Video: Japanese TV Commercials For Super Mario Maker Take The Reserved Approach

Low on CGI, high on charm

by Damien McFerran Wed 26th Aug 2015

Screenshot 2015-08-26 at 11.41.34 AM.png

The launch of Super Mario Maker is just around the corner, and Nintendo is giving the game one final push in Japan with a raft of new TV commercials.

Compared to the CGI-heavy nature of the US ads, these are a little more reserved and showcase one man and his quest to create the most entertaining Super Mario level.

They're low on the glitz but high on the charm, and do an excellent job of showing how the game works - arguably better than the more extravagant North American commercial.

Super Mario Maker launches in Japan on 10th September and comes to North America and Europe a day later.

Damien has been writing professionally about tech and video games since 2007 and oversees all of Hookshot Media's sites from an editorial perspective. He's also the editor of Time Extension, the network's newest site, which – paradoxically – is all about gaming's past glories.

1
Flugt
Wed 26th Aug 2015

I love how the Japanese packaging looks like an old Famicom game box.

2
jeffri
Wed 26th Aug 2015

Wow, charming, love it. While the NA ads tailored to kids, the Japan ads is a bit more mature and that's a good thing.

3
DinklingBoy
Wed 26th Aug 2015

US ads are always over-the-top, were Japan's ads are more about the game and less about trickery.

4
RupeeClock
Wed 26th Aug 2015

Nobody transforming into Bowser this time, I guess!

5
GeminiSaint
Wed 26th Aug 2015

Supah Mario Maykah!

6
NinChocolate
Wed 26th Aug 2015

content, laid back, just playin a good, old Mario bros. game. All that it needs

7
Jimtaro
Wed 26th Aug 2015

Slow news day huh? It's nice to see Japanese adverts using some actual gameplay footage though, Nintendo at that. The usual approach was a minute of animated intros accompanied by blaring J-pop while a 'celebrity' gushed excitement over the littlest of things. Almost as bad as the tedious boy bands and grinning families we had in the UK!

8
chigster69
Wed 26th Aug 2015

This game is going to take alot of my time up, The amount of things you can do is awesome and 11th of September cant come quick enough. Keep up the good work nintendo.

9
NinChocolate
Wed 26th Aug 2015

In America we get one approach to ads with graphical flash, pop, nothing contemplative and a snappy finish. I really want so much less production value but they're not going to give it to me, they want me stunned. Unless it's an ad on late night CNN, then they want me to contemplate life's troubles as a senior

10
rjejr
Wed 26th Aug 2015

While it's nice to see the Gamepad get some focus, the more of these ads I see without a TV the more I wonder why this wasn't a 3DS game? TV games are for couch co-op and spectacle like XCX or Zelda. All the emphasis on the Gamepad makes this look like a $20 download to me.

I'd like to see a commercial where somebody is sitting on a couch making something on the Gamepad while the rest of the family and friends are pointing at the TV going ooh and ahh. I know that's what all of Nintendos other TV commercials look like so people appreciate the different takes but I just think all of these are too Gamepad only.

So is Japan not getting the game and amiibo bundle?

11
ianolivia
Wed 26th Aug 2015

And of course America gets "UR MARIO NAO UR LUIGI NAO UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI UR MARIO UR LUIGI BUILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILDILD MARIO MAKAH"