In context: Actor Paul Rudd has reprised his role as a Nintendo fanboy in new commercial to hype the upcoming Switch 2. Rudd famously starred in a 1991 commercial for the then-new Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The original 30-second spot featured a young Rudd walking into an abandoned drive-in theater and playing games like F-Zero, Super Play Action Football, Pilotwings, SimCity, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on the big screen.
A crowd forms, and Nintendo closes out with its SNES catchphrase, “Now you’re playing with power. Super Power.”
For many that were around at the time, the advertisement lives rent free in their head – and it’s these gamers that Nintendo is targeting.
The new commercial opens much like the original, and Rudd even wears a similar outfit – complete with long black duster, indie rock hair, and beaded necklace. Rather than focusing on the console’s power like with the SNES, Rudd highlights the Switch 2’s multiplayer capabilities. “It’s nice playing with power but this is better because now we’re playing together,” he notes.
The spot also features comedians Joe Lo Truglio and Jordan Carlos, who star as Rudd’s online pals in Mario Kart.
Nintendo announced the Switch 2 in mid-January but saved the full details for a Direct presentation that aired earlier this month. The console features a 7.9-inch, 120 Hz variable refresh rate display that’s powered by a custom-built Nvidia processor / GPU, and ships with 256GB of internal storage that’s expandable via microSD Express.
The console’s Joy-Cons have also been upgraded, and now attach to the body using magnets. They can even be used in a new orientation called mouse mode, which is exactly what it sounds like.
The Switch 2 goes up for pre-order on April 24 priced at $450 for a barebones kit or $500 for a bundle that includes Mario Kart World. Pre-orders were originally set to open on April 9 but “evolving global trade conditions” prompted Nintendo to reevaluate. Pricing ultimately remained the same although some accessories are now a bit more expensive.
Look for the new system to launch on June 5.
