission objectives and approached the FPS genre with more stealth rather than the rapid firing of its predecessors.
As serious as GoldenEye could be, there was a humorous game mode that you could unlock that made your character’s head disproportionately big for his body (for those curious, you had to complete the “Runway” level on “Agent” difficulty in under 5 minutes). This was called “Big Head Mode” or “DK Mode” because of its resemblance to Donkey Kong — it’s why the DK-themed Air Max 1s were dubbed “Big Head Origins.”
Transposing GoldenEye to a Shoe
Using its Air Max 1 Low Poly as the template, Nike took liberties with the design, including the inclusion of a pixelated Swoosh on the side. The overall colorway is reminiscent of the game as well, with a black-white-and-gray base color inspired by 007’s tuxedo. Black comes in the way of a satin fabric, while white mesh fabric lines the top of the foot, accented by gray nubuck leather overlays.
Meanwhile, the laces and tongue are gold like Bond’s Golden Gun in the game. Other design elements include a crosshair over a steel pattern on the insole and a mock-rating on the inside of the tongue with a giant “E” that says, “RATED BY EVERYBODY.”
Of course, the sneakers come equipped with Nike’s Air cushioning in the insole and waffle outsole, while the tongue has been beefed up with extra padding.
Spec Sheet
Model: Air Max 1 Low Poly “Big Head Mode”
Uppers: Black satin, white mesh, gray nubuck leather
Midsole: Air cushioning
Outsole: Rubber waffle
Colors: Dark Smoke Grey/White/Metallic Gold
Limited Edition?: Yes, unspecified
Pricing & Availability
The Nike Air Max 1 Low Poly “Big Head Mode” made a virtual debut in Fortnite prior to its physical release yesterday for $160 on Nike’s .SWOOSH site. Unfortunately, it sold out within minutes, with pieces on the secondary market going for upwards of $450. For a closer look, check out Nike’s website.
Recap
Nike Air Max 1 Low Poly “Big Head Mode”
Using its Air Max 1 Low Poly template, Nike made a pair of sneakers inspired by Nintendo’s GoldenEye video game from the ’90s.
