4 comments about SOULCALIBUR?III Official Fighter's Guide (Signature).

1. This game guide is about as thorough as they come. The game's fighting mechanics and strategies are covered in detail, as are the various game modes, characters, weapons, and various unlockable content. Everything is extremely well organized, making it easy to quickly locate the information you want. The artwork and general layout of the book also looks great.
   
   The guide has been an invaluable reference in learning how to use each fighter effectively. In addition to a complete list of the moves for each fighter and the damage they cause, there are suggestions for the best combos to use, and general strategies for using each fighter along with specific recommendations for fighting at short, medium, and long range.
   
   As deep as the fighting system in Soul Calibur 3 is (minutes to learn, months to master), a guide like this is essential for getting up to speed quickly, and the more quickly you can learn to use each fighter effectively the more enjoyable the game is.
   
   If you get the game, get this guide. You'll be glad you did.



2. I own a good amount of strategy guides and this one seems to be just another run of the mill strategy guide. It gives descriptions of each characters most efficient range to be in, it also gives descriptions of what each chracters moves do like damage and what level they hit at, it gives the price of each item in the Shop mode and how to make the availible in Shop mode, and there is a nice poster with a picture of each character with all the weapons on it with the description of each attribute of each weapon. But this guide doesnt give you a recommended character to fight or not fight against for each character. But this guide is still very convenient to have around and that is the pupose for a startegy guide in my opinion, convenients.



3. I loved this guide. That is such a complete guide. The details of the characters are incredibles and the photos... GREAT.I recommend this for everybody.



4. The Strategy Guide basically consists mostly of profiles for each of the main characters. Included in these profiles are some rather trivial piece of personal information about each of the characters as well as the recommended attacks to use with that particular character. However, I believe the guide doesn't give you enough help when it comes to unlocking features of the game. To unlock these features, certain conditions have to be met. For the most part, most of these features are listed with the conditions needed to unlock them. However, I think the guide should have done a better job of explaining what you need to do in order to unlock certain events, armor types, and weapons.
   
   This guide is somewhat useful. The artwork is very attractive. And would be worthwhile purchase for those who collect them. However, there are many other sources of information online that you could go to if all you need is help with the game.

4 comments about Fire at Will: A Battletech Novel (Mechwarrior: Dark Age, No. 28).

1. _Fire At Will_ continues the focus of the MW:DA series on the
   actions surrounding the borders between the Lyran Commonwealth, the
   (formers) Free Worlds League, and (to a lesser extent) the Republic of the
   Sphere. This is a marked departure from the start of the series, which
   focused on the Republic alone; but this also has made for more interesting
   books, with more politics and wider-scale action, more along the lines of
   the Battletech novels published just before the MW:DA time jump.
   
   In this case, the novel focuses on the Lyran invasion of the
   FWL. As we learned in _Pandora's Gambit_, the League is finally beginning
   to re-merge into a single political force once again, after decades of
   internal fighting; but the associated saber-rattling has offered a
   much-desired excuse for the Lyran government to pre-emptively invade their
   neighbours.
   
   I was somewhat surprised at how well this novel fit in with its
   predecessor; we don't often get both sides of the same general war in such
   quick succession. Both the Lyrans and the various Marik factions came
   across as sympathetic and thoughful; only the main villains' plans (Duke
   Brewster) really came across as ludicrous.
   
   I still wish it was as good as _Surrender Your Dreams_, Pardoe's
   best work to date. But this was pretty good. I didn't feel like I wasted
   my time.



2. Fire at Will follows the Lyran decision to take war to the Marik fiefdoms; the seperate factions of Marik that all claim their stake to a unified House Marik. The novel starts slowly and seems to threaten to be another slow book that may be difficult to finish.
   
   However Fire at Will does a good job of brining you in and holding your attention as the story progresses. There is good mech combat in telling of the story and interesting use portrayal of strategy, something that is missing from some of the other MW:DA novels. It is worth a read and will leave you satisfied once the final page is turned.



