Though we featured a number of Zelda commercials earlier this week, like Vanessa Williams, we've saved the best for last. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, arguably the finest handheld game ever released, had its share of unusual ads, relying on corny rappers and wacky puppetry to sell the ARPG in the US and Japan. In the UK, however, gamers were treated to the slapstick humor of one of Britain's most distinguished comedians.
Ninvolving. Ninexhaustible. Nintendo.
In the states, Rik Mayall is best known for his role as the titular imaginary friend in Drop Dead Fred, a 1991 comedy film that has since become a cult classic with many. Those familiar with British sitcoms, on the other hand, should instantly recognize him from his often vulgar and violent parts in The Young Ones, Blackadder, and Bottom.
Rik's foray into the world of video game commercials didn't end with Link's Awakening or his run-in with the glass window; he went on to create several more ads with Nintendo for SNES titles like Super Mario All-Stars and Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting. His Nigel Mansell's World Championship Racing spot, in particular, remains our favorite to this day.
Super Mario All-Stars:
Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting:
Star Wing (Star Fox):
Nigel Mansell's World Championship Racing:
Rik eventually procured a home in west London with the loot he brought in from his appearances, jokingly dubbing the four-story house "Nintendo Towers." The most money we ever made off of Nintendo was from when we sold our Pokemon cards to a kid down the street, and that was barely enough cash to pay for lunch. We called that meal "Thank you, Nintendo, for buying us this slightly dry chicken sandwich. It's too bad that we couldn't get any curly fries with it. That would've been tight."
