1 comments about Manhunt 2 Signature Series Guide (Bradygames Signature Series Guides) (Bradygames Signature Series Guides).

1. this was the first time i have used amazon and i was very unhappy with this item, i believe i paid over the odds for an item i believed to be new and when it arrive, it had been draw on the back... i email amazon to inform them i was upset and still they have not got back to me... putting this aside, the item arrive very quick.

2 comments about Max Payne(tm) 2: The Fall of Max Payne Official Strategy Guide for PS2 & (Brady Games.).

1. Reviewing a strategy guide for a game you are lukewarm about is one of those piquant experiences. Especially when the guide is better than the game. Unfortunately, Max Payne 2 failed to grab me. I didn't find it particularly difficult either. If you go everywhere and try everything you will eventually figure everything out. Except for maybe the last 15 minutes.

   So here is a guide, put together by Tim Bogenn, that is a clear, easy to use walkthrough. One could almost fault it for a lack of emphasis on strategy, since it simply tells you what to do each step of the way. The only source of confusion is that Begenn chose not to provide maps, and sometimes the pictures aren't as graphic as they should be.

   But if you need a guide, this will carry you through. It includes information on the advanced modes and weapons as well. Since there are exactly 12 weapons there really isn't anything left out. So this is a first for me - a five star rating for a guide to a game which I only gave 3 stars. Go figure!




2. Very thorough guide to all the steps you need to take to master this violent noir thriller.
   
   Detective Max Payne returns to fight the crime world. Love comes calling, as the gumshoe's heart is under siege as well this time.
   
   Helped me beat some of the hardest puzzles in the game. I turned to the guide whenever it seemed like I was stuck at an impossible spot.
   
   Max is one of my favorite video characters. This game is a rare intelligent thriller. If you're tired of the same rocket-launcher binges against the same monsters and aliens, get into the murkiest world of all: the criminal mind.

3 comments about Age of Mythology: The Titans Expansion: Sybex Official Strategies & Secrets.

1. This book covers every new campaign in the new expansion game. Maps and in depth walkthrus for the campaigns. Also every EVERY multiplayer tactic u ever wanted to know to become the master of the titans. For 15 dollars its definitly a great deal to get!! and heres more facts The eagerly anticipated Titans Expansion adds new strategic possibilities and depth of the Age of Mythology universe with Titan uberunits, the new Atlantean mythology, and a whole new campaign. This comprehensive strategy guide, written with the full support of Ensemble Studios and Microsoft Game Studios, is packed with the strategies, tactics, and analysis you need to master the Titans!

   Inside you'll find: Strategies and tips straight from Ensemble Studios' best players Thorough analysis of the Atlantean mythology, including military units, Major and Lesser Gods, and their powers Detailed economic and military strategies that show you how to build a thriving economy and prevail in combat Multiplayer tactics for every game mode, including Lightning tactics from Age of Mythology expert Chris "Swinger" Rupp In-depth stats for everything in the game Step-by-step walkthrough of the compelling new campaign




2. I likeed this strategy guide. Having it simply makes the game more fun, and that's what makes this a 5-star guide IMO. It covers everything from gameplay tweaks compared to the original game, to a completel walkthough of all missions.



3. I cannot really critique this book because I never could get the actual game to install on my pc. Thus, I never read this book with any real determination.

4 comments about Star Trek Legacy (Prima Official Game Guide).

1. Where to begin...
   
   About 2/3 of this "Strategy Guide" is a listing of all the ships included in the game and a list of the maps included in the game. Personally - all of this information should have been in the manual. This is not necessary information however because the statistics are much more meaningful in the ship select screen in the game - and the maps are not exactly that unique.
   
   The rest of the guide is a few "tips" which are pretty much no-brainers, and a walkthrough of the single player campaign. This is probably the most helpful part of the guide, although they do not really break down the missions enough and simply gloss over the details.
   
   The game itself really isn't deep enough to warrant the need for a strategy guide - and I believe Prima figured this out, which is why they padded 2/3 of it with pretty pictures of Star Trek ships from the game.
   