3. The big problem I had with Mechwarrior was that it departed too much from Classic Battletech in story as well as design (sure, spend twenty-five years building up to something huge and then just skip it because the new minatures sure look cool...that God for Classic Battletech). I mean there was a time when the thought of a hundred battlemech regiments waging a Sphere-wide conflict was not so far fetched. Then along comes Mechwarrior and you replace battlemech regiments with tiny engagements where the fate of a planet is decided by a single fracking Tri-cycle or souped up cargo loader.
   
   And the story was equally reduced. No longer a game of thrones Mechwarrior Dark Age reduced it to a game of inches.
   
   Well finally they are getting back to their roots. What...thirty novels in and only in the last few have a larger, more dynamic story come about. This is one such. Power, politics, business and war all mixed in with battlemechs and planetary assaults. If you like Classic Battletech, you'll like this book.
   
   H



4. Finally the MWDA books are getting back to there roots. Classic Battletch novels and games are where the MWDA line was born from, and we finally are getting a taste of that classic action.
   
   The past few books show excellent combined arms actions, focusing on entire units, but stressing the importance of battlemech action. The storyline moves forward nicely focusing on the Lyran - Marik War that is currently being waged. Along with this you see the battle from the viewpoints of multiple commanders each with their own agendas.
   
   Overall a very good book.

2 comments about The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II (Xbox 360) (Prima Official Game Guide).

1. I recently purchased the strategy guide for the EA games title: Battle for Middle Earth II. I was primarily looking forward to the customary (and advertised) information on unit statistics and upgrades etc.
   
   Unfortunately the tables that are supposed to contain this information in the book are riddled with typos.
   
   - Many units have blanks or dashes instead of the appropriate stats
   
   - Many units have letters in columns that should contain numbers and numbers in columns that should contain letters
   
   - The unit upgrade information is referenced, but was totally omitted from the tables
   
   If you are primarily interested in the unit statistics I would not recommend this guide.



2. 
   This is an excellent game I enjoy which isn't addictive as those crazy MMORPG's around today, and also very fun. I have been playing it alone and with my family (including my wife)for 9 months now and we had lots of fun at it. We havn't got bored of since we can change the game style in our skirmishes.
   
   Its a huge upgrade compared to older fantastic strategy's (back then) such as age of empires.

5 comments about The Bard's Tale (Prima's Official Strategy Guide).

1. This guide has really imprinted on my mind why Prima guides are the best. Seriously, this is the best written and most attractively designed and layed out strategy guide I have ever read.
   
   I'm glad they didn't waste time including a lot of ridiculous extras, such as a world map, that every cookie-cutter guide throws in, but which don't really add anything in the context of a game. In this game, for example, a world map would have been a complete and ridiculous waste of time. Instead, this guide includes rich and textures features that are actually RELEVANT to the game! The lay out is fantastic, cream of the crop. The writing is crisp and clever, I absolutely loved it.
   
   This guide actually made me more excited about owning and playing this game. This guide doesn't just supplement the game, it complements it.
   
   I have read A LOT of strategy guides. I think with this edition, Prima pulls out ahead. I look forward to many more efforts with this great team of editors and craftsmen that it must have taken to put this book together.
   
   My highest accolades, Prima.



2. As a fan of Prima for a long time, I was surprised how this guide did not have Prima's logo emblazoned on the top front cover. It looked more like a sacred tome than than a guide. I knew this guide was going to be special, so for only the third time in my life, I bought the guide before buying the game (Grandia II and Legend of Zelda Oracles of Seasons were the others!!!). It had all the great features that you'd expect from an Official Prima guide and helped me beat the game. But, what set it apart is how the writing of the guide complimented the writing in the game; both made me laugh. There were also interesting facts interspersed throughout...one of the few times I felt smarter from reading a strategy guide. Now, if there were just a strategy guide for current events...
   
   Don't forget to check out the "know your ales" section at the end.



3. The Official Strategy Guide plays to the same snarky theme as The Bard's Tale game does. It's sarcastic, witty, very thorough and well-written.
   
