Wednesday, August 22, 2012

RIP Nintendo Power: 1988 - 2012


I just saw a post on IGN that honestly made me tear up a bit. Nintendo Power, Nintendo's in house periodical for almost a quarter of a century, is set to close it's doors. For me, Nintendo Power represented not just a gaming magazine, but an important part of what sparked my desire to write. I remember getting the 50th issue in the mail (Link's Awakening on the cover), The NES Game Atlas, the free game offers (THEY GAVE AWAY COPIES OF DRAGON WARRIOR!!), the foldout maps that doubled as beautiful posters, and you have the recipe for nostalgia of the highest order.

Nintendo Power will forever be one of the most beloved parts of what grew me into the gamer that I am today. Never mind the fact that it was a marketing tool for Nintendo and initially that's all it was, for many gamers, Nintendo Power was a treasure trove of cheats, maps, previews, and other info that other magazines were not providing. I learned about the stage select code for TMNT II from Nintendo Power, along with assorted cheats for NBA Jam, Castlevania III, Street Fighter II Turbo, Mike Tyson's Punch Out!!, and countless other games. Nintendo Power is more than just a magazine that's going out of business, it's a slice of gaming history that everyone who grew up with a controller in their hands can be proud to say was a part of the culture they love.


1 comment:

  1. i don't understand this move, especially since it's been the longest running nintendo only mag, so many great memories

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