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.

File this under: Be careful what you wish for. If you'll recall, I've spent the last few issues complaining about the lack of original artwork. Far too often it feels like Nintendo Power is opting to use licensed art, ignoring their team of talented model makers, prop designers and drug takers. After months of griping, Nintendo Power finally took my suggestion and created an original piece of artwork for their Street Fighter II issue. Unfortunately, this ugly design has the distinction of being even more hideous than what Capcom vomited out.

This looks like the bad envelope art you used to see printed in the front of GamePro issues, not the cover of one of the largest magazines in America. This looks like the first draft at a design; right before a competent artist steps in to make it ready to be published. This hardly looks like the Guile I remember from Street Fighter II. Since when did the soldier have a blonde beard? And why is he the color of John Boehner and an Oompa Loompa?

This awful cover taunts us with its aggravating pun, promising "Hair-Raising Action." Get it, because Guile looks like Eraserhead and Christopher Reid from Kid 'N Play. But all this does is highlight that Nintendo Power couldn't even lay out this cover without the logo blocking part of Guile's hair. And don't forget that part of his shoe is out of frame. Oh, and did anybody else notice that it's not even the right style of haircut? After four years and 38 issues, you would think Nintendo Power would be better at this.