No comments about Madden NFL 09: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides).

5 comments about BioShock Signature Series Guide (Bradygames Signature).

1. I agree with a different reviewer in that you really don't need this book. I only looked at it while playing this game once and what I was looking for wasn't even there (don't remember what it was now or I would say). I've decreased what would've been a 3 star review to 2 because Bradygames' QA people are slipping. My cover is glued on backwards, upsidedown AND offcenter - the copy I was sent should've never made it off the production line!
   
   Bradygames and Prima both normally do a descent job with their guides and its not that this one isn't OK but you really don't need it at all in the the game ... I was mostly put off by Bradygames' lack of quality assurance with this one (the cover is horrible!)



2. This is the offcial guide to one of the greatest video games in years. Unfortunately, it seems they focused on how NOT to give answers as much as possible. It is full of hints, but hardly any answers. If you want to pay money for a book to get hints and clues to the answers, then this book does its job. If you want the answers (such as the combinations to locks) then try the internet.
   
   It even does not give a good summary of the storyline. I have found the Wiki's version of the story to be much more comprehensive.
   
   The book provides good illustration of the game. It provides some good advice, such as the 5 best Plasmids and how one should spend the money at the Circus of Values. Other than that, its clues are very skimpy and even stingy. For example, I have tried to obtain the keys to the Chomper's Dental for many hours. This book merely says to look for it using newfound plasmid (Telekinesis) in the Dandy's Dental. It wasn't helpful.
   
   I suggest using the internet as the guide, and not this book, which annoyingly tries to be cryptic and give as few answers as possible to the paying reader.



3. This game is great. I've been playing it for days on end. The ability to save, or if you get killed go back to a preset condition or start over at a preset game level makes getting killed not so hard to take. I've finished the game once and started all over again. It's addictive.



4. It is a fun game, though the final boss is the easiest part of the game. I could not bring myself to play it a second time to get the few achievements I'd missed. Even changing the difficulty does not do more than affect how fast you kill and are killed. The surprise 3/4 of the way through was great, though the ensuing battle is on autopilot. Being able to hack the automatic defenses around town to use against the bad guys adds some interesting strategy against the infinite stream of evildoers. That was the most annoying part for me, to be sent back to a rez chamber (thankful that damage on enemies persists when you die) only to find an enemy right outside the chamber who esnds you right back in. Second most annoying is when you die while firing a weapon and you just keep on firing and wasting ammo against the chamber door when you come back to life. There is an option to turn the chambers off with a download, but I never did.



5. Bioshock is a videogame masterpiece. This strategy guide is complete and will help you if you are lost or want to know the best way to survive in Rapture.

5 comments about Races of Stone (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying Supplement).

1. This is a somewhat typical WOC title. It tries to flesh out something and bring something new to the table. It focuses on 2 main D&D races and introduces a 3rd. You get dwarves, gnomes and the new goliaths.
   
   While not a huge fan of dwarves or gnomes, it was nice to see a newly fleshed out race. The sections are formulaic, as most WOC books are. There sections on life, habitat, more gods for an already crowded pantheon. But face it, everybody in a pantheistic universe, is going to have their own god of something. However a little gem appears in there, a dwarven language section. It's only a page long, column style, with one work and its equivolent. Could be more, but I've learned to take what I can get.
   
   I did enjoy the section on the goliaths. I like them. It was a nice change from the established races, complete with the same sections as dwarves and gnomes. I just felt as it was new and not something we've read before it had a fresh perspective. It gives a goo frame work on how they work, live, play (include game mechanics for playing goatball) and move around as a good nomadic people do. The sample settlements helped me as I was able to have a nice village to stumble into for my game and a larger place down the way to send them to.
   
   Unfortunately the monster's section was too sparse. A lot more could've gone in there as most places of stone, are usually mountains. Although I found the dire eagles a nice toy to pair with a hill giant attack.
   
   There are sections on prestige classes as usual. I didn't find any to grab my interest, nothing I'd wanted to put a few levels of my regular classes off for. The magic items didn't interest me too much either I'm afraid. It happens.
   
   Overall, it's a useful book. If you can, borrow and use it, it'll probably be better that way.



2. This book is pretty pathetic. There are a few feats and a few prestige classes I might use in it, but its mostly a waste of time. The only thing I think that stands out for me are the racial substitution classes. The new race, the Goliath (can anyone think of a better name? Yeah, just about anyone could)is a waste of time.
   I've seen where you can get all three of the race books in one box set. I can't imagine the shock of the buyer after picking up these three books and realizing how much money he wasted. I bought this one used for $7, so I figure its worth that much for the pictures and little I'll use.



3. Races of Stone brings insight into the lives and social structures of dwarves and gnomes. It also offers the same insight new races such as the goliaths that are great for pcs and npcs alike. This book offers great information for both players and DMs.



