Top Ten Dogs in Gaming

Today is unofficially National Dog Day here in the United States. You've no doubt seen that if you peruse social media of any kind. It only makes sense, then, to give proper props to the very best of man's best friend in the world of gaming. These woofing wonders, these dogs in games, are what I consider the greatest puppy, dog, and canine companions that video games have to offer.

10) Poochy (Yoshi's Island)

Poochy ain't stupid. At least that's what a bonus level in the original Yoshi's Island for the Super Nintendo says. In each Yoshi's Island game, and even the recently released in Europe and Japan Yoshi's Woolly World, Poochy supports Yoshi by allowing the good old dinosaur to ride on its back. It moves in the direction Yoshi is facing, granting him the ability to cross hazardous terrain and reach higher platforms. Good pooch, Poochy!

9) Sam (Sam & Max)

Between Sam the dog and Max the rabbit, Sam is without question the saner of the pair. Usually serving as the straight man... er... dog, for Max's antics, the pair wouldn't be so special without both halves. Sam might be one of the only dogs on this list who is bipedal, and he's definitely the only one who is decked out in full clothing, but he's just as lovable as the other dogs on this list.

8) Interceptor (Final Fantasy VI)

A faithful companion to Shadow, a mysterious ninja character in Final Fantasy VI, Interceptor is usually glued to his master's side, even in the fury of battle. He'll jump in front of attacks meant for Shadow. Looking akin to a Doberman Pinscher breed, this dog may or may not have a habit of eating total strangers. Though no one in Terra's party had the courage to seriously ask Shadow if it's true.

7) Blade Wolf (Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance)

A robotic wolf with advanced AI and an armada of weaponry like a chainsaw on its back, launch-able knives, claws that can stretch out from their base, and an immensely powerful rail gun, Blade Wolf indeed comes packing in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. The boss fight itself is usually the point within the game where players have to start relying on actual skill and, as the kids say, "gitting gud." Even with a high level of skill, Blade Wolf is no pushover. Far from it.

6) K.K. Slider (Animal Crossing)

Named Totakeke in Japan, after longtime Nintendo composer Kazumi Totaka, K.K. Slider is appropriately enough a musician who plays regularly in front of train stations, the local Roost, and most recently, Club LOL. For listening to one of his jams, he'll give you a full version of one of his many songs. Soon, you'll have the right music to go along with your themed room of your house.

5) Missile (Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective)

A Pomeranian partner to the player, Missile in Ghost Trick for the Nintendo DS is without a doubt one of the most sweetest canine companions in gaming. How can you not like that lovely face, fur, and stance? Although in ghost form, Missile is the type of character in Ghost Trick that accepts his fate, assisting protagonist Sissel in one unforgettable adventure.

4) The Dog (Duck Hunt)

Recently given a second chance to shine in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, the Duck Hunt dog's original duty before he found the time to unleash his frustrations on Nintendo's all-stars was to point and laugh at players who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with their NES Zappers. Click that trigger at the dog all you want, he'll just keep laughing at your sorry shooting.

3) Wolf Link (The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)

Turned into a wolf when he enters the Twilight Realm, Link meets a tenacious imp-like character named Midna. The two team up on a grand adventure through both Hyrule and the Twilight Realm. With his ability to howl, leap high from platform to platform, and use his scent to uncover hidden goodies, this four-legged version of Link is one force to be reckoned with.

2) Amaterasu (Okami)

I might be cheating for including wolves on this list that aren't technically dogs, but canines all the same, but so be it. This snow white wolf is based off of the Amaterasu goddess of Japanese mythology. Okami itself is a Legend of Zelda-like adventure starring this precocious wolf who uses her brush to restore life and nature to the surrounding areas and levels of the game. Perhaps Amaterasu learned her painting skills from a community college class?

1) Rush (Mega Man)

A Mega Man's best friend, Rush debuted in Mega Man 2, and has since then stayed closely beside Mega Man as a helpful means of transportation, a way to dig up buried items, and a way to drop in items as air support. Rush can transform into a myriad of forms, such as a jet for crossing over precarious chasms and spike traps (great for Heat Man's extended disappearing block room), a submarine for underwater travel, and even supply Mega Man with a spring from his back to give his pal some extra height or turn into some powerful armor for Mega to wear and hover around with.

21 More Fantastic Gaming Commercials

Are you ready for more gaming advertisements? SuperPhillip Central has more than you can shake a 30 second TV spot at. This time we're back with 21 more gaming commercials that will fill you with nostalgia, impress you with their production values, or just make you go "wow" in general. These chosen commercials are some of gaming's best, so we hope that you are as entertained by these ads as we were.

