Very fond memories of magazines of old.
Electronic Games was pretty much the first magazine that I read as a kid. Reading about ColecoVision games and the like that were all looking so... compelling back then. Just seeing games that weren't set in space was a step up.
It's spiritual successor, Videogames & Computer Entertainment was outstanding until they went for a younger crowd and rebranded as Tips & Tricks. I loved the split VG&CE had between console and PC games at the time. Great contrast. See stuff like SMB3 alongside heavy hitters like Ultima 6 and Wing Commander. The July and August 1989 issues (I think) were great since I believe they are where I first encountered the TG-16 and next month, the Sega Genesis for the first time. They looked so futuristic!
Nintendo Power was basically crack on paper back when I was in school when it first hit. So many things discovered because of it... That Dragon Warrior strategy guide got me interested in renting the original game on the NES... and I kinda liked it.
Electronic Gaming Monthly hit about a year after NP and was just awesome with the coverage. I had never known or seen so many games that existed. Superb console focus. Those issues later on in the 90's around Christmas were insane. Of course, their aping of Famitsu's review style wasn't a bad idea. So many days pouring over pictures and articles of DQ5 and 6, remakes of !,2 and 3... That never came here until a lifetime later...
Next Generation was very industry-focused and I loved the high quality paper and the interviews with all the huge industry people was invaluable for someone wanting to know more about their favourite creators.
Gamefan was pure hype for an import fan and Japanese-focused game crowd. They had some of the most memorable layouts and pics I had seen in their reviews.
The Official Playstation Magazine was not too shabby either. Some great covers early on. The demo discs were worth the extra price. MGS, Silent Hill alone justified it for me. Of course, the mag itself was worth reading and I discovered some really great Playstation games because of it. (Alundra and Tomba for example.)
I just remember the anticipation of going to my local mall or book store and seeing the latest issue out. The trek home was full of promise and wonder over what I was out to read and what new games were coming, or how new releases fared with critics.
Once the internet came into mainstream existence though, the writing was on the wall for game mags. Just couldn't keep up with the speed of modern internet, giving daily doses of news and more, updated in real time. I did buy the last ever issue of Nintendo Power, even though I hadn't been a subscriber since about 1998. It definitely wasn't the mag I remember but I thought it fitting as probably the last game mag I buy would be one of the very first ones I bought myself as a child.
I'm glad there are archives of various ones online. It's a real trip down memory lane re-reading some of these again.
