Before the Internet kept everyone in the loop, gamers relied on magazines to keep them informed of the latest trends and upcoming games. Chief among them was Nintendo Power, a publication whose first issue dropped way back in 1988.
I can fondly recall being at the mall with my aunt once and spotting the first issue of Nintendo Power. I was mesmerized by the clay models of Mario and Bowser on the front cover and even more entranced by the map of the second quest of The Legend of Zelda. Ahhh, the good ole day...
Truth be told, the nostalgia section of my brain has tried a few times to convince me to purchase the first issue on eBay (I never got it as a kid) but the high price tag (around $100 for a copy in good condition) has kept me at bay.
Now, thanks to Nintendo and the Internet Archive, I have no reason to purchase the first issue (or any issue spanning the subsequent decade+) as the first 13 years of Nintendo Power have been published online for all to enjoy.
As you'll see, early issues of Nintendo Power were as much strategy guide as they were informative magazine about the gaming industry (at least, as it pertains to Nintendo). In retrospect, there's also plenty of other interesting content like the 1989 CES coverage in issue five and the techniques of the ninja in the Ninja Gaiden II Strategy Guide.