The nostalgia faucet has been turned on for the Nintendo real nostalgia by recreating Paul Rudd’s iconic setting-for-a-1991 Super Nintendo commercial-for-the- Switch 2 ad. Yep, you heard that. The cute surprise ad where Rudd suspiciously appears exactly like he did 30 years ago hypes up the next-gen console and drops the bombshell of an epic marketing scheme. And honestly? That’s kind of genius.
It went something like this from back in the day- an adorable kid looking up at Rudd, blasting with 90s-star energy; “I’m gonna show you the hottest thing just out of L.A. It’s the next follow-up to KISS.” That is, of course, leaving that out altogether. Now Nintendo relives the same magic backward but with a modern twist. The spirit remains the same: Paul is still cool as hell swapping the SNES in favor of the next-generation Switch.
So, why bother resurrecting an ad from 30 years ago? Simple: nostalgia is the game. Nintendo knows well that its target audience grew up watching this ad, and the nostalgia childhood gaming memory is being used to sell these ads. Besides, Paul Rudd is practically ageless, isn’t he?
The Internet, of course, went insane. Social media erupted with reactions-mostly in the form of “HOW DOES HE STILL LOOK THE SAME?” and “Nintendo knows exactly what they’re doing.” That is the truth. This is not only a fun callback. This is a slick marketing play bridging generations. The parents remember the original ad, and the kids are now Nintendo’s target for the Switch 2.
But here’s the big question-What does this mean for Switch 2? Nintendo seems shrewd so far with its tight lip on what they are up to with the new baby, but putting out a commercial this polished means that something is afoot. The record spins with rumors about improved hardware, back-compatibility, and maybe an unforeseen launch title or two. If they are even filming commercials, could an official reveal be round the corner?
One thing is for sure: Nintendo will now go on the long game. They do not intend to churn ads just for kicks. Serious publicity is build in such a move, and it has already paid off. Fans are still going frame by frame even now, trying to extract pointers about the Switch 2-specs, release date, or even game announcements from their observations.
And let’s be honest-Paul Rudd is the cherry on top. This guy is a legend, and it’s a joy to see him reprise Nintendo’s hype man role. Whether you’re the deadliest diehard fan in existence or just someone who can appreciate a well-crafted nostalgia trip, this ad ticks all the boxes. So keep your eyes open. If these nostalgia bombs are dropping from Nintendo, then avalanche news of Switch 2 is likely imminent. And when that time finally comes, Paul Rudd will surely wear a grin like it is 1991 all over again.
But right now, go ahead and watch that ad. Then watch it again. Then maybe even try to find the original for comparison’s sake. Rare is the case of a reboot working, just as rare as Rudd does not age. This time, round one goes to Nintendo.