Note: These commercials are all from the States. Feel free to share commercials from outside the U.S. 

Note 2: To save everyone from lots of loading, the actual videos are linked to as opposed to embedded on this site. Click the name of the ad to get to the video. We apologize ahead of time for YouTube comment sections.

God of War: Ascension (PS3)

A brilliant commercial for a game that just recently released, God of War: Ascension's ad is a dramatic and emotional one showing Kratos losing the ones he loved, his wife and only child. They turn to ash and that ash gets absorbed into Kratos' skin. The song that plays is one that works wonderfully and pulls on the heartstrings.

BioShock Infinite (Multi)

Releasing today, BioShock Infinite's commercial might not have any gameplay to it, something that I don't usually like a commercial not to have. However, this 30 second ad does well with getting the viewer interested in the game. I love the city in the sky setting that Columbia has, and the commercial also shows the protagonist's ability to use his powers to blast enemies away. Here's hoping a commercial with some gameplay gets released like what happened with God of War: Ascension.

Tomb Raider (Multi)

Reboots are sometimes viewed poorly by the gaming public. See Devil May Cry for such an example. However, sometimes reboots work out incredibly well. For that example, we turn to Tomb Raider. Crystal Dynamics really turned out a stellar product with their origin story of Lara Croft. This commercial pushes how Tomb Raider is all about how Ms. Croft came to be and got into her treasure hunting ways.

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (PS3)

Now this is a game commercial! No filler, all stuff within the game. Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception dazzled players with its gorgeous graphics and sensational set pieces, all culminating in the end of the trilogy on the PS3. The games do a fabulous job of weaving story with gameplay, so much that makes you feel like you're playing an Indiana Jones-like adventure.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale (PS3, PSV)

A commercial created with live actors portraying the numerous PlayStation all-stars, the ad for Sony's answer to Super Smash Bros. shows off characters Nathan Drake, Cole MacGrath, Kratos, and a CG Sackboy dueling on a dark and dilapidated alley. No worries if you're getting creamed currently, Kratos, as your human partner and you have apparently been through worse.

inFamous (PS3)

Seamlessly switching between comic panels and gameplay from the actual game, this inFamous commercial is an excellent example of how to weave art and gameplay together to a fantastic effect. inFamous is a great game and this commercial more than shows why many PlayStation 3 owners claim it is one of the best exclusives for the system.

Killzone 3 (PS3)

The Kevin Butler PlayStation 3 campaign was a terrific one. It featured a fictional Sony executive presenting the various games being advertised. This particular ad is all about Killzone 3, a game that many stated was PlayStation's answer to Halo. This ad, like the others, does great at showing off gameplay while displaying a fine level of humor. Cleanup aisle you, indeed.

Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time (PS3)

This second Kevin Butler PS3 campaign ad is all about one of my favorite games for Sony's third home console, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time. While that game was one of the last truly great Ratchet & Clank games, one can only imagine how cool it really would be to have the franchise's trademark weaponry in the real world. Just don't let that shady organization have them before I do.

Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus (PS2)

One of those commercials that feels like it comes straight out of 90's Sony, Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus's ad shows investigators doing what they best... investigating... a stolen item in a vault. What they come across is a hole burrowed none other than a wild raccoon. The real Sly Cooper is much more civil, a sharp dresser, and always knows just what to say at a given moment. Meanwhile, a wild raccoon will just go through your garbage and make a mess of things. Sly Cooper: 1, Wild raccoon: 0.

Mirror's Edge (Multi)

Another gameplay-empty ad that shows enough to intrigue its viewers to interest them into trying out the game, Mirror's Edge's commercial shows Faith participating in the types of gameplay that players will find themselves engaging in if they picked up the game. Mirror's Edge was a wonderful experience, and it's a shame that there's no hint of a sequel coming from EA's direction.

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (3DS)

Nintendo has a habit of putting their characters into the real world for their commercials and to interesting results. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon released this past Sunday, and its ad features a boy investigating his dark home. Picking up his own version of the Poltergust 3000, he comes across a room full of ghosts. What makes this commercial special is how elements of the game get put into reality, and like I said, the results are quite interesting.

