25 Years Gone By: The 25 Greatest GamePro Magazine Covers of All Time

Image via Complex Original

Issue: 265
Month/Year: October, 2010

Remember this issue? The preview to Gun Head Girl? Ok, so this illustration isn't really about a game called Gun Head Girl (although let's be real -- you know you'd give a game called Gun Head Girl a try), but it's still really cool and correlates with two really interesting articles in this issue. ("The Psychology of Shooters" and "The Science of Video Game Weapons.") Video games which feature a lot of gun use and gun violence are often criticized, but their relationship to gamers are rarely, if ever, explored. So it was cool that GamePro did this. (And once again, sorry for those that thought Gun Head Girl was real.)

Issue: 34
Month/Year: May, 1992

Such a cover is pretty laughable now, but back then so many kids probably pissed themselves because of this cover. But seriously, what was this guy chopping up? Aliens? Leprechauns? (Definitely the first one.) Although Splatterhouse 2 didn't end up leaving much of an impression upon its release, You've got to admit that this cover is kind of cool, especilly considering the times. The game's box art kills everything, though.

Issue: 79
Month/Year: February, 1996

Just in case you couldn't tell, that's the outline of Akuma. Clever, right? Exactly. Within Akuma's outline are characters we've come to love and associate with the Street Fighter series. Like, there's so many fighters. Aside from that this cover is pretty basic. But don't say that around these guys -- they'll leave you bloody and bruised.

Issue: 110
Month/Year: November, 1997

Whenever something features someone running through something with guns blazing, you know it's awesome. Plus, it's Lara Croft -- the pixelated heroine that was (and still is) the fantasy of men across the world. (Allen Covert can attest to that! You know, the grandma's boy from Grandma's Boy? Never mind.) Tomb Raider II's timing couldn't have been better; Lara Croft was at the height of her fame, and her image was even being used by U2. Yes...U2. And, most importantly, the game was a critical and commercial success, even receiving the prestigious (?) Playstation "Greatest Hits" indication. So, it only makes sense that this cover features Lara Croft at her most badass, and running towards her inevitable success. (Or something very bad. Or both.)

Issue: 164
Month/Year: April, 2002

What else were you expecting? Of course the cover is going to depict soldiers storming a beach a la the Normandy landings. Even the box art for Medal of Honor: Frontline is similar. This GamePro cover is basically a watercolor painting. Like, it deserves to be in some World War II museum, or as one of those really nice paintings in an old person's bathroom. Anyways, this cover is cool.

Issue: 190
Month/Year: June, 2004

What's not to like about this cover? Busta Rhymes is about to pull off a flawless victory on some nobody...while still wearing his bling. Nothing says badass quite like that. Def Jam: Fight for NY would feature an incredible roster of rappers, actors and actresses, including Snoop Dogg, Redman, Carmen Electra and Danny Trejo. But, most importantly, the game would allow players to beat the crap out of each other using their favorite rappers. The game was well received but is that really a surprise? Just look at the GamePro cover. You knew from that very minute this game would be dope.

Issue: 180
Month/Year: September, 2003

It's about time Konami tried their hands at a Rambo video game. Kidding guys, it's obviously Snake. As this GamePro cover illustrates, Snake's mission in Snake Eater find him in some forest where wildlife is rampant. Of course, MGS 3 covers a lot of territory, but the woodland is where most of the fun (read: death and misfortune) is. Anything with Snake is always bound to be worthwhile, and this preview of the game from GamePro only made us anticipate the game even more. Let's just hope that Snake's face isn't how it is because a leech made its way onto his leg. Leeches don't play around, man.

Issue: 101
Month/Year: February, 1997

Ah, Killer Instinct Gold: a good fighting game that, arguably, doesn't get the credit it deserves. Anyways, Killer Instinct Gold was an upgraded version of Killer Instinct 2 for the Nintendo 64 and, as you can see from this GamePro cover, this game was brutal. Spinal is lying on the ground, attempting to block a downward thurst from Tusk's sword. If only this cover featured Tusk summoning a meteor shower upon Spinal, then it would probably be in the top 10. (Ok, so maybe not the top 10, but don't front -- you know that would be cool.) But it doesn't. Also, are they fighting at Stonehenge?

Issue: 102
Month/Year: March, 1997

This cover is great for all of the wrong reasons. Like, look at this guy. He has a cannon for a hand, a mechanical leg and his intestines are visible. And to top it all off he looks kind of hungry. If this cover didn't give you nightmares then you're probably ready for the apocalypse. Doom 64 faired well against critics but didn't leave the same impression as its PC counterpart. At least its GamePro cover was on point.

