Marketing is such an important part of making a console a success. Even Reggie Fils-Aimé stated in his memoir that the idea for the 'Wii Would Like to Play' campaign for the Nintendo Wii – which was initially shot down by Satoru Iwata – ended up being instrumental in the system's rapid success in the US.
For the Switch, however, nobody is creating commercials like Nintendo Australia. In fact, in our humble opinion, Nintendo needs to get whoever is in charge of creating these advertisements and let them work their magic in every major region across the globe. They're simply remarkable.
So, in an effort to hopefully brighten up your day, we thought it necessary to do a short round up of Nintendo Australia's very best Switch commercials. Be warned, a few of these may bring a tear to your eye. This writer in particular welcomed a daughter into the world a couple of years ago, so the 'Cherish every stage of life with Nintendo Switch' commercial proved particularly devastating. In a good way, mind.
Enjoy an unforgettable journey with Nintendo Switch
The latest commercial focuses on The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. It's pretty simple: a woman is on a lengthy train journey and decides to pass the time by exploring the land of Hyrule. While a lot of commercials like to focus on multiplayer gameplay and the idea of connecting with other people, this one really demonstrates the joy of simply playing a game on your own. Lovely stuff.
Find new beginnings with Nintendo Switch
This commercial features a boy who, in the midst of a new house move, bonds with a local girl over some Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Again, there's nothing fancy going on here, it's just two kids playing some Mario and having a grand old time. Proof that you can feature children in commercials and not have it be excruciatingly cringy. Well done, NA.
Fun for everyone
There's no 'story' behind this commercial, necessarily, it just features a family playing some Super Mario Party Jamboree together. Like the others, however, it's surprisingly natural in its execution; granted, we imagine Mario Party sessions in real life would descend into utter chaos, but still, it's nice!
Find new ways to connect with Nintendo Switch
This is a nice one. Here, a teenage boy discovers a shared passion of basketball with his grandfather, and so decides to play some Nintendo Switch Sports with him. This one definitely channels some of that classic Wii energy in that practically anyone of any age can play.
Cherish every stage of life with Nintendo Switch
Okay, here's the one that nearly made us collapse with overwhelming emotion, and it'll likely have the same effect on you if you have young children of your own. It gives us a glimpse into the life of a family as they welcome a new daughter, Grace, into the world.
It shows the mother and father playing Breath of the Wild while the newborn Grace sleeps in her crib, then moves forward a couple of years to show Grace and her mother playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons, before ending a couple more years later with all three of them playing Super Mario Bros. Wonder together.
Oh, and there's a cute dog too. We're not crying, you are.
Spark a little joy with Nintendo Switch
This one shows the power that gaming has to cheer you up. A young girl heads home in a bit of a mood after sadly losing her game of football. Thankfully, her brother is on hand to lift her spirits with some Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Again, very simple stuff, but Nintendo Australia has clearly proven that the simple ideas are often the best.
Rediscover your sense of adventure
We highlighted this one last year upon the release of Tears of the Kingdom, but it's worth mentioning again here. It shows a man who is clearly finding himself somewhat bored or frustrated with the daily monotony of life, so dives (quite literally) into the world of Hyrule to rediscover his sense of adventure. Emotional stuff, and like the latest video for Echoes of Wisdom, demonstrates the value of gaming solo.
What are your thoughts on these Switch commercials from Nintendo Australia? Which one is your favourite? Let us know with a comment in the usual place.
Comments 21
Oof the "Cherish every stage of life" got me right in the heart as well. We recently welcomed a daughter into this world and it resonates so well. It makes me so happy for the future.
I can't wait to teach her how to jump in Super Mario...
I'm not crying, you're crying!
Nintendo really stepped up their marketing across all regions right around the Switch reveal. It learned from Wii U days. What's great about these commercials are many of the reactions are genuine. They capture well the real emotion of playing their games.