4. There are some neat feats and build variations in this book. I also like the in depth description of dwarven culture. Oh, I'm sure the gnome and goliath are good too, I just haven't read them yet.



5. I bought this a as a gift for my brother in law and he absolutely loved it!

2 comments about Bridge Basics 2: Competitive Bidding.

1. I learned a lot from this book; there is much information to be studied and digested. It is especially helpful for those who have been away from playing duplicate for a while. The title of the book, Competitive Bidding, says it all.



2. The field of bridge is full of wise old savants and we should listen to them and read their work. But if anyone is entitled to carry the bridge banner into the 21st Century, it must be Audrey Grant. Her BRIDGE BASICS 1, pre-requisite for this book, is good and sound -- and believe it or not, she spends a fair amount of time on telling people when NOT to bid. Newbies have to know that.
   
   And in this one, BRIDGE BASICS 2: COMPETITIVE BIDDING, Grant still teaches us kindly when not to bid. Under her system you might indeed miss a part-score once in a while; but once you've got a good hand and some rapport with partner -- or are in a position to torment you opponents -- this is a full-speed-ahead, friendly and very informative bridge book. The best bridge books struggle to impart wisdom, or perhaps better said informed judgment, instead of limiting themselves to "the rules," and this one is very good for that.
   
   I can heartily recommend BRIDGE BASICS 2: to anyone who loves to play bridge, whether the at-home type or the duplicate club type. I wish there were more up-to-date books like this. Perhaps in the not-too-distant future Ms. Grant will put her BRIDGE BASICS series into an omnibus volume.

5 comments about City of Splendors: Waterdeep (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Supplement).

1. This book adds substantial information on one of the key role-playing locations in all the Realms, and also reveals a lot of plots that are going on there. It is written with very easy cross-referencing with other FR material, while also giving some background on the referenced characters. And of course, you get adventure hooks, history background and some very interesting NPCs. This product is a must have for the FR campaign setting!



2. Wizards of the Coast has released a book concentrating on Waterdeep, the ultimate adventuring city in the Forgotten Realms. And why not? The city is one of the most beloved locations in the gaming world, finding its only real competition in the City of Greyhawk. Plus, if RPGNOW stats are any indication, there's good money in a well-done city book.
   So does Waterdeep hold up?
   
   I wish I could say no, at least this review would be funnier, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. There's a wealth of material in this book and you get the feeling that it just scratches the surface. In fact, I think the only complaint most readers will have is the low page count (at 160). There just isn't enough room in this book for everything that one might find in Waterdeep.
   
   Still, the material is interesting and the author (Eric L. Boyd) has a delicate hand for how much is just right. I didn't feel like he rambled on too long and for the most part I felt like he gave me enough to build a game in the City of Splendors. Heck, I could probably build a whole campaign there, using just this book.
   
   Chapter One begins with an interesting history of the city. This chapter actually captured my attention (whereas usually histories are just text you have to get through). It's hard to point out exactly why this appealed to me, but I think that it has to do with the many iterations of settlement the city passed through before becoming the place we all know and love. It took me back to certain real world histories I've read, and where an author's usual instinct is to say, "The city was founded in ," Waterdeep has lived under different names, guises and rulers over the years. It just felt . . . rich.
   
   The book then moves on to a brief who's who and then a treatise on laws and culture. It then tackles all the ways to get to and from the city . . . including teleportation. It was refreshing to have a high fantasy world deal with an issue that almost everyone ignores . . . how the casual use of magic could kill people in the streets. Finally, the book tackles the defenses of the city, both magical and mundane.
   
   Chapter Two deals with People of Waterdeep (I'm not sure why the Who's Who wasn't here.) This chapter is long an complex, taking about a third of the book. In it they cover everything from guilds to monsters to the underworld to secret societies to the nobility and much much more. This is where the book really sold me, the level of detail just enough to fill me with the maximum number of colorful characters while giving me just enough information to run them properly in the game. As a game designer, I can only say this chapter must have taken five times as long to write as the rest of the book put together (characters can take forever, even when many of them aren't statted). I can only tip my hat at Mr. Boyd for not losing sight of the prize and becoming sloppy. Still, I think there are too many dragons detailed for a city with a ward against dragons.
   Chapter Three handles presitge classes. You know what? I'm gonna give the book a pass on this one (and it's not the same pass I gave DMG II). This book needed prestige classes, and while I thought that four was probably a bit excessive, this is the perfect use of the game mechanic: defining a particular organization and their unique and often mystical abilities. The Gray Hand Enforcer, for instance, can tap into the dragonward of the city, accessing its power. I don't mind using a prestige class to simulate this.
   
   Chapter Four is the obligatory sites-of-the-city chapter. I don't have much to say about this. It got the job done.
   