Issue: N/A
Month/Year: Winter, 2011

Lists are what we live for, especially lists that pit some of our favorite fighters against each other. This particular issue of GamePro was a special collector's edition for obvious reason. The cover is cool and features everyone from Chun-Li and Scorpion to Link and Pikachu. (Pikachu looks a little too happy to be a part of a list of deadly fighters by the way. Kid friendly...sure.) Who came at number one? Do you really want to know? Well too bad, you'll have to buy the issue on eBay...for 14 dollars. (Just kidding. It's totally Chun-Li.)

Issue: 197
Month/Year: February, 2005

This is such a pretty cover. From pretty boy Vaan to the beautiful but intimidating Chocobo Vaan is riding on, the artwork is just as memorable as the game it's promoting. Final Fantasy XII would go on to become one of the best games of 2006, and GamePro even called the game "the best Final Fantasy game in nearly a decade" at the time. Sure, FF XII executive producer Akitoshi Kawazu might've felt that the game wasn't perfect, but obviously plenty of people across the world thought otherwise. So Vaan, please lower your weapon -- we're all on your side.

Issue: 215
Month/Year: August, 2006

What's not to like about a serious faced Sam Fisher skydiving? Most people would be focused on looking below, hoping they don't collide with a pole or pass out from shock. But Fisher is ice cold, staring at a GamePro reader as if to say, "I am a total badass, and yes I could kill you and no one would ever know." The cover reveals Fisher's new look for the game, as well as let's us know that he might be playing the field with two different groups. To change up the hook of a recent popular Chris Brown song: these secret agents ain't loyal.

Issue: 104
Month/Year: May, 1997

No matter how the game ended up turning out, this cover for The Lost World: Jurassic Park was pretty awesome. Like, does this guy actually think he can kill several dinosaurs with what appears to be a sword? And why would you show up to a dinosaur fight with nothing but a sword? Such questions foreshadowed just how problematic The Lost World would end up being, and even its seven levels of being able to play as a T-Rex couldn't save it. Oh well, at least this cover is cool.

Issue: 260
Month/Year: May, 2010

Creating an image through a collage of words is usually, if not always cool, and this cover does a good job of that. You can tell that Conviction is one of those games that is really going to dive into how Liam Neeson-esque (or Mel Gibson-esque, in reference to his role in Edge of Darkness) Sam Fisher can be, especially considering that his daughter allegedly died in Splinter Cell: Double Agent. So, it makes sense that this GamePro cover illustration for the game features Fisher's face made up of words such as "family," "trust," "promises" and other words. It's a creative image that pairs well with the dark feel and tone of the game. Plus, Fisher kind of looks like Gerard Butler here. (Right? Right? Whatever.)

Issue: 78
Month/Year: January, 1996

Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 gave the world Animalities aka the Fatality in which a character transformed into an animal and proceeded to eat, stab and kill their opponent. But this cover gives no hint towards such a historical moment in Mortal Kombat history. That's fine though -- the cover captures one of the game's most important aspects: its intensity. UMK3 would introduce new attacks, combos and many other things, as well as have a much darker tone than previous MK games, and this cover captures that. Seriously, Kitana must be on her a-game to not have gotten Scorpion's spear to the chest, because he's definitely trying to kill her. But if you happen to survive this fight Kitana, you might want to get that arm cleaned. Just saying.

Issue: 113
Month/Year: February, 1998

This cover is essentially a super surreal illustration of the first several seconds of Resident Evil 2, at least with the fire and undead hands surrounding what looks like Leon Kennedy. It's frightening and unsettling, as if to say, "If you thought Resident Evil was hell, well you're very, very, very wrong." As it turns out, the sequel to Resident Evil would be scary for its time, featuring a menacing killing machine that never talks, and a skinless monster that can kill you with its tongue. GamePro was right to put "Evil is good" underneath the Resident Evil 2 logo because it was a good game. Honestly, this cover is strangely poetic and essentially summarizes what the game is all about: even in hell there's a light waiting to be found...hopefully.

Issue: 148
Month/Year: January, 2001

People are falling into some blue unknown, some otherworldly tentacles are appearing from said blue unknown and a guy is fighting off those tentacles from said blue unknown with a crowbar. A crowbar. Forget the blue pit or alien tentacles. Why is it that all you have is a crowbar? For those that waited to give Half-Life a try when it came to PS2 and Dreamcast, such a question was finally answered, but even this cover (and the story that accompanied it) shed some light on what this game would be about. The Half-Life series has gone on to become an important part of video game history, but when viewing a cover as good as this are you really surprised of its success? Thought so.