Mario Tennis Open (3DS)

We're going on a Mario kick for a little bit, so stick with me here. An ordinary game of doubles tennis starts out innocently enough, but soon the colors of the Mushroom Kingdom seep into reality. The court transforms into a mushroom pattern, and the tennis participants have their clothes change into those that one's Mii can wear in Mario Tennis Open.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star (3DS)

This stop motion animation TV advertisement does a great job thrusting viewers into the colorful world of Paper Mario: Sticker Star. The voiceover also does an admirable effort in presenting what the game is all about within the brief 30 second time period. Although the final product, the game, did not reach the same heights as previous entries in the Paper Mario series, Sticker Star still was a load of fun.

Super Paper Mario (Wii)

Part of Nintendo's excellent "Wii would like to play" campaign (much better than their Wii U campaign, but what isn't better than that?), the Super Paper Mario commercial shows a grand amount of gameplay, and Super Paper Mario's gimmick, the perspective shift between 2D and 3D. Both are shown prominently throughout the ad, and the gimmick is even shown in the room the players are standing in with the camera shift.

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Wii)

Mario and Sonic's third Olympic outing saw them heading to the Summer Games in London. Before that, however, they needed to rub elbows with English royalty. Methinks that chili dogs are not on a traditional royal dinner menu. However, when you have Sonic in your company, you bet they should be. For the Mario version of this ad, click this link.

Mario Golf (GBC)

This is a cute and short ad that shows the hand of Mario trying to situate an indigo Game Boy Color on a golf tee. After a second try, he winds up his shot and sends the handheld system flying, bouncing across the screen. The commentary by Mario is adorable, and that alone sold me on the game back as a younger version of myself so many years ago.

Mario Tennis (GBC)

Let's continue the Mario sports theme we have going on here. Poor Donkey Kong just cannot defeat Mario, whether it's when he kidnaps Pauline or in this example when they're playing tennis atop a lime green Game Boy Color. Unlike Mario Golf, I missed out completely on Mario Tennis. I'm hoping that the game soon arrives on the Nintendo 3DS eShop sometime soon so I can rectify that.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

Looks like the kids are back to visit the animals. That is exactly what Animal Crossing: Wild World is all about. The game indeed does continue on whether you're there or not. The DS version introduced Wi-Fi play, so up to four people could play together in a host's town, digging up fossils, planting and watering flowers, as well as talking with the animal denizens. I eagerly await for not only Animal Crossing: New Leaf, but what Nintendo's advertising department will do for the game.

Punch-Out!! (Wii)

Here we have a commercial that shows the struggle of Little Mac, a fighter defeated by King Hippo, and looking for comeuppance. Thankfully he has the help of Doc Louis to coach and train him to be the fiercest fighter around. No Glass Joe or Mr. Dream will stand in his way now. A commercial filled with quotable lines and immense levels of humor, Punch-Out!! is one of Nintendo's greatest ads. Check it out and see what I mean. Note: It's even better if you have nostalgia for the NES classic.

Wario World (GCN)

A politician mentioning that greed is good while sweating like a hog? I'd make a joke about a particular political party, but I don't want to upset a part of SPC's audience. Regardless, what else do you expect to have a speech be about when you have Wario feeding you the lines? (And stealing from your pocket in the process.)

Monster Hunter Tri (Wii)

If shows like Deadliest Catch do nothing for you, then I'm with you. Who needs to hunt sharks, whales, and whatever else lies beneath the deep blue sea when you have gigantic monsters to topple over? This mention of the Monster Hunter Tri ad is perfect timing for Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, an expansion to the original game, available for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Forget the sharks and bring on the Royal Ludroths!

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If this dose of commercial carnage wasn't enough for you, why not check out the other three segments devoted to gaming commercials?

21 Fantastic Gaming Commercials
21 Terrific Gaming Commercials 
19 More Terrific Gaming Commercials

Top Ten Greatest Gaming Couples

It's Valentine's Day, and love is most certainly in the air. SuperPhillip Central is celebrating by doing something special with our list of the ten greatest gaming couples. We're using the word "couple" a bit loosely here, but this list has a wide assortment of franchises and types of couples represented. Will your favorites make this list?

10) Viewtiful Joe and Sylvia (Viewitful Joe series)

Starting off, Joe is an average guy with an insatiable love of movies, much to the annoyance of his girlfriend, Sylvia. In fact, Joe oftentimes neglects his girl for a good movie. When both of them get sucked into Movieland, Joe gains the power to turn into superhero Viewtiful Joe in order to save his girlfriend from the creatures who captured her. By the conclusion of the game, a new evil arises, and the recently rescued Sylvia decides she's going with her heroic boyfriend to kick some tail. It creates one of the best superhero couples in history, Viewtiful Joe and Sexy Sylvia!

9) Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest)

Some might question whether these two are related considering they both share the same surname. This would make them being boyfriend and girlfriend quite disturbing, no? Regardless, the relationship between the two in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest is one built on equality. While they share separate strengths, such as Diddy Kong's speed and cartwheel abilities whereas Dixie Kong possesses the ability to twirl her hair around to cross chasms, both parts of this couple are important in kicking Kaptain K. Rool out of their homeland and for saving Donkey Kong.

8) Cecil Harvey and Rosa Joanna Farrell (Final Fantasy IV)

One of the earliest romances in a Final Fantasy game, Final Fantasy's Cecil Harvey and Rosa Joanna Farrell find themselves in the midst of a colossal adventure that sends them from their home planet to the moon. Despite having trepidation in allowing her to come with him on his dangerous journey, Rosa still stays by Cecil's side, whether he was a dark knight or after he became a paladin. After defeating Zeromus on the moon, the two held a royal wedding and became the king and queen of the once troubled kingdom of Baron. All's well that ends well.

7) Squall Leonheart and Rinoa Heartily (Final Fantasy VIII)

Sometimes love turns you into a better person. It certainly did for Squall Leonheart, who at the beginning of Final Fantasy VIII is a loathsome and easy-to-dislike character. When Squall and Rinoa first meet, it is at a graduation ceremony, and the two share a romantic moment on the dance floor as Squall tries his best to keep from displaying to Rinoa that he has two left feet. Despite being Seifer's (Squall's rival) girl, Rinoa moves on to take quite a liking to Squall. Before the credits of the game, Squall is seen struggling to keep to his feet as he wanders a vast wasteland. The only thing that keeps him going is the memories he has of Rinoa. The two finally reconvene and embrace after the credits.

6) Master Chief and Cortana (Halo series)

Despite Master Chief being a combination of man and machine, and Cortana being a great bit of holographic AI, these two are still an interesting couple. Whether they are bantering with one another or simply flirting in the midst of an epic battle with the Covenant, Master Chief and Cortana give the players a welcomed love story on the side of all the combat within the Halo series. Halo 4's campaign dealt with how Master Chief deals with his own humanity while Cortana deals with her own mortality. Their journey together is all the more endearing because of it.

5) Nathan Drake and Elena Fisher (Uncharted series)

Nathan and Elena initially meet when Elena agrees to film Nathan's search for underwater treasure. Little did they both know that this original meeting would take them into adventures across the world. What I like about Nathan Drake and Elena Fisher's relationship is that the two come across as more equal than they might at first seem. Drake has the capabilities of being a great shot with a gun, an outstanding climber, and an all-around terrific treasure hunter. However, Elena can pretty much hold her own with Drake, in both the arduous climbing sequences and witty retorts. The chemistry is definitely there, and it makes for one of the more realistic relationships in gaming, thanks to the wonderful scripts of the Uncharted series.

4) Ico and Yorda (ICO)

Despite not knowing each other as players started the game, this duo trusted one another in a swift fashion to help one another. That's what the foundation of a good relationship is all about, the idea of trust. All game we see Ico being the one that watches over Yorda, but as the two finally escape the castle that they were both prisoners in, the situation is flipped as an obviously exhausted Ico is carried out in the arms of Yorda, the girl he was protecting and taking care of all this time. There's many reasons why ICO is such a revered game, and the relationship between the two main characters is one of them.

3) Tidus and Yuna (Final Fantasy X)

If this list has shown you anything, it is that the Final Fantasy franchise is full of intriguing relationships between characters. Perhaps Tidus and Yuna's is the greatest of them all. If this were a Hollywood romance, we'd have to combine each person's name into one identity like Tomkat or Brangelina. Perhaps Tuna would work. Regardless, Tidus starts off as a professional blitzball player, and Yuna begins the game as a summoner, forced into a marriage with Seymour for his political gain. As the marriage is interrupted and the adventure continues, Yuna resumes her quest to defeat the evil Sin that is ravaging the party's homeworld. In a cruel twist of fate, it appears that accomplishing this task means the demise of Tidus, who may not be of Yuna's world. The final moment where the two embrace before Tidus vanishes into thin air is one of the more tragic and heart-tugging moments in a Final Fantasy game.

