After nearly three hundred issues, Nintendo Power has finally come to an end. To send this long-running periodical off in style, the Cover Critic has decided to review every single issue. Join him as he experiences every aspect of Nintendo's journey through their magazine covers.

For the few of you who have been following me on this journey, you will know that Mega Man has starred in a number of my favorite Nintendo Power covers. His first cover, supporting Mega Man II, is on the short list of best magazine covers of all time. Not just Nintendo Power, but all magazines. Now the blue bomber is back, and boy does he have big shoes to fill.

While it's nowhere near as exhilarating as that first issue, this Mega Man in Dr. Wily's Revenge cover is great in its own way. Not unlike the Battletoad's design, somebody is missing on this cover. Thankfully, this time around the absent Mega Man is on purpose. This is, after all, Dr. Wily's revenge. Perhaps this spells a renewed vision for Nintendo Power cover design.

Based on what I'm seeing here, Dr. Wily's plan involves creating a large suit and driving through forests until he finds his prey. Where are his robot minions? Are they already at their destination because he's slow, or will he eventually need to double back and pick them up? Either way, I am suddenly super into knowing what Dr. Wily would be like on a long road trip. (My guess is that he's really into singing show tunes.)

This hand-crafted model is a throwback to that Mega Man II issue, which gives me hope that we may continue to see a line of beautifully sculpted models based on future sequels and spin-offs. It doesn't matter that there aren't any explosions, it's fun to look at one of Wily's vehicles brought to life. This is a return to form after the depressing Mega Man III design.