Nintendo Power Issue #1 - July/August 1988

[@TheGoldenBolt]

I've gotta be _that_ guy lol, that's Wart on the cover, not Bowser. The first Nintendo Power was about Mario 2 USA, not Mario 1 or 3! I'm assuming that was just a Freudian slip though.

[@BileDuctBalderdash]

Was thinking the same thing lol

[@CGQuarterly]

Dangit, there always has to be a mistake in every episode! The slip wasn't Freudian, but it was obviously an incorrect comment. That's what happens when you speak off-the-cuff for an hour, though. Anyway, pinning your comment in the hopes that it mitigates similar ones from others.

[@TheGoldenBolt]

Classic Gaming Quarterly don't worry about it man, it happens to everybody! Plus, not like Wart really matters all that much in the grand scheme of Mario lol, can't blame you for mixing him up!

[@MissAshley42]

Critical Unity Why you so critical, Unity? :P

[@SlyBeast]

Why does Wart get no love anymore? I'm thinking he should've been in Smash Bros/Mario Kart long ago.

[@skywalkerranch]

The quality of this upload is awesome both in content and picture. Thanks a lot, Chris.

[@MoneyHungryPig]

Words cant express how much i love this channel.

[@CGQuarterly]

Thanks, Soup. I really appreciate that.

[@alexshadowfax1119]

Just found your channel, seen it recommended before but there's so many retro game channels, but I'm glad I gave it a shot this time, your very thorough, other channels would make this a 6-8 minute video, which is fine, but I prefer your take on it. Nice work, look forward to going through your content. Have a great day everyone.

[@Malicos]

(A part of me is secretly wishing on a star in the sky that CGQ goes through this level of detail and explanation of all 285 issues of Nintendo Power)

[@CGQuarterly]

+Unknown That would be pretty fun, actually.

[@Cuzjudd]

Then it's agreed

[@mattwigley203]

Actually I know that would be quite a daunting task, but man it would be awesome to go back through each of them. I was a subscriber to NP from day one and bought every guide they produced that didn't come as part of a resubscribe package. The best bonus to subscribing, at least in my opinion, was the Dragon Warrior promo. So in a nutshell, I owned everything they ever put out (that I know of). Unfortunately like so many other things from my childhood I wished I had taken better care of, my collection went into a large (and heavy might I add) cardboard box that was eventually tossed into a dumpster of a Domino's Pizza lol. "They were just vidja game magazines, you'll live!"- my grandad. The horror...

[@adrianbeneytogimenez6878]

Yesss, at least the NES issues☺

[@Gorilla_Jones]

The golden age man. The 2600, ColecoVision, and NES were my main reasons for getting into the video game industry. Thanks for these. I still remember buying this issue at Caldors.

[@KemoKidd]

First off, as a 35 year old gamer I LOVE your videos. Definitely brings me back. Second, Zelda second quest didn't just move where dungeons and secrets were. The dungeons were all very different (and more difficult).

[@samljer]

Yea i remember it being way way harder.

[@retrogamer82]

80’s babies in the house 😎

[@lone201316]

I was gonna say if you’re 35 how the hell could you remember this?..Then I seen that this comment was 5yrs ago..lol..

[@SwordsmanOrion]

All the dungeons in the Zelda 1 Second Quest were completely new. And believe me when I say they were much more difficult. Also, the glowing skulls that you can't skill that take your sword away for a few seconds were split into 2 different enemies, a solid red version and a solid blue version. The Red ones would take your sword away forever until you could find a blue one somewhere to give it back. It made those things so dangerous to get hit by.

[@WrestlingWithGaming]

As usual another fantastic video. Really took me back!

[@everythingphil9376]

Thinking back, Super Mario 2 has to be my ultra favorite game for the NES.

[@nickfanzo]

Ita great

[@hallowhitch31]

Probably already mentioned. But the artist is Will Vinton. It's claymation. Same guy who did the California Raisins. He was prolific in 80's/early 90's.

[@gonzamonkey200]

I found this amazing . I’m a retro-games lover from Argentina, and these things are totally unseen and unique. Thanks:)

[@williampetry]

The first cover was designed and produced by the dudes that did the Raisinettes commercials back in the day. the singing, dancing raisins dudes.

[@CGQuarterly]

The "California Raisins".

[@willmistretta]

They also did the very trippy and underrated film "The Adventures of Mark Twain" and the "Claymation Christmas Celebration" special, which is a Christmas Eve tradition for me.

[@echoedinnocence]

Will Mistretta is that the one where they constantly butcher "wasseling" with "waffleing"? LOL

[@franknitti9126]

Did you hear that through the grapevine?