2) Link and Zelda (The Legend of Zelda series)

By far the most touching version of Link and Zelda's relationship comes in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. The pair live on an island in the sky known as Skyloft. Zelda is no princess in this game-- she's much more realistic a character. She is like the girl next door to Link, and the two share a tender moment together when they ride their loftwings together. When Zelda is taken by a twister and propelled to the world below the clouds, Link starts off on an adventure to rescue her. Little does he know that this time Zelda isn't simply waiting in some dungeon or trapped in a crystal this time around; she's a girl on the go. The two's relationship is one of the better ones in a Zelda game, and it is a lovely change of pace for the franchise. It's not just Skyward Sword, but the franchise's history of the different relationships between Link and Zelda are so storied that it'd be foolish to put the couple any lower on this list.

1) Mario and Peach (Mario series)

After all of the times that Mario has allowed Princess Peach to be kidnapped, you think this pair would need a significant amount of couples counseling. Mario shows that he greatly cares about the princess each time he rescues Peach from the king of the Koopas, Bowser. He generally does it just to get another kiss from his favorite little damsel in distress, or in Super Mario 64's case, a nice, delicious cake. You definitely have to admire the pure dedication that Mario has to Princess Peach, and you have to admire Bowser's persistence in capturing the princess. These reasons are why Mario and Peach make it to number one-- that and the fact that the two's relationship is so well known in gaming.

SPC Soapbox - 11/13/12 Grand Theft Auto V, Wii U's Price, and the Irrelevant Press

There have been some interesting pieces of news that I could not talk about in full length. That is where the SPC Soapbox comes in. Once more I have three topics I'd like to broach about, including my main desire and what I like so far of Grand Theft Auto V, whether Ubisoft's CEO's comment about the Wii U's price is founded in reality or not, and why I think that when it comes to Nintendo, the majority of the gaming press is no longer really as relevant as they think they are.

Grand Theft Auto V hopes and wishes

Grand Theft Auto IV was one of the most undeserving games to give high praise to. It was also very controversial how day-one reviewers had to play the game with Rockstar employees watching them at some sort of special press event, and they could only play the game for a relatively brief period of time. It doesn't help that reviewers in retrospect started mentioning why the game wasn't so great afterwards.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was my first and my favorite Grand Theft Auto game. The world of San Andreas was remarkably ambitious. It was incredibly massive for a PlayStation 2 and then Xbox game. I loved the settings, from Grove Street to the Strip at Las Venturas. The fact that Grand Theft Auto V will be returning to San Andreas in some regard has me totally stoked. Hearing that the world is larger than that of Red Dead Redemption has me positively enthralled. It's going to be amazing, especially since instead of large rocky deserts to traverse, we'll have metropolises, which interest me much more in exploring. Additionally, the thought of having three main characters to play as intrigues me greatly. The possibilities are infinite for how the story and gameplay will work out, but the potential for failure is also there.

One of my main problems with GTA IV was the replacement of realism over the wacky fun of past games. The title grew to be a chore as well, and compared to the Saints Row trilogy, it was just neutered in the entertainment department to me. So my paramount wish for the fifth mainline game in the Grand Theft Auto franchise is for the return to some oddball fun and zaniness. However, at the same time, the more missions like Four Leaf Clover, the better too. There needs to be a balance between realism and crazy.

I am without a doubt excited to enter the sunny shores of Los Santos once more. I can imagine riding down the streets of Vinewood with the top down in my shiny red convertible, passing by pedestrians and accidentally running over several hundred of them. Grand Theft Auto V is yet another blockbuster planned for the absolutely packed 2013 gaming year. Here's hoping it satisfies rather than disappoints!

Is the Wii U's price too high? Ubisoft's CEO says so.

Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot, recently made it known to the press that he is unhappy with the price of the Wii U. Of course, that is the typical take from a third-party on any platformer that many message board users will use as a talking point on how the Wii U is objectively overpriced. Nonetheless, you see, the higher the price of a console, it seems likely that the less games will be bought by consumers. In a perfect world, the Wii U would be free, so Ubisoft could sell the most games at launch. However, the world obviously does not work that way. Nintendo has already made mention that they are losing money on every Wii U sold, so Ubisoft and its CEO will sort of have to deal with the price right now.

For all Mr. Guillemot cares, Nintendo could take even larger losses on the console just as long as his company's games sell well. It's not really that selfish of a position if that were his stance, as it makes sense in Ubisoft's perspective, but considering Nintendo's stock price and fortunes have fallen within the past couple of years due to the dying off of the Wii, the slow start to the 3DS (which Nintendo also sold at a loss initially), and the exchange rates of the yen, making the Wii U cheaper would have sent Nintendo down an even more dangerous road.