Nintendo Australia in 2024:
"Cherish every stage of life"
Nintendo Australia in 1987:
"YOU CANNOT BEAT US"
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FybA0SaL0nI&pp=ygUSeW91IGNhbm5vdCBiZWF0IHVz
@montrayjak It would've been better if it ended with her playing TotK or EoW since the ad started with her father playing BotW.
I want to see these same ads, but Emio
Well, advertising GENUINE FUN games surely helps too!
I can agree with these being the best Nintendo commercials focused on people playing the games in their lives - the "Cherish every stage of life" and "Rediscover your sense of adventure" ones in particular -, but personally I'm partial to the quirky ones of the past (except for the disgusting ones like the infamous Yoshi's Island one)!
My girls are 11 and 13 now and the commercial is right: cherish every moment.
Oh my goodness, I can't type through these tears! ; _ ;
@SpiderSquid
I'm crying from a sentimental commercial then I'm crying from laughing too hard at that horror show commercial you linked!
I have far exceeded my emotion quota for the day. I think I need to lie down. @_@
I was ready for some cringe, but I gotta admit, that football one was very cute.
@sanderev I was fully expecting that! I played a lot of TotK during parental leave and the whole time I imagined what it will be like when we play together.
@NeonPizza i don't disagree but I just think they're shooting for a way different demographic these days. I'm not sure how many commercials from back then were geared towards parents of kids and not just the kids/teens themselves. They could totally charm it up here, I agree, but they're trying to sell consoles to adults (who may have loved those 90s commercials or maybe have a stigma against games) just as much as to kids in some of these. I wouldn't expect a stormtrooper to bust thru the door is all, theyre totally laying into that "family console" angle. But yeah I agree, pretty forgettable
Well, I'll be moving to Australia now...
I haven't seen any of these ads on TV here in Australia yet.
Not that I watch a lot, too busy playing games
Ok, who gave Gaston the chance to write a headline?
@NeonPizza Yeah, well, that's just like your opinion man.
@CaleBoi25 hope you're got the $$$$$ it's one of the most expensive countries to move to.
Overall, very well done, albeit a bit of a cheese fest, but I just have one gripe with it but I don't feel like getting obliterated by dumb people.
I see them every so often not that common but from time to time, probably at least 1 a year, 2 if lucky, they fit the Wii style ads, and not as particular trying to sell you it as Wii U ads.
Mostly seen Animal Crossing the one with the women getting home and her dog I think and a Switch Sports one with a son/father. I think those are the ones I remember seeing naturally when they showed up.
I don't mind them. Not for me but they do the job for the audience I think. They are enjoyable enough, sometimes a fair family/dad joke kind of fair kid and parent competitive angle that I do think is really good for the ads. They capture the family vibe pretty well I'll say.
I'm a solo Switch owner and I'm fine with it that way.
Aussie ads can go either way though and I enjoy some, not others.
Even the Hungry Jacks ads when they eat the food it's over exaggerated but also makes me uncomfortable. Many of them the past few months have just been uncomfortable, the oh the sauce or over-exaggerated eating the new chicken pieces with the sauce, it makes me just look away so if they want to do so mission accomplished.
Some animated ones are good even for Insurance companies which is something.
But seen enough of them.
I loved these commercials. IMHO really well done.
Of course, I loved the 1st Switch commercial.
And some might look at these and think they are a bit corny . . . but they hit a chord with me.
Before we had kids, we'd go over to my wife's brother's place and I'd watch him play Donkey Kong 64 or Super Mario 64 with his kid on their N64. As I watched them I thought, yeah . . . I could do that when I have kids.
And that's what we did. When our kids were young we got a Game Cube and played Mario Kart and Super Smash, a bit of The Incredibles 2 and Sunshine.
We got the Wii and we played some more. Anyone remember Pooyoos?
And then the Wii U and played even more. We still fire up our Wii U to play Nintendo Land.
Now, one of my kids has graduated college and the other is in their senior years of high school.
And after all these years we still get together to play games . . . on our Switch.
(Watching the "stages of life" ad)
(Realizes girl who was an infant when Breath of the Wild came out is now nearly 8 years old)
**turns to dust**
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