   I would recommend renting the game for the X Box 360 and see for yourself how much you need a strategy guide. I will go ahead and summarize strategy in STL for you so that you are good to go:
   
   WEAPONS:
   Phasers dissipate over distance, so try to get in close before letting loose. Also - don't constantly press the fire button - let your phaser banks charge up so that you get some good drain on the enemy shields. This should be the primary attack of any ship designated "Cruiser"
   
   Photon/Quantum torpedoes give the hull of enemy ships a beating - this should be the primary attack of any ship designated "Destroyer" and try to save them for when you have drained the shields with phaser fire. Unload a few of these into the hull of an enemy ship and it will seriously damage it.
   
   Warp: You cannot warp near asteroids or planets. Use this to your advantage, and be sure not to get caught in a disadvantage. Neither asteroids nor planets can hurt you - so feel free to warp right in.
   
   That is pretty much all you need to know. In any 1 vs 1 ship combat - be sure to match up ships to their equivalent. You will not be able to beat a larger ship with a smaller ship.
   
   The Borg cannot handle a sustained assault of multiple ships. If it is 1 vs 1 and the player is Borg - outfit your fleet with Destroyers. The Borg have no shields and the torpedoes damage them quite a bit en masse.
   
   That is about as deep as the game gets. There are no shield facings to worry about. You can do subsystem targeting... but it really has no effect in the grand scheme considering how hard it is to pull off in MP/Skirmish.
   
   Borg Cubes are really powerful weapon-wise, but really weak hull-wise. >4 ships can take down a cube easily with the loss of maybe 1 ship.



2. The only gripe I have is the keyboard controls and lack of reference material. Overall fun game!



3. If you get the game you should get this guide. It give you info on all the ships all the maps and all the missions. Plus its full of beautifully designed pages.



4. This game is the best for Star Trek! If you need any game of Star Trek, this is the one.

5 comments about Pokemon (Blue Cover) (Prima's Official Strategy Guide).

1. Hey, I'm a girl. Yes that's right. And no, I'm not a tomboy. Usually only boys or tomboys play with Pokemon, but not me. I lurve it! I bought it and it really helped me! The maps and Pokemon info were amazing! To that guy who said his friend helped him through the whole game: and where did your friend figure out all the info? I'll bet he got it from this book. This book is awesome. A must have for any Pokemon Game Boy fan!! :-)



2. I love this toy and I cannot beat the game with out it!anyone who love pokemon and cant beat any game should hava every one!



3. They called Moltres "Moltos" but only once because they spelled it the right way in the back of the book. The maps and quick and dirty path were very helpful. The one thing I would like to see is trainer tables. That way, you know which trainers are which and what Pokemon they use. In Prima's Gold/Silver guide, this feature was included. In this game, the pokemon that the trainers use is a total mystery. The makers of the book should have thought about the trainer table idea when they wrote it.



4. Pokemon Return of the Squirtle Squad

   Would you like to be saved by the Squirtle Squad? In this book the squad saves all the Pokemon from Team Rocket. I love this book because Ash thinks Squirtle is the best pet.

   Student from G.P.




5. Don't know where to go to next, don't have a clue what you are doing. Look for this strategy guide and you'll find all the help you need to beat these two great games. I you ever buy Pokemon blue or red, make sure you get the strategy guide, and don't end of have a nervous breakdown, because you don't know what to do next. The only way I ever had a chance at beating this game was by buying the guide to help me. It helps you through all of the rough a tough spots in the game. A must have, ( only if you own 1 of these games).

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.

5 comments about Devil May Cry Official Strategy Guide.

1. This guide is absolutely brilliant in ways that can't all be described! This guide is very detailed with some brilliant things to offer. Detailed maps, great walkthrough, and some bonus material make this DMC guide a must own.

   Anyway, the guide really seems to live up to my expectations. Detailed maps of EVERY AREA unlike some of the other guides, and they pin-point the location of items and blue orb fragment. Not to mention that the strategy is very good as well. The maps are colorful and very detailed.

   The walkthrough is well done giving you a brief details on bosses. For each boss they show you a suggested Life Gauge and a suggested Devil Trigger. Now thats something that I found really helpful in this guide.

   The guide covers all the secrets including how to lock hidden characters and game modes! The guide also features an art gallery and exclusive Interviews! Again, it doesn't hurt to read them!