Some people say the Wii U is just souped up Xbox 360, or an Xbox 360 and a Wii duct-taped together as it were. However, I don't know of any Xbox with a more advanced controller than the Wii U GamePad. Well, unless you make the argument that the human body is the controller for Kinect. Sure, that's plenty more complicated than any piece of tech! Regardless, having a bright screen, being able to play games on the GamePad itself, using near-field communication, using gyro for movement, and having what basically amounts to a Swiss army knife in the form of an essentially traditional controller makes for a higher price tag. I can't make any statements on the power of the actual system because 1) We don't really know the details until someone opens one up, and 2) My knowledge of tech is limited as it is. However, I feel the GamePad and the boost in visuals that I've seen compared to what the Wii could produce, the amount of storage, and for the Deluxe package, the bonus Nintendo Land game, make for a system that is worth the price.

How the Western gaming press is irrelevant when it comes to Nintendo

I mentioned this somewhat in my piece last week on the immaturity of the gaming industry, particularly the West. However, let me go into greater detail. It is my opinion that a lot of the Western gaming press is ambivalent towards Nintendo (when I say "gaming press" from now on, it will be meant as the majority and not all). The company doesn't play by the Western gaming press's rules, they march to the beat of a different drummer. The press seems to show contempt, especially after being made fools of when the console that they deemed dead on arrival outsold its competitors in a grand fashion. This failed analysis by the press made them look quite incompetent.

Nintendo has sort of wised up to the perception they have from the Western mainstream gaming press and have started creating avenues to completely bypass them. Enter Nintendo Directs and Iwata Asks segments. No longer does Nintendo have to give information to the press that will just be editorialized and communicated incorrectly by the press. Nintendo can simply give information straight to their fans without a third-party interfering. So it's no wonder why the gaming press has what I perceive to be contempt for Nintendo. The company plays by its own rules, it gives out necessary info on their schedule, and they directly give fans news now, making the mainstream press almost, if not completely, irrelevant for Nintendo coverage.

At that same token, it's important for Nintendo to hold a strong relationship with the press, and I feel that they do that. If going over the heads of the press to give information directly to the company's fans makes journalists bitter, these journalists will just have to deal with it, or maybe, just maybe, improve how they cover the company.

The Surprising Health Benefits of Gaming - A Special Article

I don't usually do this as I like to dedicate this site mostly to my writing, but I am feeling game this go around. Recently a freelance writer named Lily McCann emailed me, wanting to share an article she wrote regarding the health benefits of gaming as well as myths. The article goes into a little detail about eyesight myths, "exergaming", and much more. To check out the article, look no further than this link.

21 Fantastic Gaming Commercials

After looking at 21 terrific gaming commercials, then stopping by for 19 more, we have reached some fantastic gaming commercials. 21 to be exact. These commercials are clever in their marketing, they show off the product well, they have a multitude of game footage, or they're just edited awesomely. Perhaps this look at 21 more gaming ads will tickle your fancy and make you remember a commercial or game you forgot about.

Note: These commercials are all from the States. Feel free to share commercials from outside the U.S. 

Note 2: To save everyone from lots of loading, the actual videos are linked to as opposed to embedded on this site. Click the name of the ad to get to the video. I apologize ahead of time for YouTube comment sections.

World of Warcraft (PC)

Several years ago there was an advertising campaign for World of Warcraft featuring such celebrities as Ozzy Osbourne, Chuck Norris, William Shatner, and the subject of this particular commercial, Mr. T. I could definitely believe that Mr. T can code and create his own mohawk character class, Mr. Condescending Director. While I have no experience with MMORPGs at all, much less World of Warcraft, I pity the foo' who doesn't at least crack a smile through watching this humorous ad.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (3DS)

The legend is reborn. My favorite game of all time in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time gets even better with all-new features and a heavy visual upgrade. This commercial for the game renders several memorable events from Link's seven year quest such as Princess Zelda's tossing of the Ocarina of Time as she and her humble protector Impa make their escape from Hyrule Castle; and the battle between Link and Ganondorf within the villain's castle. The glasses-free 3D is just gravy to the delectable mashed potatoes that is Ocarina of Time 3D.

Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)

As I said in my September 2012 Nintendo 3DS Playtime Results feature, I recently got back into Super Mario 3D Land. Perhaps it was the hunger for more Mario after New Super Mario Bros. 2, but certainly this commercial did the trick as well. It shows off what I perceive to be a teenager jumping and running through a real world Mushroom Kingdom. Pipes and blocks stand within his neighborhood, spiked balls chase after him down a road, and floating platforms rest high above the busy intersections of the city as this young lad leaps across them. It really gives a good sense of what Super Mario 3D Land would be liked if placed in the real world.

New Super Mario Bros. (DS)

When I see someone say that Mario only sells because of nostalgia and that all of his games are the same, I laugh at their willful ignorance. That's like saying Call of Duty, Halo, Medal of Honor, Battlefield, and whatever else you can think of are all the same because they all have guns and shoot people. It's just a lazy and thoughtless argument. However, New Super Mario Bros. does want to hit that nostalgic nerve as this advertisement clearly shows. What else would it be doing as it displays the original Super Mario Bros. and transforms it into the DS game after Mario nabs a mushroom? It is cleverly done and I appreciate it.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)

The final commercial of Nintendo of America's wildly successful "Wii would like to play" ad campaign, Super Smash Bros. Brawl's ad depicts the two Japanese Wii guys infiltrating an electronics store and offering up some Wii goodness in the form of the brawl to end them all. A group surrounds the four players battling one another for supremacy. They should have chosen Meta Knight as I here that dude is top tier! Regardless, I prefer the fan service of Brawl over the competitive spirit of Melee.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (PS2, XBX, PC)

Rockstar Games certainly has a mastery of how to create an effective an uber-cool commercial/trailer. This GTA: Vice City ad just permeates coolness and gives those who lived through the 80s a sharp sense of nostalgia. A Flock of Seagulls' "I Ran (So Far Away)" being played over the ad certainly helps matters. The whole commercial reinforces the idea that gaming can be a truthful way to tell a good story. We just haven't seen that in many games in the past. I think Vice City is one of those games that does it remarkably well.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2)

This game is now also available via the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection which is available on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PlayStation Vita; and also on a botched Nintendo 3DS port called Snake Eater 3D. Regardless, this ad is for the PlayStation 2 original. While it doesn't show much in the way of gameplay, it does show off the types of cutscenes that the Metal Gear Solid series is well-known for, for better or for worse. It is edited well, and the voice over actor does a splendid job giving the already dramatic commercial even more drama.

God of War (PS2)

Clips of the action of God of War set across ancient ruins make for a commercial that titillates PlayStation gamers. The commercial features the female narrator throughout the myriad of God of War mainline games and spinoffs. We are left with the beginning of a clash between Kratos and the current God of War, Ares.  

God of War II (PS2)

A storm is brewing, and it is about to make its presence felt throughout Athens. After usurping Ares as the God of War, Kratos has taken his crown. But Zeus isn't happy with this turn of events and looks to absolutely eviscerate Kratos. This ad displays a heap of action from this excellent sequel, with shots of Kratos digging into the eye of a cyclops and clawing alongside the face of the Colossus of Rhodes. If this doesn't get you interested in God of War II, nothing will.

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3)

This commercial came right before the Kevin Butler series of ads that outwore their welcome long after Sony's marketing team pulled the plug on them (still waiting on saying good riddance to Flo from Progressive). It is the ad for Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. It showcases the type of action-adventure hijinks that Nathan Drake is always somehow finding himself involved in. The funny part obviously comes when Drake's walkie-talkie goes off, prompting him to say "It's for you," and then throwing it at the nearest thug. Then, something that more commercials need to have - actual gameplay footage - is shown in all of its gorgeous glory.

Darksiders II (Wii U, PS3, 360, PC)

From an ad with plenty of gameplay footage to one with zero, this fully CG ad gives a taste of what players can expect when they take control of Death, one of the Four Horsemen, in Darksiders II. From saving a father and her daughter before they are picked off by a demon to entering the depths of Hell, there is plenty of eye candy to view in this ad. It's just a shame that the game sold just over 250,000 units in the States despite reportedly needing two million units to break even. Nah, this industry's current business model isn't broken at all.

Saints Row: The Third (PS3, 360, PC)

I don't know what "In Saints Row Trick" means, much like I don't know what a "Hollaback Girl" is either. Nor do I know how "you don't know you're beautiful. That's what makes you beautiful" is supposed to make any sense at all. I'm just not that hip. Nonetheless, Saints Row: The Third has it all. Sex appeal? Got it. Big explosions? Got it. Humor? Check. Catchy song? Sure thing. Gameplay? You know it. "Out GTAs GTA" comment? You betcha. What all of these pieces of the commercial add up to is an impressive picture in the form of an effective ad.