Issue: 234
Month/Year: March, 2008

Just imagine: you just cleaned out a casino while trying to lay low because you're also involved in some illegal business. You take the elevator up to your penthouse suite that overlooks the Las Vegas strip, ready to light a cigar and Snapchat the new stacks of money you've acquired to your "associates." As you open the door you see someone in military gear shooting into your window. The jig is up. Although not anywhere near the premise for Vegas, this scenario works for the cover. You can see large, lit up buildings behind this man that's obviously on a mission, and who's probably bummed that he can't even do a quick round of Blackjack out of fear a terrorist organization may attack soon. It's a cool cover for an even cooler game. What more could you want?

Issue: 239
Month/Year: August, 2008

Any image that features something about to eat something else will always grab someone's attention. How many times have you clicked on a link with a picture of an anaconda eating a crocodile? Exactly. This cover's coolness is self-explanatory: a Chimera about to eat who we can assume is protagonist Nathan Hale. Just look at all of those glowing yellow eyes and messed up teeth. Maybe if the Chimeran race had better dental protection they'd be a lot less angry and destructive. Who knows? What is for sure is that this cover is just like the game its promoting: awesome.

Issue: 117
Month/Year: June, 1998

So much is right about this cover. Sure, the Mortal Kombat series was finally (and, arguably, unfortunately) moving into three dimensional territory, but this cover reassured us of one of our biggest concerns: Would Mortal Kombat 4 follow in the blody footsteps of its demented predecessors? Well, let's judge the cover by its, well, cover: Raiden holding new character Quan Chi by his throat while simultaneously electrocuting him and probably preparing to knock his head off with a large hammer. It's safe to say that Mortal Kombat 4 would follow in suit with previous games, featuring fatalities where people were thrown into fans, burned to death or squeezed to death. If only Midway had kept those live action endings to themselves...

Issue: 262
Month/Year: July, 2010

How can you not look at this cover and go "Wowe," in your best stoner voice? It has this half-Shepard Fairey, half-propaganda poster feel to it, with a member of the Helghast staring at something below them. (Maybe something they shot at considering there's smoke coming out of the Helghast member's weapon.) Plus, why would you not want to read about how James Cameron "helped shape the creative direction of Killzone 3"? If for some strange reason you truly didn't care for the cover, the least you could do is check out the story in honor of the man who made one of the greatest and saddest movies of all time: The Terminator. But seriously, how could you not like this cover?

Issue: 261
Month/Year: June, 2010

The artwork is nothing short of epic. Starkiller is pissed and unless getting sliced and diced is on your bucket list, it's probably best that you stay out of his way. Sure, the cover doesn't really give anything away, considering the game takes some unexpected turns (specifically towards the end). But that doesn't matter. What does matter is that this cover is incredible, and dual wielding lightsabers will never not be cool. This cover foreshadowed one of the most important aspects of The Force Unleashed 2: whether you choose the light path or the dark path, you'd still look like a complete badass no matter what.

Issue: 60
Month/Year: July, 1994

The artwork for this cover is gorgeous. The home versions of Super Street Fighter II had just dropped, and would go on to receive many accolades for being an incredibly fun fighting game. But this cover is important for a very obvious reason: dedicating its fifth anniversary to the late and great Bruce Lee. Just kidding, guys -- this cover is important for introducing us to four new characters a part of the Street Fighter series: Cammy, Dee Jay, Fei Long (did you get the joke?) and T. Hawk. And of course series protagonist and all around video game badass Ryu has to make an appearance, too.

Issue: 61
Month/Year: August, 1994

Just look at those eyes. Those glowing blue and white eyes of death. It's reassuring to know that Raiden -- aka Earthrealm's God of Thunder -- is on our side, but even then it'd still be foolish to cross him. (Unless getting electrocuted to a crisp sounds appealing to you, you masochist.) With home versions of Mortal Kombat II finally dropping, who better to make the face of the game's promotional run than Raiden? The cover hinted at the game's inevitable critical and commercial success, with it offering the blood, guts and glory not available in other fighting games at the time. The Mortal Kombat series was back for another round and if people weren't already interested in its return, then this memorable GamePro cover definitely helped out.

Issue: 124
Month/Year: January, 1999

Is it a surprise that the GamePro cover for Ocarina of Time took the number one spot? No? Ok, cool. It's such an awesome illustration: Link and Zelda (dressed up as Sheik) fighting off hordes of enemies, with even more enemies lingering above in the mountains. It's so good; there's no way that you saw this cover at your nearby store and didn't immediately ask your parents to buy Ocarina of Time for you. (Or at the very least, rent the game for you.) As you know, the game was epic and became a significant part of video game history. But let's also give GamePro their props for such a great cover. This is the best GamePro magazine cover and if you disagree, well, don't be surprised when you're spontaneously banished to the Dark Realm.