The first ad I found was Star Wars: Masters of Teras Kasi on PS1 from Marvel Team-Up Vol. 1, No. 8, released April of 1998. This game was a two player fighter like Tekken or Mortal Kombat with Star Wars characters. It's apparently not a very good game. Still, the ad makes you want to play it. Who doesn't want to fight that jerk Boba Fett. He brings a gun to a light saber fight for Pete's sake.
Next from the same 1998 comic was the pleasant surprise of Final Fantasy Tactics for PS1. I love the horse riders stomping down a river with the bridge behind them at the top. The rest of the page is taken up by text giving you colorful descriptions of the type of things you'll be doing in the game. I love two page ads, especially ones for strategy or rpg games.
Finally there's this Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction ad from Marvel Team-Up Vol 3, No. 11 released in 2005 (the comic was really good; written by Walking Dead creator Robert Kirman btw). It shows all the intensity and destuctiveness of the game in the comic book style panels. This game isn't going to be about how sad Bruce Banner is about losing his wife in the accident that gave him his powers. No. It's all about "Hulk Smash!". The ad perfectly conveys that idea.
Ultimate Destruction was such a fun game. Usually I don't like open world, but something about open world when you're the Hulk is so damn satisfying.
I watched my friend play it obsessively when it came out.
I love those Hulk games.
that FFT ad is sweet.
It's how how well I can remember seeing that Final Fantasy Tactics ad. I think that pic was pretty much what most of their ads consisted of, but it still brings back fond memories!
The only problem with the Hulk ad: Comic Sans.
I've seen a few game ads that are comics unto themselves. There were several for DnD and there's one for Bonk's Adventure.
I remember all of these ads. My favorite is the one for FF Tactics. So elaborate! I know I will get that Star Wars PS1 game. I play all the Star Wars games,even the crappy ones. It's a weakness there is currently no cure for. I even liked Dark Forces!
Even if it's bad. It's still cool to play as Star Wars characters in any game.