   Overall, this is probably the best DMC guide out there. Much more detail and organization went into the walkthrough. Forget VERSUS BOOKS, this is your perfect guide to DMC!




2. Addressing the previous reviewer: Dan Birlew didn't even write the Xenogears guide, someone else named David Cassidy did. And why would you compare Mr. Birlew to Casey Lowe who writes guides for Pokemon? That's comparing apples to apples seeds. As for the maps, they were obviously not done by the author, just read the credits. Now for a more mature and observant review: This particular Devil May Cry guide is concise and thorough. It's written for an audience that is intelligent and sharp, a compliment to all gamers. The writing style does not talk down to the reader, as some guides tend to do. The slick design and stylized cover are done in such a way that it attracts gamers like me--adults with jobs and money to spend on toys. Overall, this guide is perfect for those gamers who do not fall into the "living in my parent's basement" stereotype. Kudos to BradyGames for targeting mature gamers with jobs!



3. Even I have to admit that Dan Birlew is getting much better. After that FFIX guide I thought this guy would be bad. Anyways, to start off. I've been a HUGE collector of video game guides (I may be 15 and have high expectations for a guide such as they do need to help me a give me a gaming experience in the process) and I know a good guide when I see it.

   This guide is defenitely good. Anyways, I read the other reviews, and Dan Birlew didn't do the Xenogears guide nor did David Cassady, it was Ronald Wartow, its right there on the fron cover. The maps are easy to read while I do admit they get tiresome every guide does. I know the maps aren't done by Dan Birlew but still they could use a little work. I look more at the detail in the walkthrough rather than how flashy the maps and screenshots are.

   The walkthrough helps you out a lot and doesn't give off any spoilers at all and gets right to the point. I like this guide because the walkthrough is put together organized and doesn't look like it was rushed to get out. Its 160 pages and the guide has extremely good detail to it. Unlike the Prima (only 90 pages) and VERSUS BOOKS (112 pages) this guide has a ton of info.

   I'd recomend this guide for anybody who likes strategy guides as much as I do.




4. Dan Birlew (better known to survival horror fans on the web as "President Evil") penned this easy-to-follow strategy guide.

   I'm one of those players who doesn't have great reflexes and normally gets sliced to ribbons playing a game like this. But thanks to Birlew's guide, I was able to survive some of the toughest bosses, bad reflexes and all. The book points out the bosses's strengths and weaknesses, how to attack them and how to avoid them, as every good game guide should.

   Oh, yeah, I did find one mistake in Birlew's guide: he states that you can't purchase untouchables (items that temporarily make you invincible). In fact, untouchables can be purchased at any time, though it'll cost you. Perhaps this was a change in the game that was implemented after Birlew's guide went to press.




5. The guide is a wonderful addition to the game. Adds a great deal to the fun of the game. Also adds backstory to the sometimes confusing game story. I read it once while doing the story and again after finishing the game the first time. A real treasure.

5 comments about Suikoden IV Official Strategy Guide.

1. As I sat down to write this review it occurred to me that it is very difficult for the Strategy Guide for a partially flawed RPG to be anything else but flawed. That some of the problems with the game will inevitably wash over into the guide. However, this guide has flaws of its own that should be addressed.
   
   One upon a time, publishers took the creation of strategy guides very seriously. The idea was to produce something that had more depth than the normal walkthrough found online, and led the player into areas of the game that would normally get short shrift if one was simply to play for the ending. Lately though, the guide has become part of the marketing plan, and is often written before the game is even set in stone. That seems to be the case here.
   
   Suikoden IV is a skimpy game. Thus it is no surprise that the 75 pages dedicated to the walkthrough are mostly charts and pictures with a very minimal amount of text. In addition, the writers have the modern knack of not always explaining things in logical order, so that one gets to the end of a sequence only to discover that something important got left out. Since Suikoden IV isn't a complicated game, the guide should have been much more player friendly. Following the walkthrough are 82 pages of short biographies and facts about each of the 108 'stars' of the game. Exactly the same information appears in the walkthrough, so the purpose of this section is to flesh out the guide to some respectable size. The net result is that this is more of a souvenir than a game guide.
   