[@maccarnold]

This is one of the best videos I have ever seen here on you tube related to magazines. Thank you for the hour of pure entertainment and information. I am looking forward for more of these videos :-)

[@CGQuarterly]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

[@electricmastro]

Yep, I've seen people question at how Nintendo felt that The Lost Levels was "too hard and similar" to the first game and I just concluded that Nintendo of America was just being extremely careful and conscious of Mario's reputation. Having Mario's reputation damaged would probably mean they'd lose the hit they were building up since the recent video game crash had made many people hesitant to buy more games, so from that point of view, it made sense.

[@DerekLFoster]

I love "let's read episodes" you have the best ones. I always look forward to your new episodes. Keep up the good work.

[@VideoHomicide]

When you talk about the page with films on it (the peewee herman photo) You say how its fun to get a sense of what was popular at the time, I completely understand that statement. I collect issues of Fangoria and Famous Monsters (Horror Magazines) And its fun because you get the same effect. Great video by the way!

[@DanielR-db2ex]

My brother and I received a free copy of Dragon Warrior just for subscribing to Nintendo Power. Loved that game!

[@ioloavatar8430]

Daniel R Same here .But when I received it in the mail I threw the game out .Never liked the game ..Looking back , I wished I would of kept the game . I would of enjoyed and appreciated the game .What was I thinking ..

[@elverdeman9247]

Worst game ever. How did you ever play that? 😱

[@SnakeX2X]

wow I remember bases loaded, I used to play that game when I was a kid, good times, bring me back a lot of memories, nice video.

[@fathersongaming9765]

I really enjoyed this. It really took me back to see some of this, and the quality of the video was fantastic. I hope you look at more issues.

[@freddyvidz]

You totally missed a chance to talk about Dragon Power. The game wasn't good, but, it was based on the Dragon Ball manga and cartoon which was not known about in the States. Just a cool tidbit that they decided to release the game here.

[@BasementBrandon]

Find these really interesting/nostalgic, thanks for sharing.

[@mikeall7012]

Fighting golf is one of my favorite games. It was the first 4 player game i had ever played, so me, my brothers and my dad could all play at once. I still play it to this day

[@Archelaous]

mike all never got into it, but I'm gonna give it another try!

[@dumpnchase]

Love these magazine reads. Thanks.

[@CanadianRetro]

Huge Labour of Love put into this video. Really appreciate the memories and incorporating your memories along with it.

[@mrnounna]

Loved the video! Can't wait for the next Nintendo Power issue video

[@vincentvangelder5524]

Dude this is such a great idea! Its like a time capsule to that year! I hope you do every issue 🤤

[@lone201316]

I will never forget this, seeing this brings back so many memories

[@ryantomorrow]

Thanks!

[@CGQuarterly]

Hey, thanks a bunch!

[@DarMander707]

What a treat - a piece of video game history. Thank you for sharing!

[@RetroIslandGaming]

Loved this video format. I appreciate you taking the effort to add all the gameplay footage throughout to explain what's going on in the magazine page. It's funny how a lot of us had so many shared memories about Nintendo Power and gaming on the NES. Stallone's face in Rambo is classic. The movie reviews in the magazine I don't remember! My mom trashed all of my Nintendo Powers, so I can't read them these days. Thanks for sharing the premiere issue!

[@handsomejonni]

I wasn't sure if this would work; looking through a magazine on video. Now I'm sure it does :) Great execution. Great channel!

[@Sablewingers]

Great job. Enjoyed this episode!

[@DeusDevoid]

I'm 32 years old. My family used to call them both "cassettes" and "tapes", but once I started to mature as a gamer I got familiar with the terminology.

[@karnagefails333]

I really enjoyed this video man! The effort put into this is MUCH appreciated!

[@GF_Burke]

Getting those in the mail was a highlight bro.

[@0pposable]

Please please do more of these :)

[@Theforkellfam]

Please do more videos like this. So fun to look back at this stuff from our childhood. You do a great job

[@milespacker2886]

All this Mario Brothers 2 talk makes me want to throw a rutabaga at somebody

[@karnagefails333]

Miles Packer Ha!

[@joshuamackey2326]

Nintendo power was basically one big instruction manual and I loved it!! Thank u for this would love to see more videos like this

[@hartmanloopfamily6186]

Simply awesome! I just found maybe around 3 years of the earliest issues of my old NP. Turns out I didn't read even half as a kid. This video is so timely for me.

[@bananasadventures]

these vids are great. You have a great soothing voice and all the nostalgia is great. I remember getting this magazine when i became a member of Club Nintendo.

