History YMMV / NintendoPower

* RetroactiveRecognition: Not one of their staffers, but a reader - in the 1988 issue, the top score for ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1'' was held by one Cliff Bleszinski (who would later go on to develop games like ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar'' and ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament'')[[note]]in case you're curious, his score was 9,999,950[[/note]].

* EightPointEight:
** NP got ''a lot'' of letters about their 9.5 out of 10 score for ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', hordes of fans insisting it deserved a perfect 10.[[note]]At the time, only ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'', ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine'', ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'', and ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' had ever earned a perfect score, and NP noted that even ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'', the only game to top all of those in their official list of the 200 greatest games, had also been given a 9.5 out of 10.)[[/note]]
** Even the mag's own staffers got in on it, as it was frequently pointed out that a large amount of them felt ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' deserved a 10 instead of the 9.5 it got.
** [[{{Inuniverse}} Lampshaded]] in their review of ''VideoGame/DragonBallZBudokaiTenkaichi 2''. The review had two scores: "''Anime/DragonBallZ'' fans: 10. Everyone else: 5.5."
** The review system in TheNineties actually went through some pains to avert this. At the beginning of the review section was a breakdown of how much each aspect of a game -- graphics, gameplay, sound, etc. -- was weighted, and each reviewer gave a list of which genres they preferred most to least. Each game was given a a score from 0.0 to 10.0 in terms of separate categories, and an overall score from each reviewer, which was then averaged to give the final rating. With such a detailed system, one could understand how a game like ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'' could get a score of 7.3 and still be hailed by reviewers as a great game.

* NightmareFuel: The infamous ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaIISimonsQuest Castlevania II]]'' cover, which had a graphic picture of [[http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/9/93998/2298471-magazine_nintendo_power_castlevania_ii_simons_quest_v1_2_1988_9_page_2.jpeg Simon Belmont holding Dracula's severed head]], his heart and eyes cut out in the background. Many angry parents called and wrote letters saying that it gave their children nightmares. ''NP'', on the other hand, considers it one of their crowning achievements. Note that this was only their ''second issue''. [[{{Franchise/Castlevania}} Simon Belmont's]] {{Memetic Badass}}ery stems from this cover!

** In their 100th issue, they listed ''VideoGame/ShaqFu'' at number 3, saying it "is not humanly possible to come up with a worse idea than this". 21 years later, the game gets a sequel ([[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel albeit one thats considered an improvement on the original]]).

** The 2008 April Fool's issue included a section on ''Mushroom Kingdom Hearts'', a made-up crossover between ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' and ''Franchise/KingdomHearts''. In 2021, Sora would finally cross over with Mario when he was revealed as the final DLC fighter in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''.[[note]]Though none of the Disney elements of ''Kingdom Hearts'' would be brought over with him.[[/note]]

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: Reading old issues will obviously feel like this. Also, the focus on printing game strategies, until 2005, gave the magazine a distinctly 90s feel, i.e. from before Internet usage was so widespread that someone could find these strategies easily on the web.

* CriticalResearchFailure: One Mario joke said that Mario can see into the future by using a Luigi board. Apparently the fan that submitted it wasn't aware that Ouija boards are used to contact spirits, not see into the future!
* EnsembleDarkhorse:
** Alan Averill. He was still referenced by writers and readers alike years after he had left the writing staff, all because he refused to show his face and insisted on depicting himself as [[VideoGame/DragonQuest a Slime]].
** Nester, who got his own video game at one point.

* FunnyAneurysmMoment:

* FridgeHorror: In the Howard and Nester comic about ''VideoGame/DejaVu''. Nester blows up Joey Siegel's car, as you can in the game. He's only [[AshFace comically dirty]] from the blast, but there's no sign of the kidnapped woman who was tied up in the trunk...

** The final issue also pointed out that one of their contest prizes was a role as an extra in ''Film/TheMask II'', which never got made. Thankfully, the winner was given cash as a substitute.

** As noted in NotSoDifferent, the writers have joked about the Nintendo-Sega partnership of the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} era has been turning the magazine into their old rival mag ''Sega Visions''.

** [[{{Inuniverse}} Lampshaded]] in their review of ''Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2''. The review had two scores: "Dragon Ball Z fans: 10. Everyone else: 5.5."

** Some of the games the magazine previewed never made it to release or North America. ''VideoGame/FortyWinks'' is a prime example. It got a multi-page feature in a 2000 issue, but depending on who you ask, the N64 port was either cancelled, or released in ''very'' limited quantities. Though it's gotten a little better with the current owners of the game using Website/{{Kickstarter}} to give it a proper release, even if long after it was originally supposed to come out.

** A mock debate was held about whether [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid Solid Snake]] or [[VideoGame/KidIcarus Pit]] would be a better fighter in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Brawl'' after the trailer was released. One of the pro-Pit arguments was that Snake can't fly. Then Nintendo revealed Snake's moveset, specifically his Up+B attack.

