The first one I vaguely remember reading is the review of Pokemon Firered in Nintendo official magazine which was September 2004. I think they scored it in the high 80s, low 90s. I tried finding the review online but I can't anywhere,
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What was the first video game review you ever remember reading?
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It almost certainly wasn't the first but it was a review for Zack and Wiki on the Wii. The front cover of the magazine advertised it as a new 3d platformer or something like that and then in the review they admitted they lied because they wanted as many people as possible to read about the game.
I'm sure there were others before it in passing, but I was absolutely HOOKED on Pokemon when this magazine showed up at Blockbuster:
I read it from cover to cover like three times in the store over the course of three weeks, and finally convinced my mom to get it for me. It was my first "grown up" magazine after having things like Highlights for Children and whatnot before. I was in... 4th grade, I think. Convinced my mom to get be a subscription a couple months later, and kept until NP went out of print many, many years later. So yeah - all the reviews at the back of this issue.
I still have it. I'm not kidding, I've read that entire issue probably a dozen times over the years. It's one of my greatest tools to experience nostalgia.
I read it from cover to cover like three times in the store over the course of three weeks, and finally convinced my mom to get it for me. It was my first "grown up" magazine after having things like Highlights for Children and whatnot before. I was in... 4th grade, I think. Convinced my mom to get be a subscription a couple months later, and kept until NP went out of print many, many years later. So yeah - all the reviews at the back of this issue.
I still have it. I'm not kidding, I've read that entire issue probably a dozen times over the years. It's one of my greatest tools to experience nostalgia.
Probably from video games and computer entertainment.
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VideoGames & Computer Entertainment Issue 3
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The first thing I remember reading with game reviews was this issue of Computer Gaming World from 1997:
I got it because it had the Star Wars cover. I eventually was able to get the Star Wars collection advertised on page 94, and Tie Fighter remains my favorite game of all time. I remember reading about Rebellion and wanting it so badly too, but never got it.
EDIT: Flipping through it... there's a Gamespot ad on page 300. I had no idea they advertised in print magazines!
Computer Gaming World Issue 150 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Computer Gaming World Issue 150
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I got it because it had the Star Wars cover. I eventually was able to get the Star Wars collection advertised on page 94, and Tie Fighter remains my favorite game of all time. I remember reading about Rebellion and wanting it so badly too, but never got it.
EDIT: Flipping through it... there's a Gamespot ad on page 300. I had no idea they advertised in print magazines!
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It was EGM issue 2 or 3. EGM's review crew used to be brutal, with scores in the 2s and 3s. I was pretty shocked. I was like, "so are all games garbage?"
I ain't got a clue honestly. But I do recall reading a review or preview for Sly Cooper, then renting it from Hollywood video the next morning.
I started reading EGM in the late 90s, then online sites such as Gamespot and IGN.
I started reading EGM in the late 90s, then online sites such as Gamespot and IGN.
I honestly have no clue. I remember I had a GamePro subscription for a year or two when I was around 8 years old circa 2003, so probably something in there.
I believe this is the first gaming mag I read, a 1990 issue of CVG a friend brought into school:
So it would have been one of these:
Would have been cool if it was Turrican or Thunderforce III but I doubt it lol. Probably never read that kick off 2 review, as I bought that turd of a game (well, the first one) on the NES the next year
So it would have been one of these:
Would have been cool if it was Turrican or Thunderforce III but I doubt it lol. Probably never read that kick off 2 review, as I bought that turd of a game (well, the first one) on the NES the next year
Got given this book many, many years ago:
I think I still have a copy of this somewhere lol
OP
OP
No clue but it was definitely GamePro in the Genesis/SNES era.
They all look like Brad Shoemaker to me.
I'm sure it wasn't actually the first I read, but the first I can remember was for Mystic Quest. I remember that they basically warned that it wasn't really a Final Fantasy game, so I rented it instead of buying it.
I remember I picked that up in a pawn shop for £3 lol. It was simple, but pretty fun. Loved the enemy sprites changing when they got more damaged, and the soundtrack, which is up there with the best FF soundtracks imo
I know I read reviews throughout my childhood, but the first one I remember was Skeleton Warriors getting a 7 from either GamePro or Game Informer. I think it was on Saturn. I really loved all those shows and games that were just based on kids' toys and Skeleton Warriors was no exception.
Something in this issue of GamePro. I got a subscription for my 10th birthday and was ridiculously excited.
That said, I'd also had a subscription to Nintendo Power, but did that even contain reviews? Or if it did, did it ever contain a negative review? Their whole operation was about pushing people to buy every Nintendo game they featured, not telling them which games were good or bad.
Not exactly sure but I think it was a small Budokai Tenkaichi 3 review, I was so excited I asked for a PS2 for Christmas just to play that game. Good times
It would have been one in the first issue of SU I owned, so looking through the archives of that first issue (the one released just before Christmas '87) I think this is the one that rings a bell most readily:
Having just got a new Speccy, I seem to recall one of the first things I thought was "I must find the best games", and this was the first 5/5 in the issue so I paid attention.
Feel free to be amused about how dismissive they are about Donkey Kong, too. Well,it *was* 1987, DK was old-ish news and there had been dozens of unofficial ports prior to this.
Having just got a new Speccy, I seem to recall one of the first things I thought was "I must find the best games", and this was the first 5/5 in the issue so I paid attention.
Feel free to be amused about how dismissive they are about Donkey Kong, too. Well,it *was* 1987, DK was old-ish news and there had been dozens of unofficial ports prior to this.
That's a funny question, because I didn't care much about reviews back in the day. I bought magazines to read walkthroughs and tips for games I didn't even own. No idea which was my first review.
Probably something in my local versions of the Nintendo Power or Pokémon magazines. Maybe a Pokémon game.
Definitely not the first overall, but the earliest review I know I read was for Naruto Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 in Nintendo Power.
The first review I distinctly remember reading, was Military Madness for the TurboGrafx-16. That'd be 1989-ish? What publication would it have been back then, Computer and Video Games Magazine?
It's just a memory stuck with me from childhood because the game looked so intriguing and mysterious, plus I knew I'd never play it as my parents would never buy the console.
CVG was the best mag ever, on my life.
It's just a memory stuck with me from childhood because the game looked so intriguing and mysterious, plus I knew I'd never play it as my parents would never buy the console.
Holy shit just seeing those pictures actually took me back to 1990 and I have memories of reading that very magazine. I actually remember that Thunderforce III review. They had really good pictures, I had to have it.I believe this is the first gaming mag I read, a 1990 issue of CVG a friend brought into school:
So it would have been one of these:
Would have been cool if it was Turrican or Thunderforce III but I doubt it lol. Probably never read that kick off 2 review, as I bought that turd of a game (well, the first one) on the NES the next year
CVG was the best mag ever, on my life.
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I probably read a friend or cousin's Nintendo Power at some point before this, but the first gaming magazine I ever remember owning was GamePro #7 (31 years ago!). So, a review somewhere in there, more than likely.
I was entirely too into GamePro back in the day. I even had all the individual comic collections!
I was entirely too into GamePro back in the day. I even had all the individual comic collections!
I'm sure I read some before, but Donkey Kong Country 2 in Nintendo Power. I was so hyped after the first game, and its sequel obviously delivered in spades!