Resident Evil 5 (PS3, 360, PC)

Though a minority might consider the game to be a severe disappointment, I think most of us can agree that this advertisement for Resident Evil 5 nails the adrenaline-inducing gameplay of the title really well. Yes, it may seem cliche to have an orchestral backing to coincide with the action, but darn it if I said it didn't sell people on the game. The power of advertising at work, people. Live to deal with it, or suffer feeling sore in your nether regions for the rest of time.

Ratchet & Clank series (PS2)

This YouTube video is actually a series of commercials spanning throughout the Ratchet & Clank PS2 titles. They all feature some little punks screwing around with toys that they have no right to be touching. Those are obviously meant for furry lombaxes and not high school dropouts who work at McDonald's. Regardless, this line of ads was incredibly funny and showcased many of the stellar weaponry of the Ratchet & Clank franchise.

Pokemon Snap (N64)

Catching Pokemon on film is a snap in the Nintendo 64 game, but when you're out a safari with a dolt as your expedition guide, things become rather complicated. For instance, these Pokemon in this ad are quite crafty. It's either that or the safari guide is quite stupid. Perhaps it is a combination of the two. I particularly like the pudgy married couple simply looking like they've never seen a camera before. Well, I guess the same can be said for the dopey guide.

Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land (GBA)

A remake of Kirby's Adventure, Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land's U.S. commercial features a take on "Secret Agent Man" but with varying accompaniment and of course lyrics. I think what I like the best about the ad is a two-part affair: 1) The catchy song with clever lyrics, and 2) The cuteness of Kirby being exhibited. It shows off Kirby's numerous abilities like Sword, Ice, Tornado, Spike, among others really well.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land (Wii)

From a nightmare in Dream Land to a return to Dream Land, Kirby's second Wii escapade was a traditional Kirby title, as opposed to Kirby's Epic Yarn. But this time around Kirby didn't have to take the fight against baddies alone as he could be joined by up to three other familiar faces like King Dedede, Meta Knight, and Waddle Dee. Not only does this commercial explain that, but it shows tons of gameplay footage. You'd have to have no heart to not have your heart melt by the adorableness of this game. Hugs for everyone!

Mario Party (N64)

There ain't no party like a Mario Party, and there ain't no party like someone being taken into custody by the cops either - especially when it is Mario. Isn't he too old to be hanging out with a bunch of kids who like they're Hanson (remember them?) rejects anyway? These trivial questions aside, this charming commercial gets Mario taken away by the police as he says "But it's-a me, Mario!" I'm sure he can get a good lawyer with all that Nintendo money coming his way. I know when I saw this commercial in middle school, I believe it was, I wanted the game badly. Then the game's analog stick circling mini-games hurt my thumbs badly.

Mario Party 6 (GCN)

Poor Bowser. All he is trying to do is fit in, and these little rat bastard children keep giving him a hard time. Sure, it's funny and amusing to put hot sauce on his toothbrush and draw on his face, but do you know what that does to a Koopa's self-esteem? In any case, like the original Mario Party commercial, this ad is quite charming, too. It is funny and it shows a good amount of gameplay for Mario Party 6.

Mario Superstar Baseball (GCN)

There were three different U.S. commercials for the GameCube's Mario Superstar Baseball. One features Bowser doing his best to overcome the evil that is the pitching machine. Another shows Mario at the keys of the baseball stadium's organ. And the final one displays a poor unfortunate buttmonkey of the franchise continuing to have his car pelted by baseballs. Alone these commercials are humorous, and together they created an amusing ad campaign for Mario's first trip to the diamond.

Wii Sports Resort (Wii)

Our final ad is a particularly convincing ad regarding Wii Sports Resort and Nintendo's then-new Wii MotionPlus peripheral, what we have here is a splendid showing of how real life human gestures are conveyed rather splendidly by the on-screen Mii characters. Whether you're playing archery, basketball, swordfighting, or one of the other activities within Wii Sports Resort, the commercial successfully shows that your movements will supposedly be tracked well. If Nintendo's marketing department can pull off commercials as persuasive as this for the Wii U, they have nothing to worry about with concern to the casual population that the Wii and DS attracted.

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I hope you have enjoyed this third glimpse at some of my favorite gaming commercials of years past and present. Join me tomorrow where I will be listing the first batch of the 50 best Nintendo Wii games.