   The main part of the guide is a walk-through of the game, with maps of ALL areas, info on enemies encountered in each area, and full explanations of the way your choices affect the game. Also included in the appendixes are information on the various enemies and what "goodies" they drop when you kill them, info on all the weapons and armor in the game, and info on the tokens, artifacts, and tunes you acquire. There's a quick interview with the game's creators and a couple of pages about the original Bard's Tale PC games.
   
   All around, it's a great guide, very easy to follow and set up logically. Well worth the low price!



4. I have the XP version of "The Bard's Tale" on CD ROM. This guide is for the PS2/Xbox version. It's a completely different game.



5. I bought this game and game guide for my husband last year for his birthday, he LOVES it. In the game it gives you the chance to pick if the bard will be snarky or nice, and depending on what you pick will vary the outcome of the game, and the plot. He has replayed the game serval times. Who doesn't love a game where you can be nasty to a person that deserves it? The game guide was a help for finding routes, the map was a blessing and it has all of the locations of the secrets. worth the money I spent for the guide and shipping. It was delievered nicely, not damaged, and on time. I was thrilled!! This game is not for children, it is a bit too violent, for teens it would be okay. A great game and a must have guide.

3 comments about Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade Official Strategy Guide (Warhammer 40,000 (Bradygames)).

1. The guide is a good place to start. It give maps and starting locations for both the attacker and the defender. The tips are good and it does go over some of the strengths and weaknesses of the various armies. What I feel is lacking are good, solid tips and strategies. There isn't a section that details which areas are good to attack and which to bypass. There isn't a good section that goes into detail of how to fight against or with certain armies. There are some global tips to do so, but it could be more detailed. Over all I believe that this strategy guide is well worth the money.



2. Poor quality, B&W, images. Weak strategies. Threw it away!



3. I got it for $.01 (yes, that's 1 penny) at Best Buy as part of a special sale they were having that day. There were some inaccuracies in the maps, and at least one map was missing entirely, but the information they did have was extremely useful in the campaign. My guess is they were working off a pre-release edition of the game and changes were introduced after the book went to press. At higher difficulty levels, you have to get right out and take the fight to the enemy immediately, and knowing where to find him often means the difference between defeat and victory.
   What I found most disappointing was the race descriptions. The guide contains a list of unit and building stats for each race, but certain details were lacking here too. (For example, the guide makes no mention of which units are capable of infiltration and which units can detect infiltrated units.)

4 comments about The Book of Games Volume 1: The Ultimate Guide to PC and Video Games (Book of Games series).

1. Based on the reviews in the book, I just found a game that is perfect for mye nephew. I'm looking forward to Volume 2



2. This book reads more like a catalog than I expected. I was hoping for a comprehensive history and documentation of video games, but instead, it feels like the same information you get from a video game review website.



3. I found this to be a really good book! Its got some really nice editorials, which most reviewers dont give to much credit for. Most of them open the book and say "Oh, its just a catalog" but if you look and read through, it has some articles about the future of gaming and research on gaming. And a quick look at video game heros.
   
   The book, has a list over major tittles of 2006, which in its self is really good, because it gives you an idea of what games you might like, if you liked a specific tittle.
   
   And Volume 2 Will be more in-depth then the first, and they are going to make a nostalgia one too! Which im looking forward too!
   
   This book is a really nice guide to parents and alike, as it gives you insite to what games are good for your children ect.



4. It has no metal gear games what so ever!!! No PS 1 no PS 2 no PSP no PS 3 no nothing!!!! And I wonder, why??? It is the greatest game ever!!!! The author is bias, he doesn't like metal gear or something...
   And the book doesn't go into an "in depth" history of video games...
   It is an ok book but I can manage without it, I have an internet connection...
   
   The M.K.M.

5 comments about Resident Evil(TM) Official Strategy Guide for GameCube.

