Nintendo Power #33: February 1992 - TMNT III: Manhattan Project

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.

D+
Back in November, when I reviewed Nintendo Power #25, I noted that the Battletoads cover lacked Toad, one of the main characters. At the time, I specifically asked (and preceded to answer) this question: "Do you think the long-running magazine would do that to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? No, they definitely wouldn't."

It certainly didn't take long for Nintendo to prove me wrong. As it turns out, Nintendo Power has no problem creating a cover with only a fraction of the mutant turtles. He were see two of the four turtles, including Raphael in a pose and Donatello peeking out from underneath a sewer lid. Were Leonardo and Michelangelo too busy pouring cereal on pizza to show up for the photo shoot?

This cover could use a couple more turtles. The foggy night isn't nearly as compelling as the Final Fantasy II cover and there doesn't appear to be much happening. With buildings miles away, this cover makes it look like Raphael is posing in the world's largest parking lot. The cover tells us to "Dive into big city action," but it looks like these four hero turtles still have a long journey to get to the big city.

While Leonardo and Michelangelo shied away from Nintendo Power's glare, this cover does have a very famous cameo. In the distance you can see the World Trade Center, still nine long years away from being knocked to the ground. Not even the nostalgia of the standing towers is enough to make up for this lackluster artwork. It's a step up from Nintendo Power's first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cover, but not much.