Nintendo shows off upcoming Switch console, new Zelda on 'The Tonight Show'

By Gabe Gurwin December 8, 2016

Jimmy Fallon Debuts the Nintendo Switch

Nintendo of America president and walking meme Reggie Fils-Aimé appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday night to show off both this month’s Super Mario Run, as well as the upcoming Nintendo Switch game, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario and Zelda — and arguably the most important designer in video game history — sat in the audience to watch Jimmy give the new games a try.

Fils-Aimé showed Fallon the main mode available in Super Mario Run — “World Tour.” It’s the traditional, single-player Mario platforming experience we’ve come to expect from the 2D games, though controls have been simplified to single button presses to suit mobile devices. Jimmy loses his mind as he reaches an invincibility star, but then sulks in embarrassment after he misses the top of the flag pole at the course’s end.

Two other modes will be available in Super Mario Run — the competitive multiplayer “Toad Rally” as well as the creation tool “Kingdom Builder.” The game launches on December 15 for iOS, but you can try a demo version at Apple Stores around the world.

Fils-Aimé also brought along Nintendo’s heavy hitter, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which ran in real-time on the Switch. The game looks absolutely gorgeous on the big screen, with its bright color scheme and environments making it instantly recognizable. Though the game’s frame rate appeared to be struggling on the Wii U version during a short demonstration at The Game Awards, that doesn’t appear to be an issue on the Switch.

Fallon had trouble containing his excitement, relaying the story of Miyamoto’s childhood adventures — the inspiration behind the Zelda series — and demonstrating to the audience how to use the Switch’s kickstand to play two-player games on the go without having to be prompted by Fils-Aimé.

The Nintendo Switch launches in March. No time window other than “2017” has been given for Breath of the Wild thus far, but it might not arrive until June. To help you endure the wait, check out this video of Shigeru Miyamoto playing the Mario theme with the Roots.

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Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…

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