[@littleterr0r]

Life Force was another one of those great games I played with the same friend after school.

[@jonathanlippe]

I had Nintendo Fun Club as well as Nintendo Power (including this issue). Your camera is such high definition. Excellent audio. You do a wonderful job on your videos. I appreciate your efforts.

[@thetrickyitch7179]

What a great video. I read this magazine over and over waiting for SMB2 to be released. I also received it as a fun club member, and actually had my name printed in a later version by sending in a polaroid of a game I'd finished.

[@christianhutchinma9976]

Great breakdown, dude. This is the kind of content that makes KZbin so awesome.

[@CGQuarterly]

Thanks! Coincidentally, I'm actually editing the read-through of Nintendo Power Issue #2 right now.

[@rjc199]

This is a great episode. I remember reading this Mario 2 issue a lot in a school and even getting caught once or twice, haha. It brings back great memories.

[@jamesccart]

Double Dragon was soooooooo hard I remeber phoning the helpline asking how to beat the final boss

[@gruthakhul100]

I could listen to you all day, really nice throwbacks and nostalgia going on in my head - subbed :D

[@TheBlackSpastic]

Awesome video thanks! You make the videos as long as you need. I didn't mind it being a longer video at all. I would watch a 4 hour magazine read through lol.

[@Ylion2tamerJ]

Really enjoy the two camera set up man. Feels like we are actually checking out the magazine with you, hope there is more Nintendo Power in the future!

[@CGQuarterly]

Glad you liked it! I am definitely going to keep using the 2-camera deal. I think it makes the viewer feel more involved, but it also gives me "someone" to talk to when I'm telling a story or explaining something. Makes these mag reads a lot better, in my opinion. There will definitely be more NP.

[@olblueyes7670]

Great episode. I also read "Console Wars" earlier this year and second your recommendation. So cool to go back and read all about the behind the scenes action of the Video Game Wars.

[@godsadog]

It was a really relaxing and entertaining hour listening to you! Awesome video, thanks for all the hard work on that episode.

[@KMFDM_Kid2000]

Wow, whatever camera you're using in yourself looks really good, like extremely sharp. Also love this inaugural issue of NP. So many great memories.

[@backinthedaygamer]

I love this episode & I watch it all the time. I framed my original issue for my game room wall.

[@dave4shmups]

Nice! I remember getting that issue at a local Safeway! I was 11, and amazed by the graphics shown in the screenshots of Super Mario 2. I got an NES for Christmas that year! Great memories!

[@ShadowACE1998]

So why is a ROM hack of Doki Doki Panic considered an illegitimate sequel, but Japan's SMB2 (which was a ROM hack of the first SMB game) considered better? They're both ROM hacks.

[@CGQuarterly]

+Logan Cracraft Excellent point!

[@TB-zj1yy]

All I can say is that when SMB2 came out, myself and everyone I knew just thought it was a kickass game and was by far superior to the first Mario. It also seems that most people find the US Mario 2 game to be much better than the Japanese Mario 2 game. So, it seems like the decision made to make Doki Doki be Mario 2 was an excellent choice. I don't care what any purist out there says. Having Mario characters in a game with Doki Doki mechanics was genius.

[@OnlyMagikarp]

Because one of them was designed as a mario game.

[@SonofSethoitae]

@@OnlyMagikarp And the other was made by Shigeru Miyamoto, using ideas he had for another Mario game

[@MrASM78]

Very nice video. I was never a very skilled player when I was a kid either, I beat very few games and I think that’s why I probably ended up getting out of gaming for the last 25 yrs or so. I’m making up for that now in my forties. I just finally beat Castlevania this morning as a matter of fact. Rediscovering gaming in middle age has been awesome.

[@Gumba213]

Finally got a copy today, long overdue, thanks for showing off the book

[@FailasaurusRex]

$5,000 in 1988 equals $10,460.66 in 2017.

[@ElliotMcDonell]

Thanks, that was great trip down memory lane. I was really a fan of the mag and wish I had my old copies, still. I remember how sad I was when we moved and they sent two issues to the old house, even though I'd called or written to change my address.

[@joeypr]

The nostalgia and quality of this channel is perfect.

[@metabolizm4438]

Nicely done! Very enjoyable episode! You did come across the Official Nintendo Player's Guide so that was nice. Keep up the very good work!

[@Eric-lp3bk]

How about doing a video on the launch of the Nintendo DS. I think this was one of the biggest launches next to the N64. I still remember me and my parents going everywhere just to find one and got one for Christmas in 2004.

