Official Nintendo Magazine April 2009 GTA Chinatown Wars Mario Luigi SKU 1467

Original The Official Nintendo Magazine – Issue 41, April 2009, published by Future.

This issue is heavily centred around Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for Nintendo DS, with distinctive full-cover illustrated artwork based on the game. The front cover uses the familiar GTA panel-style design with characters, vehicles, weapons and action scenes surrounding the large Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars logo. It is a particularly eye-catching Nintendo/GTA crossover issue and should appeal to collectors of Nintendo DS, Rockstar games and late-2000s gaming magazines.

The magazine contains a broad mix of Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS previews, reviews, features and game guides, with several notable releases represented.

Main Games & Characters Featured

The contents pages clearly show coverage of:

• Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars – Nintendo DS review
• Mario & Luigi RPG 3
• MadWorld
• Sonic and the Black Knight
• Pikmin
• LEGO Indiana Jones
• Don King Boxing
• Pro Evolution Soccer 09
• Mario Power Tennis
• Another Code R
• Mini Ninjas
• Mushroom Men
• Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
• The House of the Dead: Overkill
• Dead Space: Extraction
• Retro Game Challenge
• Blue Dragon Plus
• Big Bang Mini
• Elite Forces: Unit 77

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

One of the major attractions of this issue is its Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars coverage.

The contents page lists the game as a major Nintendo DS review and shows GTA artwork featuring one of the game's illustrated characters. The front cover is completely devoted to Chinatown Wars, using a montage of stylised characters and scenes closely associated with the game's distinctive comic-book presentation.

For a collector, this is a strong period piece from the Nintendo DS era, particularly because Grand Theft Auto was far less commonly associated with Nintendo systems than franchises such as Mario, Zelda or Pokémon.

Nintendo Wii Coverage

The Wii section includes previews and reviews for games such as:

Previews

• Let’s Tap
• Another Code R
• Mini Ninjas
• Marble! Balance Challenge

Reviews

• MadWorld
• Pro Evolution Soccer 09
• Sonic and the Black Knight
• Don King Boxing
• New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis
• Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers
• The Munchables
• Ready 2 Rumble Revolution
• Winter Sports 2009
• Rogue Trooper: Quartz Zone Massacre
• Samurai Shodown Anthology
• The King of Fighters Collection
• Opoona
• ClayFighter
• Sonic Chaos
• Onslaught
• Castlevania Judgment

Nintendo DS Coverage

The Nintendo DS section includes:

Previews

• Mario & Luigi RPG 3
• Moon
• Retro Game Challenge

Reviews

• Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
• Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure
• Blue Dragon Plus
• Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
• Moto Racer DS
• Big Bang Mini
• Elite Forces: Unit 77

Features

The issue also contains several substantial editorial features, including:

• Stats Entertainment – looking at which Wii games are being played the most
• Join The Revolution! – coverage relating to WiiWare development
• The Making Of... The LEGO Series
• New Play Control: Pikmin game guide
• Nintendo news, letters, interviews and regular editorial sections
• Wii and Nintendo DS Games A–Z reference listings

The contents imagery includes LEGO Indiana Jones, Pikmin, Sonic, Grand Theft Auto artwork and additional contemporary Nintendo titles, giving the magazine a very representative snapshot of Nintendo gaming in early 2009.

Magazine Details

Publication: The Official Nintendo Magazine
Issue: 41
Full Date: April 2009
Publisher: Future
Main Cover Game: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Platform Focus: Nintendo Wii / Nintendo DS
Language: English
Original Cover Price: £3.99

Condition

Pre-owned magazine in good overall used condition, with photographs showing the actual item offered.

Visible condition points include:

• Front cover remains clean, bright and strongly coloured.
• GTA Chinatown Wars artwork and title remain clear and highly presentable.
• Light general surface rubbing and handling marks are visible on the covers.
• Some minor wear is present along the outer edges and corners.
• Spine shows light storage/handling wear but appears intact.
• Small signs of rubbing are visible around the lower spine and bottom edges.
• There appears to be a light vertical handling/pressure mark towards the lower portion of the front cover.
• Interior pages shown remain clean, colourful and clearly readable.
• Centre and inner pages appear properly attached.
• No obvious writing, heavy staining or major tears can be seen in the supplied photographs.
• Rear cover is present and features a large illustrated advertisement with a man beside a motorcycle.
• Rear cover appears generally clean with only light handling/storage wear.
• Magazine retains a good, flat overall shape for its age.

A solid collector’s copy with particularly desirable Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars cover artwork and strong Nintendo DS/Wii-era content.

SKU 1467