* MagazineDecay: Although the magazine initially began as giving strategies and reviews for the most recent video games,it eventually focused mostly on news, with very little, if any, video game hints and strategies. Justified with the advent of the Internet and free, in-depth, fanmade guides, while ''Nintendo Power'' is able to put out exclusive news before any site can.

* NightmareFuel: The infamous ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaIISimonsQuest Castlevania II]]'' cover, which had a graphic picture of [[http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/9/93998/2298471-magazine_nintendo_power_castlevania_ii_simons_quest_v1_2_1988_9_page_2.jpeg Simon Belmont holding Dracula's severed head]], his heart and eyes cut out in the background. Many angry parents called and wrote letters saying that it gave their children nightmares. NP, on the other hand, considers it one of their crowning achievements. Note that this was only their ''second issue''. [[{{Franchise/Castlevania}} Simon Belmont's]] {{Memetic Badass}}ery stems from this cover!

** Steve Thomason, likely because of his Sega fanboyism. NP seems to be aware of this, [[TakeThatScrappy judging by the amount of jokes at his expense.]]
** In their own views, TheScrappy was [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Big the Cat]] and [[VideoGame/StarFox Slippy Toad]]. Readers who didn't sign their names in their letters got their names affixed to it. Earlier in the magazine's run, their stance on Big the Cat was that they just didn't like him. After the switch to Future Publishing, they dissed him in reviews for Sonic games where he doesn't even show up and expressed a desire for him [[DisproportionateRetribution to die in a fire]]...until a reader wrote in reminding them that Big's voice actor was the same that voices VideoGame/DukeNukem. Then they just wanted him in a coma.

** The "Classified" cheat code section originally was printed to look like a manila folder, as though one were being given dangerous secrets. After the redesign of the magazine in the later half of the 90's, Classified was changed to a black background, which displeased many fans. Luckily, the manila background returned when the Virtual Console debuted on the Wii, to give readers a bit of nostalgia.

** Some of the games the magazine previewed never made it to release or North America. ''VideoGame/FortyWinks'' is a prime example. It got a multi-page feature in a 2000 issue, but [[UrbanLegendOfZelda depending on who you ask]], the N64 port was either cancelled, or released in ''very'' limited quantities. Though it's gotten a little better with the current owners of the game using Website/{{Kickstarter}} to give it a proper release, even if long after it was originally supposed to come out.

* FridgeHorror: In the Howard and Nester coming about ''VideoGame/DejaVu''. Nester blows up Joey Siegel's car, as you can in the game. He's only comically dirty from the blast, but there's no sign of the kidnap victim who's stowed in the trunk...

** In their 100th issue, they listed ''VideoGame/ShaqFu'' at number 3, saying it "is not humanly possible to come up with a worse idea than this". 21 years later, the game gets a sequel ([[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel albiet one thats considered an improvement on the original]]).

** The running gag of deliberately calling [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Tails]] a "[[CowboyBebopAtHisComputer mutant squirrel]]", now that [[https://mobile.twitter.com/sonicstadium/status/480063168820293632 another magazine]] called him a squirrel with no hint of irony.

** NP got ''a lot'' of letters about their 9.5 out of 10 score for ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', hordes of fans insisting it deserved a perfect 10.[[note]]At the time, only ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'', ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine'', ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'', and ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' had ever earned a perfect score, and NP noted that even ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'', the only game to top all of those in their official list of the 200 greatest games, had also been given 9.5 out of 10.)[[/note]]

** NP got ''a lot'' of letters about their 9.5 out of 10 score for ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', hordes of fans insisting it deserved a perfect 10.[[note]]At the time, only ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'', ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine'', ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'', and ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' had ever earned a perfect score, and NP noted that even ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'', the only game to top [=RE4=] in their official list of the 200 greatest games, had also been given 9.5 out of 10.)[[/note]]

** In their 100th issue, they listed ''VideoGame/ShaqFu'' at number 3, saying it "is not humanly possible to come up with a worse idea than this". 21 years later, the game gets a sequel.

** The running gag of deliberately calling [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Tails the Fox]] a "[[CowboyBebopAtHisComputer mutant squirrel]]", now that [[https://mobile.twitter.com/sonicstadium/status/480063168820293632 another magazine]] called him a squirrel with no hint of irony.

** The final issue also pointed out that one of their contest prizes was a role as an extra in ''Film/TheMask II'', which never got made.

** Some of the games the magazine previewed never made it to release or North America. ''VideoGame/FortyWinks'' is a prime example. It got a multi-page feature in a 2000 issue, but [[UrbanLegendOfZelda depending on who you ask]], the N64 port was either cancelled, or released in ''very'' limited quantities.

** The "Classified" cheat code section originally was printed to look like a manila folder, as though one were being given dangerous secrets. After the redesign of the magazine in issue 195, Classified was changed to a black background, which displeased many fans. Luckily, the manila background returned when the Virtual Console debuted on the Wii, to give readers a bit of nostalgia.