[@chriskarsseboom2200]

Biggest launch? You must be young

[@angelwolfplays6456]

The second quest of Zelda was much harder. Not only were the dungeons in different locations, but the dungeons themselves were completely different and had a few new enemies. The one I remember most were the red and blue bubbles that took away your sword completely until you found a bubble of the opposite color in another room.

[@ZakkHung]

When I was younger, I sent out for that players poll contest not thinking I would win anything. A couple months later, I received one of those Nintendo Power jerseys in the mail. I completely freaked out and wore it all the time. I later outgrew it and sold the damn thing at one of our family garage sales. With only 50 being out there, it would be priceless today. My name was listed in a later NP issue along with the others winners I believe. I have few regrets in life, but selling that jersey is one I have trouble letting go. lol

[@CGQuarterly]

+Ken Murawski That sucks, but at the time none of us thought that this stuff would be collectible down the road...

[@20FreeWill]

Classic Gaming Quarterly wish i kept my Original gameboy

[@Quagigitymire]

As a kid I would have taken a Nintendo Power magazine even over a playboy, at least until I was probably 15 or 16. Loved that magazine and it was the source for cheat codes and tips since the internet just wasn't around. Truly can't stress how much I enjoyed this magazine as a kid. I would put it in my school books during class and read and reread it again and again.

[@ExperienceEric]

Same here

[@jasonbreininger7375]

I was fortunate enough to be a fun club news subscriber prior to the NP inception so when I received issue #1 for free I was floored! So much detail, so many pictures and by then I had been struggling through Zelda's 2nd quest so it was great to receive some tips. I immediately convinced my parents to subscribe for me and walked home from school eagerly anticipating each new issue when the two months had gone by. Would today be the day the new issue arrived? I couldn't get home fast enough to find out. The gory volume 2 cover featuring Simon's Quest cemented my love of the magazine. Thanks for the flashback. Glad I still have all my old mags.

[@DrewberTravels]

13:30 I remember taking this map over to a friends house when I was a kid. I guess I didn't realize that it was basically a strategy guide for the second quest, not the main one. lol

[@murmanpoet]

Thanks for an awesome video. I remember Zelda being on the top 30 list for years and no other game lasting that long. They even acknowledged this at some point in the magazine.

[@johnschultz1650]

I know I'm late to the comment section but I love this video. Great reminder of a time when I was at my happiest. Still miss Nintendo power

[@adamlawrence6074]

Love the video. Awesome job. Thorough coverage.

[@ayuloveappears]

As a kid I also chose Luigi most of the time. After a couple years, I found myself choosing Toad exclusively. Now I just use Mario.

[@karnagefails333]

Space Harrier I just don't play that and play Mario 3 instead.

[@DrBeef216]

Miyamoto has said that Doki Doki Panic had a lot of elements that he wanted to put into a Mario game anyways. It's a Mario game. No one cared back then. No one questioned anything. Everyone loved this game. It was only when it became common knowledge on the internet, and all these tool bags started turning their nose up at it for irrationally stupid reasons in videos and articles that other sheep started taking that opinion.

[@GlobalWarmingSkeptic]

Same experience. I didn't know until much later, sometime in the 2000s, that Mario 2 was created off of another game. All I knew as a kid was that it was different, but I only played Super Mario Bros before that, so to me it didn't mean anything except for more options, powerups, and levels. Also, gaming was different back then. Quality and content weren't as emphasized as challenge. Were you the kid who could claim you beat that game at school? To me, that was the big buzz and how games were designed.

[@nickfanzo]

Agreed. We loved mario 2 when it came out. And it was critically acclaimed.

[@Caffeinated_Warrior]

I was always into those fold-out posters that they included as a kid! Cool to see that they had these from the very beginning!

[@gamedad1984]

Wow great memories when i had these magazines back when i was 12 years old. Before the internet we just had Nintendo Power for tips and tricks. Great videos keep up the good work 😀👍🏼

[@SmittySahn]

I still regret selling my collection. I had 75 issues starting from issue #1, plus all the bonus/strategy guides/posters that came with them.

[@deku812]

Great review. I felt the same you did. Mario 2 was so different but at the time, we didn't have any expectations and just accepted it. I loved the atmosphere though and it didn't feel out of place when we moved from Mario 2 to 3. I again accepted the changes in 3.

[@Setsuken]

Thanks for doing this series.

[@videogameobsession]

I always loved this issue. Back in the day I used to send in multiple Free Issue mail-in cards back to Nintendo, all with different names on them. All said and done I received 13 issues of #1. Though, I never hoarded them. Instead I'd bring them to school and hand them out to friends. Many of them even bought a subscription so I did Nintendo a great service. :) If you look closely on the ad for NP you will see the first issue with a cover which is illustrated and not modeled in clay.

