Retro Magazine Covers

This is the cover of XBM magazine, an unofficial UK magazine for Xbox gaming, issue nine, priced at £3.20. The main focus is a world-exclusive feature on Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb, with an image of Indiana Jones wearing his iconic fedora and jacket. Other highlighted games include Buffy the Vampire Slayer (reviewed), Black & White, TOCA Race Driver, Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, and Enclave. There are also bold announcements about "over 100 Xbox games inside" and chances to win an Xbox, alongside sections for reviews and news.

XBM

Issue 09

August 2002

A Chinese magazine cover titled "游戏机实用技术" (Game Console Practical Technology), issue number 45, dated December 2001. The central artwork features a striking, stylized illustration of a male character resembling Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid 2, rendered in a dramatic red and black ink style. The cover includes bold text highlighting topics like Xbox news, game guides, and feature articles, with specific mention of "MGS2" (Metal Gear Solid 2) strategies.

Ultra Console Game

Issue 45

December 2001

This is a cover of "Super Game Power," a Brazilian gaming magazine from January 1995, prominently featuring Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong from the game Donkey Kong Country. The headline advertises "32 Mega até o fim" (32 Mega until the end), highlighting the game's technical prowess, alongside other features on titles like Aero the Acrobat 2, Shining Force II, Earthworm Jim, and Samurai Shodown II. The colorful layout includes bold yellow and white text over a dark background, with an image of Donkey Kong smiling while Diddy Kong points enthusiastically atop his back.

SuperGamePower

Issue 10

January 1995

The August 1999 issue of Australian PlayStation prominently features Quake II with a menacing monster character on the cover, alongside the tagline "Be Very Afraid." Key highlights include previews of Ace Combat 3, an inside look at Squaresoft's upcoming projects, and a special report on the future of 2D PlayStation games. The issue also advertises a demo CD with games like Gex: Deep Cover Gecko and mentions titles such as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and 007 Tomorrow Never Dies.

Australian Station

Issue 04

August 1999

The cover of Amiga Game Zone, the first issue of "America's Only Amiga Games Magazine," features a menacing alien with glowing red eyes and sharp fangs as its centerpiece. Highlighted games include Pinball Fantasies CD32, Oscar AGA, and Hired Guns, with screenshots showcasing their unique visuals. Bold headlines like "Alien Attack!" promote Alien Breed 2, and a "Special CD32 Section" is advertised with reviews of ten titles.

Amiga Game Zone

Issue 01

January/February 1994

This image is a 1997 issue cover of SEGA Magazine, a Japanese gaming publication. The cover prominently features three iconic SEGA characters: Sonic the Hedgehog, Knuckles the Echidna, and Tails (Miles Prower), standing in a dynamic, forward-facing pose. Sonic, positioned on the left, has a confident, determined expression and is pointing forward with his gloved hand. Knuckles, in the center, has his arms crossed and an intense look, conveying his tough and stoic personality. Tails, on the right, looks cheerful and is holding his gloved hands up, showing excitement. The top of the magazine reads "SEGA Magazine" in bold white and blue letters, with the phrase "Official Magazine of SEGA" written in English at the very top. The issue date "1997, July-August" and the price of 300 yen are shown on the top right, along with the SEGA logo and the publisher, SoftBank. Japanese text runs vertically along the left side and also appears near the bottom and right sides, highlighting various articles inside. These articles reference different SEGA games and features, such as "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" and "Last Bronx." The color scheme is bright and energetic, with a yellow background that contrasts with the characters' vibrant colors, creating a lively and eye-catching cover.

Sega Magazine

Issue 08

July/August 1997

This is the cover of a Japanese gaming magazine titled "Power Gamer" from September 1994, which features artwork focused on the game Virtua Fighter. The central image showcases characters from Virtua Fighter, with the main character, Akira Yuki, prominently in the foreground in a martial arts stance. He is wearing a white gi with a black headband, surrounded by various fighters from the game, each depicted in a distinct fighting pose. Above the artwork, the title “Power Gamer” is written in large, bold yellow letters with a metallic sheen. The rest of the cover features Japanese text, promotional information about SEGA games, and a list of articles within the issue, all presented in vibrant colors typical of '90s game magazines.