1. I have read other reviews on line about this guide and i don't understand how in the world is this confusing to someone as the people who wrote the book did included all there are to know about the game itself and all the tips and tricks you need to know to survive the horror and to unlock all the cool bonus...There only one thing,they didn't include any of the other cheats which i found out later ... like the ultimate grenade ammo clone.Perharp they want us to pay a bit of sweat when play the game and still that not the reason to take away the 5 stars that it deserve.....Hi hi.



2. I have read other reviews on line about this guide and i don't understand how in the world is this confusing to someone as the people who wrote the book did included all there are to know about the game itself and all the tips and tricks you need to know to survive the horror and to unlock all the cool bonus...There only one thing,they didn't include any of the other cheats like the ultimate grenade ammo clone.Perharp they want us to pay a bit of sweat when play the game and still that not the reason to take away the 5 stars that it deserve.....Hi hi.



3. while not nessecery to finish the game by any means, this guide is still very helpful, especially if you are trying to unlock different endings, or cheats.



4. This guide REALLY isn't worth its price. The sequences of places to visit are irrelevant. The directions are poorly expressed (Example #1: when you read "Chris's LEFT", you must understand "the RIGHT of Chris, in his own point of view"; Example #2: even if 2 rooms (A & B) are separated by a corridor and a room (C), the author will give indications as if A and B were just directly connected). Furthermore, an effort could have been made on the maps (numbers OR precise names attributed to each in a legend). At last, instead of writing precisely what kind of enemies OR items one has to expect in each room, the author describes the situations enigmatically (I guess that someone who purchases a guidebook is accepting to GET spoilers; if not, I don't get the point!!!!): it doesn't preserve any suspense for me, but upsets me instead.
   
   No doubt the author is way better than me for playing that game, but he's a really poor help for others: I've read far better FREE walkthroughs in the past, so I'm regretting my purchase of this book!



5. this book is a must if you own resident evil (1) on gamecube. full colour photos and easy to understand language, this guide is the best!!!!! recommend it to all re fans.

2 comments about Mechwarrior: Dark Age #21: Principles of Desolation(A BattleTech Novel) (Mechwarrior).

1. I picked up a Jason M. Hardy book once on impulse and have never regretted it. I may not be a good reviewer but I can say that I have now enjoyed three books by this author and find his writing style to be excellent. This fellow can really tell a story. I recommend the book very highly.



2. I really enjoyed Hardy's "The Scorpion Jar" and was really looking forward to this one, but was, unfortunately, really disappointed. Sure, we find out a secret about Danai and two big arrangements are made between Liao and its neighbors, but nothing really happens in this book. Danai, as the primary focus of the book, is supposed to draw us in, but I never really developed any attachments to her. Sure you feel sorry for her misfortune, but she is a less-than-convincing character. She's surrounded by cliches (the serious strategist, the cocky, sex-obsessed guy, the sympathetic relative) and really leaves the reading thinking "um, ok, then what?" Of the last 10 Mechwarrior books, the only ones I have really enjoyed have been the ones relating to the main storyline (i.e. - The Scorpion Jar, The Sword of Sedition, and Fortress Republic), which is really the same way the Battletech series went. I've just started "Wolf Hunters" and I'm really dreading another bust, but I'm trying to keep with the story. Truth be told, you really wouldn't miss anything by skipping any of the tangental novels. Decisions, decisions...

4 comments about Resistance: Fall of Man Signature Series Guide (Bradygames Signature) (Bradygames Signature).

1. THIS GAME ROCKS--REAL WAR FOLKS--HALO IS BUPKIS NEXT TO THIS. HAVE BEEN PLAYING F.P.S. GAMES FROM 486-C 64 DAYS. YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY..ADP..
   
   I AM 60 YEARS YOUNG..



2. RFOM is an extremely difficult game to master (for me), so I found this guide has helped me through some tough spots. Still, the game is a major challenge so do not think the guide is your instant savior. You will still have to fight and die many...many...many times before you are finished.
   
   Happy Holidays,
   Smacka



3. Book was laid out in great detail to help you thru.
   Well worth it.
   Awesome game.
   Must have for you rPS3 collection.