[@stevetb7777]

Wow, what a trip down memory lane. Thanks! I had this issue.. I remember all the artwork.. I spent so much time reading it and rereading it. =D And I eventually had all of those games. I had no idea about the chip shortage. I was a lucky Contra owner. Bionic Command forever! That was one of the greatest games ever.. luckily I had it as a child.

[@arcadeutopia3035]

Your videos are amazing

[@shakedown2770]

This video was awesome. Thank you. Please do more

[@tolust]

YES YES YES !!!! this is amazing , love this so much ! bonus its an hour long. I can't even tell how you i enjoy your magazine videos. Whats the next one ? GamePro , EGM ?

[@MethosChannel]

My step-dad was the #1 to become a member in the Nintendo club in sweden. He have saved everything, the card that said like "Member #001", a congratz card that he's the first one.

[@tangojamo6929]

yeah, I remember when some people would call their games "tapes". That was usually a dead giveaway that they were casuals, and by that I mean that their library of games was usually a handful of real stinkers. Tapes was more used for cassette or VCR tapes, at least in my vocabulary at the time. Great video. I remembered every turn of the page like it was yesterday. I think I was 12. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[@Redfoot138]

By summer of 1988 my NES was not working so well after just 15 months. I guess it probably just needed a good cleaning and I think I was keeping it on the carpet of my room. For my 12th birthday I ended up getting a second NES that came with the Player's Guide. It came with some stickers and I put them on my skateboard. How 80's is that? Also, I was a little miffed that I got a subscription to Nintendo Power in June 1988 but all my friends got that first issue free a couple of weeks before me. So in essence, I paid for the "free poster" inside?

[@karnagefails333]

Redfoot138 The stone cold stare of Mike Haggar.

[@brandonhughes4450]

ive seen someone with clay make the marios .but i died since.

[@littleterr0r]

My friend recently got Marble Madness for the Genesis and the arcade style stick controllers that he has for the system definitely make it much easier to control than on the NES.

[@karnagefails333]

Matt Terror NES Advantage works pretty good.

[@littleterr0r]

Karnage Fails That makes sense 👍

[@futuramayeah]

i thought the covers were sometimes photos of claymation models, like this one

[@Morishintaru]

This is really awesome! I wasn't sure how this would go, but... I hope you've more of a collection of NP for future episodes :)

[@CGQuarterly]

I do, but I would like to try to do them in order, and I am missing the next few issues. So right now I am trying to get my hands on NP issue #2. I have other magazines to do videos on, though. I like to jump around. Anyway, glad you liked it!

[@Morishintaru]

Right on man, no rush. I'm a bit indifferent with long commentaries here on KZbin. I joined the channel because of your superb job via classic console retrospects. But I'll check out your other read-a-longs. Keep doing what you're doing!

[@DerekLFoster]

The beginning with you on the iPad really shows how times have changed. A sleek new tablet next to a well read faded magazine

[@CGQuarterly]

Never even thought about it like that, but an astute observation!

[@danielchapman6666]

I just got the sample copy. I noticed after page number 105 my next two pages are numbered 131 and 132. I noticed on yours I think the next two pages were 124 and 125. Mine is exactly the same as yours with no missing pages.

[@sloppynyuszi]

That Martini livery was the best Williams livery since their Rhottmans days from the mid 90s

[@Crimson_Logic]

Really enjoyed this episode

[@susanfit47]

The Pak Watch sections showcased games that were scheduled for released. It gave a reader a quick glance at future games. The games seen in these sections included Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Terra Credits, 1943: The Battle of Midway, the unreleased games Empire City: 1931 and Chesterfield, Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode, The Adventure of Link, Jackal, World Games, RoboCop, Blaster Master, Lee Trevino's Fighting Golf, Xenophobe, Platoon, Marble Madness, Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, Life Force and California Games.

[@bnz0_]

great episode. love watching these!

[@sanny87]

What an excellent channel you run. Thank you for your videos.

[@CGQuarterly]

Thanks, bud.

[@littleterr0r]

My dad and I use to play Ice Hockey all the time and the "No Goalie" code was actually a pretty fun way to get even more out the game. Not something we'd do very often, but a fun diversion once in a while.

[@littleterr0r]

Same exact feelings about Metal Gear as a kid. Cool atmosphere and that awesome ad in Nintendo Power but I had no idea what I was doing.

[@SynopsisGrim]

11:15 to 11:59 The clown face in the upper left corners eerily resemble what would later become the floatation device Bowser uses in the final boss battle in Super Mario World. I wonder if that was pure coincidence or if there was a deliberate connection.