Power Gamer

Issue 1

September 1994

This is a magazine cover from "Nintendo World" featuring the video game Okami. The central artwork is of the protagonist of Okami, a white wolf-like figure named Amaterasu, which is drawn in a traditional Japanese brushstroke art style. The wolf is depicted mid-leap, with flowing lines around its body, symbolizing motion and spiritual power. There are red markings on its body, typical of the character's design, and a fierce, open-mouthed expression. The background of the cover has a soft, icy blue palette with swirling patterns and trees, evoking a mystical and wintry atmosphere. Above the logo, there is a headline referring to the Nintendo DS games Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles and Ninja Gaiden DS, indicating they are highlights for this issue. The text reads: "Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles & Ninja Gaiden DS: Chegam para provar que o DS está em sua melhor fase" (Arriving to prove that the DS is in its best phase). The prominent text below the image of Amaterasu reads: "Fãs de Zelda ganham o melhor RPG de ação do Wii," which translates to "Zelda fans get the best action RPG on the Wii," implying that Okami is being marketed to Zelda fans. Other smaller headlines mention games like Sega Superstar Tennis, Destroy All Humans, Pro Evolution Soccer '08, and Bully. The magazine issue number is 110, with a price tag of R$8,90 in Brazilian currency, and it also has a seal indicating it is an official Nintendo publication.

Nintendo World

Issue 110

April 2008

The image is a cover from the Japanese gaming magazine "Arcadia" featuring "Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes." The main focus shows two prominent characters: Ryu from Capcom's "Street Fighter" series and Ken the Eagle from Tatsunoko's "Science Ninja Team Gatchaman." Ryu is standing with his arms crossed, wearing his signature white gi and red headband, while Ken is in his bird-like white and blue costume with a red beak-shaped visor. The background includes a blend of fire (behind Ryu) and light effects (behind Ken), signifying their opposing yet powerful abilities. The title is written in bold Japanese and English text, with "Tatsunoko vs. Capcom" prominently displayed, and the subtitle "Cross Generation of Heroes" underneath. There are smaller captions in Japanese, and the magazine promotes other game titles, including "Melty Blood Actress Again," a notable fighting game. The layout is dynamic and colorful, drawing attention to the featured crossover fighting game.

Arcadia

Issue 103

December 2008

All covers are sourced from Retromags.com. Check them out and give them some support if you want. They are a great resource to have for gaming magazine preservation.

The image is a magazine cover titled "How to Win at Home Video Games" by the editors of JoyStik Magazine. The design is from December 1982. It features a dark, eerie, monstrous face looming in the background with glowing green eyes. The monster's mouth is open, revealing sharp white fangs that appear to be about to bite into a video game cartridge in the foreground. The cartridge has pixelated graphics on its display, showing retro-style game characters, such as spaceships, aliens, and a humanoid figure, typical of early 1980s arcade games. The overall aesthetic of the cover is a blend of horror and classic gaming, with bold, hand-written-style white text overlaying the image. The design evokes a sense of suspense, linking video games with a dramatic, almost threatening allure. The magazine price ($2.95) and date (December 1982) are displayed at the top-right corner.

Joystik

Issue 3

December 1982

This image is a cover of Famitsu PS2 magazine from April 12, 2002. The cover prominently features characters from popular video games of the time, all rendered in colorful, anime-style art. 1. Top half of the cover: The title Famitsu PS2 is written in bold yellow and green letters, taking up the top third of the cover. A group of three characters from the game Wild Arms Advanced Third are positioned in the center. These characters include: A young man with green hair and glasses, holding a large futuristic weapon. A girl with brown hair in a ponytail, dressed in blue armor, holding a gun, with a determined expression. A silver-haired character behind them, also dressed for battle, and holding a weapon. 2. Text: The text on the cover is in Japanese, with bright colors such as yellow, white, and green. The primary articles include mentions of popular games like Wild Arms, Xenosaga Episode I, Kingdom Hearts, Armored Core 3, and Onimusha 2. In the lower left, a big mention of "Onimusha 2" (鬼武者2) is displayed, indicating a major feature on this game. 3. Additional Elements: The price of the magazine is listed as 520 yen, and a logo of a bird wearing sunglasses, which is associated with the Famitsu brand, is shown near the top left. There is a mix of smaller text on the right side promoting other gaming-related articles and reviews. The cover art emphasizes action and adventure games popular on the PlayStation 2 in 2002, using dynamic poses and vibrant colors to catch the reader’s eye.

Famitsu PS2

Issue 121

April 2002

EGM Brasil

Issue 14

May 2003

This is the cover of a July 1994 issue of "Megazone," an Australian magazine dedicated to Sega gaming. It features articles on "Pete Sampras Tennis," a guide to "Sonic 3," and other games like "Lunar" and "Subterrania," with a focus on saving money on software and a contest to win new J-Carts.

MegaZone

Issue 41

July 1994

Xtreme PC

Issue 42

April 2001

Club Nintendo

Issue 8

July 1992

Игромания (Igromania)

Issue 63

December 2002

Q64

Volume 3

Fall 1998

Electronic Gaming Monthly

Issue 42

January 1993