4. this game gives u never-ending fun. the store is what i love the most.the weapons are unique and have there own feel to them.the levels are well detailed, well designed & have just the rite anoumt of enimes.ive played this game over 4 times & still find different way to have fun...........hey its a sony game so u should kno that it would live up to the standard of expextations

5 comments about Street Fighter? Anniversary Collection Official Strategy Guide (Bradygames Take Your Games Further).

1. The Street Fighter Anniversary Collection Official Startegy Guide is a very good, it goes well with the game. Very well actually. There is alot of useful information is this guide about both of the games present in The Street Fighter Anniversary Collection. The guide list every character present in both Hyper Street Fighter and Street Fighter 3 Third Strike, plus it also lists every move in each mode in Hyper Street Fighter for each character and it also lists every move for each character in Third Strike with a brief description of each move and frame data of each move. It also lists some strategys for each character and bad match ups for each character. And as an extra treat it comes with the Third Strike soundtrack. This is definitly worth reading. FINAL ATOMIC BUSTER!!



2. I got the guide in the mail today. Just upon flipping through it quickly, it is definetly a good guide. So before I criticize it at all: If you want to learn to play SF3: Third Strike, this is a great guide, and is the best way, [...]so it's worth it without a doubt.
   
   Anyway, so when you actually use the guide, and try to use it to get better with a character, you may run into some problems. First off, there are definetly some mistakes. From looking at the Oro page, some of the descriptions don't match the actual move, as in just a typo, printing error..but still could confuse a newbie.
   
   Also, the thing that REALLY annoys me about the guide is how it labels each move of a character. For an example of what I mean, everyone knows Ryu's special moves: Hadou-Ken, Shoryuken, and the whirlwind kick. But have you ever heard of...Sakotsu Wari? Me neither. But apparently, Sakotsu Wari is F+MP, Ryu's overhead punch. Now, that would be fine, but it is definetly NOT fine when the guide says to use Sakotsu Wari when the opponent is crouching, and I have no idea WTF Sakotsu Wari is, so I have to flip back to the moves index, only to find out that I would have understood them 100% if they had just said F+MP, which they said previously in the guide anyway. That applies to all of the characters.
   
   My last beef is the so called "matchups". It seems for most characters, the matchups are total bull****. For example, Q's good matchup is...Twelve? Uh, okay. Twelve sucks. Everyone's good against Twelve. Let's look at Twelve matchups. Twelve's good matchup is...CHUN-LI? I don't think so. I think most scrub Chun-Li's would beat the [...] out of any Twelve. But the guide's reason for this is that Chun-Li has no standard anti-air...uh..so what? He's frickin Twelve. He sucks.
   
   ANYWAY, those aside, this is a really awesome guide. What surprised me is that it even goes into advanced tactics like Makoto's Kara-Karakusa/her Abare Tosanami combos. With that said, some combos and tactics are noticeably missing, like Makoto's 100% stun combo, Kara-Oroshi/Fukiage, etc., but that's alright.
   
   Overall, I'd say this is something that people who want to get into 3rd Strike should pick up, because it has up-to-date tactics, and most of the combos and info you're going to need when you want to learn a character, and an easy-to-read and easy-to-find page for each one. Plus, it comes with the 3rd Strike soundtrack. That alone is worth the 10 (LESS!) dollars that this'll cost you.



3. It's really simple: if you own and actively play 3rd Strike, and have any will or drive to be a competitive player, then you really should own this. Frame data, matchup information -- all the good stuff that you should want and should expect to see in a GOOD fighting game strategy guide is included here. This is not your old-school, garbage Mortal Kombat guide that you bought on a whim while browsing the bookstore: this is real information provided by real, top competitive USA players of the game. Do yourself a favor and pick this up.



4. Didn't tell me much that i didn't already know. It's not a bad reference though.



5. I grew up playing SFII and later versions in arcades and pizza shops, so I'm more old school. However, when I transitioned to SFIII, I started to enjoy the controls and gameplay. I bought the guide for playing Third Strike on my PS2. The illustrations are great in this guide. Practice makes for a better player.