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8 Amazingly Cheesy Retro Video Game Commercials

This article is over 7 years old and may contain outdated information

You can’t turn on a television nowadays without seeing an expensive, cinematic, live action trailer promoting an upcoming video game. That’s fine – the times certainly change. But it’s always fun to look back on what video game commercials used to be, and they certainly weren’t cinematic. Here are 8 of my favorite retro video game commercials, along with a formal request that companies start making them like these again. Also, choosing just 8 was hard, so prepare yourselves for a part two.


Sega Genesis

They just don’t make console wars like they used to.

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Dr. Mario

Ooh Eeh Ooh Ah Aah Ting Tang Walla Walla Bing Bang means “play Dr. Mario.”

The Legend of Zelda

“Whoa, nice graphics!”
*raps*

Sonic the Hedgehog

The goal with Sonic was always to portray him as a more “grown up” video game character than Mario. I…think…that’s what they were going for here.

Atari

She plugged it into the sand. THE SAND.

Tetris

“Put a piece here, put a piece there!” I really do love the pure honesty of this one. Except for the collapsing building. I can’t explain that part.

E.T.

I think they may have actually spent more time and money on the commercial than they did on the actual game.

Nintendo Power

You didn’t think I’d actually forget this one, did you?


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