   Chapter Five is a section on adventure opportunities in Waterdeep. This section contains everything from single encounters (a disturbing amount of haunted locales) to mini-adventures, to a small section on Undermountain. I think that a DM could build a good campaign, starting with this chapter.
   
   The final chapter covers more rules-oriented materials. Starting with feats, it then covers magic items, poisons and a section on spells. The section on spells is mercifully short, and I can't begrudge it. People in Waterdeep will make spells. This, like the Prestige Classes, is a much better place for new material like this than 90% of the books WotC produces.
   
   I do have to give one qualification on this review. I haven't done more than skim most of the past material on Waterdeep, so I don't know how much of this book is recycled materials. Still, I found what was here to be interesting, useful and well presented. This is one of the better books WotC has produced since 3.5 released. If you adventure in the Realms, it's probably a must-have.



3. Great sourcebook for d20 Forgotten Realms! Lots of info on Organizations, secret societies, ruling factions, areas of interest, NPC's and their motivations, advernture hooks, etc. As are most of the FR sourcebooks, this one is another great buy!



4. I found this book to be full of useful information and maps. I loved seeing the new Prestige classes and finding out about the situation in Waterdeep. I would say this book is for the more experienced Dm'er since they give you seeds for so many story's and possible campaigns. I noted that a few reviewers felt there wasn't enough but I felt there was enough here to last a long time if you wanted to center your party around Waterdeep.
   
   The maps are very detailed giving you what each house is in each neighborhood. There are plenty of NPC's given as well for any group you would like to explore. Waterdeep is a rich city full of history and intrique and this book certainly gave me that impression.



5. The copy I got was clearly a screw-up at the printing press, the first 30 pages or so were connected at the top (cut short at the botton), I had to "tear" then apart myself.
   
   The content of the book is/was fine. A fair amount on different people but I was hoping for a bit more interesting points of interest myself. Its a good resource for building adventures in the city that contain and/or interact with some of the more notable characters but it just kind of left me feeling like it should have contained more about underground characters/groups etc.

3 comments about Folklore Official Strategy Guide (Bradygames Strategy Guides) (Bradygames Strategy Guides).

1. Although this guide has some very nice character and location art, it is not helpful at all. Not only is half the maps missing on the pages where the maps are shown, it does not list all the information needed in the game (actually not even close to all the info needed)
   
   It fails to mention what the costume section in the game is, what the colored crystal are (and how to break them, and the worst of all is that there is no mention that the side quests must be completed (if you want to do them)before you fight the area's boss.
   
   This is barely useful, and not recommended, unless you want it for the art, I would avoid it. At least it's only 20 dollars (maybe thats why it seemed like the editors did care about how the final product looked)



2. This guide provides a complete, and highly accurate, walkthrough for the game, and is essential unless you want to spend pointless hours wandering around and wasting time doing things that don't advance the game. It's attractive, and pretty well-organized. It's sketchy on how to solve quests (maybe deliberate so as not to give everything away), and occasionally fails to provide guidance on how best to handle troublesome Folks, but for the most part provides the key information needed. When it didn't provide it, a quick internet check would fill in the missing keys. A clearer explanation of how to boost karma for your folks would have been helpful. But overall, this was an excellent help.



3. The game is fantastic and the book helps out so much! I am definately glad I bought it!!

5 comments about Fantasy Football For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies)).

1. and neither are you. Don't waste your first season playing fantasy football by not being prepared. FFFD was designed to help new players avoid the pifalls that all of us hardened vets made back in the day...
   
   FFFD explains how the game works, how to get started and even where to play online! There are also plenty of detailed, proven methods for drafting a great fantasy team and managing your team during the football season.
   
   Is this a shameless plug? Of course it is, but I think the book is unique and I wish I had read it before I started playing...



2. I have always been curious about just what is fantasy football, and have passed up a few opportunities to join in because I lacked the confidence to join a league. Martin Signore spells out all of the ins the outs the dos and the don'ts in a very easy and understandable way. I can't wait for the season to start and hone in my newfound skills!



3. The author REALLY knows his stuff as oppossed to some of the other writers of "for dummies" books! He truly has a love for the subject and it shows!
   
   Highly recommended!
   
   
   :)



4. If you are thinking about playing fantasy football or even if you played a little last year and want to improve those basic skills, get this book! It is a great introduction to fantasy football. It covers everything to get you started including where to play online and look online for information on players. Many of the tips are exactly what you need to draft, manage and improve your team for a winning season.
   
   After reading Fantasy Football for Dummies, it is obvious that Martin Signore has played the game for many years and his love of the hobby shines through. Once again, the winning "dummies" format makes it easy. I am amazed at how much information he provides. Martin even discusses Auction leagues which many of todays FF books ignore. He hits all the right techniques and even includes some advanced draft strategies.
   
