Don’t Forget the Power – Remembering Nintendo Power

Over the last few days I’ve been searching like crazy through newsstands and magazine racks. I covered every feasible source in town, trying to find an avenue to get the prize I sought – the very last issue of Nintendo Power. This was the first new Nintendo Power I would have sought out in ten years, and the first time I’ve rummaged through magazine racks in just as long! But all of the places I could have found this publication before were barren now – how many magazines have actually disappeared within this span? I finally managed to score a copy, having extended my search beyond the realm of convenience and into the territory of a driven hunt.

Of course that’s a little bit of  embellishment, I knew I would find the magazine somewhere. But I did approach it with more fervor than I thought I would. Honestly, Nintendo Power ending has made me wax nostalgic more often than I usually do lately and although I haven’t subscribed in so long it was still a big part of my childhood. The finality of it increases the urgency, I suppose.

THE FINAL ISSUE

The cover of the final issue was revealed a while ago, and I’ve pictured it at the top of this article. It’s a “NSMB” take on the cover of the very first Nintendo Power, the famous clay Super Mario Bros 2 cover. And as sarcastic as I can be about the New Super Mario Bros. series, this is so fitting and such a great gesture that they really had no better choice for a cover. Just seeing this thing on the magazine rack gave me nostalgia pangs. And just picking it up had its own bitter-sweet feelings of “I’ve got it!” and “this is the end…”

The issue itself is really well done. Player’s Pulse, or… Pulse I suppose it’s called now, is devoted to messages from people who have had history with the magazine. And whether they’re young or old, been there since the beginning or the middle you forget that and realize that they are talking about the magazine in the same terms that you do. The joy of an NP in your mail box, pouring over each new issue. Regardless of what audience the magazine catered to at any given time, the reception was still largely the same.

A good chunk of the magazine is devoted to retrospection. From a long feature of the magazine’s history to thoughts from former employees. It’s a great read, because it’s real. And the final Nester comic near the back really tugged at my heartstrings in ways I wasn’t expecting. I don’t want to get into any of that too deeply, because you should really read it for yourself.

Yes, there’s a list of “top games” and yes all of the usual suspects are there. No, I don’t agree with everything on the list. And yes, I was pleased to see a fair few obscure titles make the cut as well. These lists are always controversial and the main point of discussion in any medium that presents them. But does it really matter that it doesn’t gel with your choices? No, of course not. These are the favourites of the editors, and it’s a Nintendocentric publication. So of course there’s going to be bias, and so there would be with any list that I would write or that you would write. Not worth raging about, and it’s still interesting to read and see the staff‘s opinions besides.

I’d say that if you’ve ever been a fan of the magazine in the past, it’s absolutely worth picking up. It’s reverent to all eras of the magazine, and the finality is palpable. All in all, a great way to end the run and pretty melancholic because of it.

REMEMBERING NINTENDO POWER

Looking back, I can see that Nintendo Power was a big part of my childhood. A constant, I suppose. At that same time every month, coming home from school expecting to find a new issue. Then finally getting it and pouring over it through the night. Taking it to my grandmother’s the next day to read during dinner. Taking it to school to decide what we would rent on the weekend. Those times where I felt proud to get my hands on it before my brother did.

I can remember the anger I felt when my cousins ate our Super Mario Brothers 3 Startegy Guide issue. Yes, literally chomped, chewed, gummed and rendered unreadable. I can remember stowing a couple of issues under the cushion of my grandmother’s tub chair so we would always have something to read on visits. I remember drooling over Japan-only games in the pages of Epic Center and wondering “why the hell aren’t we getting Super Dante?” I remember Classified Information’s manilla folder, ha ha.

As game news before I had access to the Internet. As ammunition for a straight up Nintendo fan boy during the 16-bit console wars. As just a simple source of entertainment that I could always flip back through. It was invaluable.

Our first issue was Mega Man 2, from which we backordered the few we had missed. I remember the full level maps and using them as inspiration to draw my own Mega Man stages. I remember being entranced yet strangely put off by the infamous Simon’s Quest cover, now my favourite cover of the magazine’s run. I remember the great Mario Paint insert in the Magical Quest issue, now my favourite issue of Nintendo Power. I remember the amazing multi-part Secret of Mana coverage, which had me salivating for a game that was super hard to find around here. I remember the comics, especially Howard and Nester. I remember Nintendo Power.

I think that were Nintendo Power to end six or seven years ago, when I was much more caustic and critical than I am now, I would still have the same melange of feelings. That’s just what’s to be expected when it concerns something you were so invested in.

I’m surprised Nintendo Power lasted as long as it did. My final issue was Super Smash Bros. Melee, fairly early into the GameCube’s run really. The N64 had made me somewhat cynical of Nintendo and the Internet was a fast and easy source of information. So I stopped getting NP, and even in the face of cynicism and the Internet it was still hard to give up the magazine. Because I still loved reading it, and maybe I still feel a little remorse that I didn’t hold out longer.

Although I haven’t always agreed with the opinions of Nintendo Power, or even some of the directions that magazine has taken, it has always stayed close to my heart. I still read old issues. I still quote the old issues with my brothers. This is still a part of my childhood ending. These are still real people that are losing something they loved working on. And there are still real readers who have lost one of the best parts of their month.

As cynical as I can be. As sharp-tongued and critical. As much of a retrogressive dork as I am… I’m still sad to see Nintendo Power end. Good luck to the staff, thank you and keep Playing with Power.