Regardless of whether the viewer has a love for the sport or not, the annual Superbowl event has always been a great excuse for get togethers, and with so many attentive eyes, what a great way for companies to promote upcoming products. Major food chains, movie studios, and even the video game industry have capitalized on the opportunity to generate interest from such a massive crowd.
From smaller mobile titles to big budget blockbusters, a number of noteworthy video games have taken center stage at past Superbowl showings in hopes to generate big hype for the eventual release. This ranges from mobile games like Clash of Clans, hilarious ads like the PS9, and even action games with big names like Jet Li: Rise to Honor. Securing ad space during the Superbowl does not come cheap, so it is imperative to make every second count, and thankfully these gaming companies understood that with unforgettable trailers on many occassions.
As the final entry of the God of War series on the PlayStation 3, God of War: Ascension promised an unmissable experience with its stunning Super Bowl trailer in 2013. Opting for live action style with special effects and costume design that could very pass for a feature film based on God of War, the trailer perfectly summarizes the mythology and tone of the series to bring newcomers up to speed and further excite fans already onboard.
It all synced up as a perfect storm, with a huge new game release in an already massive franchise being showcased at one of the biggest cultural events in any given year. Audiences may tune in for the big game, but for a few minutes, God of War proved again why it is a force to be reckoned with.
Changing gears with a far more comedic approach, World of Tanks created not one, but two Super Bowl ads in 2017 that had short run times but big laughs. The first ad played up the subversion tactic in comedy effortlessly, with a reality TV premise tricking the viewer into thinking they are viewing a preview for some new home improvement show, when all of a sudden a tank absolutely pulverizes the home as the title of the game splashes across the screen. With all of this done in fifteen seconds, its simple and effective, and it demonstrates the quick, chaotic action the game is known for.
Airing not long after its predecessor, the second ad once again pokes fun at reality television as the commercial begins with a group of women having a mundane argument. Just as the viewer may be tuning out of the bickering, a tank suddenly comes crashing through the wall behind them, demanding the presence of the room and the eyes of the audience. It is exactly the same setup and payoff as above, but with a concept that good it had to be used twice to show what World of Tanks is about.
After the Wii U slump, Nintendo knew it had to strike back with big force to win back the attention of gamers, both casual and hardcore. With little over a month between the Super Bowl and the launch of the Nintendo Switch, a flashy ad played during the game to showcase the hybrid console’s key features as well as footage from its biggest upcoming games.
The preview is cleverly edited for both experienced gamers and the uninitiated alike, showing the console being a capable tool for family friendly gatherings, group outings, or even on the go. The cherry on top, demonstrating Nintendo’s confidence in the console, was the ad simply ending with a shot of the Switch and the release date, almost as if to imply that Nintendo knew it had a runaway hit.
It is unfortunate that one of the earliest PS4 exclusives did not quite live up to its expectations, but for any gamers playing close attention to the title at the time, this was certainly a captivating teaser. Thanks in large part to The Order 1886 boasting some incredibly realistic graphics, the trailer had a feel and production value that would not feel out of place for a big budget movie also being previewed during the Super Bowl.
The trailer promised a world of mystery, gothic monstrosities and terrifying action set pieces, demanding the attention of the viewer whether playing video games was of interest or not. If Sony were to ever bring The Order 1886 back in the future, another fantastic Super Bowl trailer such as this would be an excellent way to grab eyes all over again.
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