   I usually find the "part of tens" pages in a dummies book tedious, but Martin has provided a great Top 10 list of mistakes to avoid and perhaps even more importantly ten fixes to make to your team after draft day. The draft is not the end but instead should be the starting point for a championship team. You should constantly try to improve your team through trades and/or the waiver wire. A great manager can always look back and point out a significant improvement during the season.
   
   This is definitely the book of choice for anyone who wants an introduction to the greatest hobby of all time, Fantasy Football.
   
   Sam Hendricks, author of "Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football" and "Fantasy Football Almanac"



5. Great Book. Taught my husband a few things about Fantasy Football that he didn't know and he has been playing for years. A must have for any wife who wants to learn what occupies hours of their husband's time.

3 comments about Masters Kakuro: 172 Challenging Puzzles (Kakuro).

1. This book has puzzles difficult enough to be challenging without having to resort to looking up the answers. BUT! The numbers are small, skinny, and white, on a medium gray background and very hard to read. As with most kakuro books, the puzzles are way too small. Enlarge 40% and darken the background, and you're set to go. To me, it has been worth it due to the quality of the puzzles.



2. I had little difficulty reading the puzzles (per the previous reviewer), and found the puzzles themselves large enough to easily work with (compared to many others). They range from difficult to nearly impossible, but somehow I managed to make my way through the entire collection. Overall, I found the puzzles fully enjoyable; this was a collection I always enjoyed pulling out for some mental gymnastics. I wish Bumgardner would come out with a Volume II, as he has a good sense of Kakuro style--puzzles that make you think, but not necessarily (compared with, say, the Dell collections) make you have to work more than think.



3. Not a bad collection of puzzles, but as a previous reviewer said, the puzzles are very difficult to read. Mensa Kakuro is much better if you're looking for tough puzzles - better puzzles and easier to read. The Everything Kakuro Challenge Book by Timmerman is the best collection, the best puzzles I've ever done. All of them are on par with the best Dell Cross Sums, which I've been doing for over 25 years,

5 comments about Lara Croft Tomb Raider Anniversary (360 & PS2): Prima Official Game Guide.

1. This guide is flawed. Don't get me wrong, it was great to have when I actually needed to use it, but it also hindered my progress at various points when I did need to consult it. I own the entire Tomb Raider series and all their respective guides and know that each guide has an error or two with gameplay strategy or layout. This one had quite a few mistakes throughout and I had to resort to going online numerous times to one of the fan-sites to figure out what to do. Hopefully Eidos and Crystal Dynamics will turn to BradyGames to do the next Tomb Raider game guide, as the Legend guide is the best and most accurate Tomb Raider guide ever printed with one eensy flaw that did not make any difference whatsoever.
   
   The poster with this guide is nifty, though.



2. Just went through the mansion and I can already see why other people are saying it could be a little bit better.
   
   Perhaps more pictures and slightly better descriptions would help make it easier to follow.
   
   A good reference, might get frustrating if you're using it to guide you through everything.



3. I am satisfied with this product; it is exactly as described on the product page.



4. Tomb Raider the strategy guide is very handy, beautifully detailed would reccommend this for the die hard tomb raider fan.



5. I am very pleased with this particular walkthrough. I was completely stuck in this one area and finally broke down and ordered the guide. I got through the area and have moved on in the game. I am a TR fanatic so this was a must have for me.

5 comments about How to Solve Sudoku: A Step-by-Step Guide (52 Brilliant Ideas).

1. This smallish "text book" on sudoku is very well written,understandable, and guides one step by step into the maze of solving puzzles from the easiest to the fiendish! For one at the starting or middle stages of sudoku-puzzle solving, I recommend this book most highly. This is the first such book I purchased about soduku and it is the best I have read thus far!



2. Great book for a beginner. Would highly recommend it. Has contributed to many hours of satisfaction solving Sudoku puzzles. Definitely start with this book.



3. It demystified Sudoku. My wife says it is very helpful and she is very grateful.



4. This is the worst Sudoku book i ever tried. It's supposed to be so easy to use. A mathematician wrote it, and forgot how to write it for the average person. The rules are complicated, and the grids have the alphabet all around it supposedly to make it easier to place the numbers. It's not it's more confusing. What the author should of done was a few example puzzles step by step showing how you arrive at the correct answer as well as showing it. The grids need to be larger as well as the book itself. Format matters when you're trying to learn something or have trouble learning. I ended up throwing this book away. For me it was a waste of money and not worth it. I give this book 1 star.



5. Somewhat useful, though also disappointing; the "52 ideas" format is misleading as to the number of distinct strategies given in the book for solving Sudoku puzzles, which in fact is significantly smaller than 52.