Nintendo Power
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Nintendo Power is an official print and online publication created and distributed by Nintendo. It started in August, 1988 as a subscription based magazine by an in-house journalism department at Nintendo of America. The magazine was a spiritual successor to the Nintendo Fun Club, which lasted for seven issues and was canceled in favor of its followup. Nintendo Power specifically provided new and upcoming information and content relating to the company, their games, reviews, and game strategies. Future US, the American branch of British publisher Future, took over production in December, 2007 with Nintendo still overseeing in a producing role. The Magazine was officially discontinued on December 2012 after 285 issues. The brand was revived on December 20, 2017 with the Nintendo Power Podcast, with new installments being made to this day. The podcast is run by many of the same staff that worked on the original magazine, and serves a similar function, albeit in a less formal fashion.
Several issues featured content from from the Super Smash Bros. series, including development coverage and guides on features and how to play. Super Smash Bros. Melee even received a full Player's Guide upon release.
In the Super Smash Bros. series
Super Smash Bros.
Issue 119
Nintendo Power first covered the Smash series in issue 119, first released in April 1999. A blurb on the cover explains that content is in the issue, and the table of contents says the Super Smash Bros. coverage starts on page 24. From said page until page 32, the magazine gives an abridged rundown of the game, including most game modes, controls, items, and every character's basic moveset.
Pages 98 and 99 are a two-page spread for advertising a Super Smash Bros. themed Player's Poll Contents. Readers are encouraged to mail in the enclosed postcard for a chance to win. 50 third prize winners received a Nintendo Power T-shirt. 5 second prize winners received one of 50 free games of their choice, each one starring a fighter in Super Smash Bros. One grand prize winner received a copy of Super Smash Bros. and all 50 games and the consoles they came on, which included NES, SNES, Gameboy, Virtual Boy, and Nintendo 64.
Issue 120
The game was properly reviewed on Page 125 on the Now Playing section. All scores are rated out of 10. Graphics received a 7.8. Play Control received an 8.2. Game design received a 7.7. Satisfaction received a 7.3. Sound received a 7.7. The game as a whole received a 7.7.
Gallery
Cover to Nintendo Power #119
Page 24
Page 25
Page 26
Page 27
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
Page 31
Page 32
Page 98
Page 99
Issue 120, Page 125
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Issue 151
Melee is featured as the main topic on the cover, marking the first time a Smash game is on a Nintendo Power cover. The table of contents on page 8 is themed around Melee. Page 30 through 38 is an abridged guide to the game, including brief summaries of various game elements, including modes, base roster fighters, techniques, items, classic mode, adventure mode and adventure mode. The issue does not go into great detail on any of these topics and keeps unlockable portions of the game a secret.
The game is reviewed on Page 166. The rating system has changed since the review of SSB to have the same categories that are now rated out of 5 stars. Every category received 5 stars.
Player's Guide
Melee received a dedicated Player's Guide that released around the same time as the launch in North America. The guide takes the same general topics from issue 151 and goes much farther in depth with them.
Gallery
Cover to Nintendo Power #151, highlighting Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Page 30 & 31
Page 32 & 33
Page 34 & 35
Page 36 & 37
Page 38 & 39
Page 166
Cover of the Melee Player's Guide
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Issue 222
Brawl is featured on the cover, marking the second and final time a Smash game appears on the cover of the magazine.
Smash Files
The Smash Files were a series of articles in Nintendo Power that briefly covered all of the confirmed characters in Super Smash Bros. Brawl at the time one by one in most issues from #206 to #221.
Gallery
Cover of issue 222, featuring Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Snake's Smash File in volume #206
Mario's Smash File in volume #207
Pit's Smash File in volume #208
Kirby's Smash File in volume #209
Wario's Smash File in volume #210
Pikachu's Smash File in volume #211
Meta Knight's Smash File in volume #212
Link's Smash File in volume #213
Fox's Smash File in volume #214
Samus' Smash File in volume #215
Zero Suit Samus' Smash File in volume #216
Yoshi's Smash File in volume #220
Diddy Kong's Smash File in volume #221
Super Smash Bros. 4
Due to being officially announced after the release of the final issue, Smash 4 was not featured by Nintendo Power in print.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Nintendo Power Podcast
Episode 8 of the Nintendo Power Podcast talks extensively about Ultimate. At the 42:29 mark, the members talk about the announcement from the Nintendo Direct that occurred days before. They specifically talked about their reactions to the newly announced characters and gameplay features.
Episode 12 was the Fan-Favorite Games of 2018 episode, where games won awards for different categories. Ultimate won best multiplayer game. All nominees for most hype moment were related to Ultimate, with the winner being with the World of Light trailer winning. Ultimate won for game of the year, best looking game, and best soundtrack, while King K. Rool won character of the year.
Episode 15 talks extensively about Joker's inclusion as the first DLC character.
Episode 17 talks about the E3 reveals of both Hero and Banjo & Kazooie.
Episode 22 talks extensively about Terry's inclusion as a DLC character.