   There are mistakes in the text as well, although there is nothing so serious as to ruin the game, there are a couple places where the mystery of how to move the game forward is obscure, and Suikoden IV is not a game where being forced to wander unnecessarily is as much of a pleasure as it should be. Another thing that caused this reviewer to have a short fit of pique it is the complete lack of a map of the world ocean. Instead it resorts to vague or no directions. And wandering the waves may be something that Suikiden's creators think is the height of game play, but this player found it exorbitantly tedious. There are better ways to level up than killing a lot of hairballs (and deadly albino roosters).
   
   I would recommend holding off until the regular online walkthrough sources get caught up with the game. Not only is that a cheap alternative, but there is nothing about the production of this guide that makes it particularly satisfying to own. Production and writing are mediocre at best. If it weren't for the fact that the game is just illogical enough to need a walkthrough (marketing ploy, no doubt) I would tell you this time it is better to work it out yourself.



2. While not known for in depth guides akin to those offered by other publishers (Prima, to name just one) BradyGames has actualy done a fine job with the guide to Suikoden IV.
   
   The guide is unusualy thick and easy to follow for a BradyGames strategy guide, and includes all of the information anyone would require in order to complete the game, recruit all 108 stars of destiny, find all of the game's secrets, understand all of the games excellent mini-games, and more.
   
   Also included are a comprehensive guide to the trade system, recommendations for the best armor for each character, character-specific rune affinities (which there would be no other way to determine except through tiresome trial and error - multiplied by 108 - without this guide), and thorough maps of every area, including your ship headquarters.
   
   I would have given it five stars if not for the only two flaws I was able to find. There are one or two very minor and very easy to figure out mix-ups with respect to where a certain character is recruited, and the guide lacks a comprehensive guide to the creation of armor, recipees, and accessories. However, that's not much of an inconvenience because the game tells you which materials are required to craft any specific item whenever you look in the available options while speaking to the appropriate craft character(s).
   
   This is an underappreciated yet great guide which just happens to do some things a little differently, to go along with an equaly underappreciated yet great game.
   
   I say of this guide what I said of the game: people simply need to be more patient and thorough. It's an RPG! Do some of the work yourselves! But this guide will make sure you don't have to do any of the work if you read it carefuly and thoroughly.
   
   Thanks again to amazon.com for quick delivery. It arrived the same day as the game. ^_^



3. On the up side it's got lots of pretty, out of focus pictures and it's 223 pages long. If you are worried about spoilers you won't find any here. It's just a straight walk through. With a few pages on the mini games an a few on game basics. It also has lists of items, not particularly helpfull. Also not helpfull is the amount space dedicated to the 108 stars. If you play the game you should have no problem finding at least 106 stars. Gau you have to stumble across in a random battle. Snow is really the only one you will have any difficulty finding. Do yourself a favor check online at gamefaqs. You will find better, more detailed walkthroughs that actually have the info you need for free. Don't waste your money here. If you are dead set on buying this waste of paper at least look at a hard copy first before putting down your money.



4. This book will help you in all aspects of the game. From recruiting the people to playing the minigames. If you have or are planning on getting Suikoden IV then I highly recommend this book



5. The Guide was consise and followed the game every step of the way through it with little confusion..... I will definately purchase another Stategy Guide from Amazon again.....

2 comments about Rock Band: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides) (Prima Official Game Guides).

1. I bought this book mainly for advice (or tricks) about how to play (guitar or drums) and sing better. Very little advice is given about actually playing the instruments and singing and what advice they do give is already contained on the tutorials section of the video game. The advice on setting up to the drums was fair information. Besides that, the Prima guide did not help me to improve my play.
   
   They also suggest starting at medium skill level. Not everyone is a video game junkie or Neil Peart, Frank Zappa or Sting. Starting at medium would put some of my friends off the game for good! (especially drums) Yet the medium skill level is mainly ignored and they talk mostly about hard and expert. It is not an explanation on how to get to Hard or Expert or even what to do once you're there. Prima suggests practice and gives advice at what sections of the particular songs to practice to be able to get through the song. Imagine that... practice! Who would have guessed?
   
   I guess I can re-evaluate the book to see if it is more useful once I am attempting to play at the hard level (right now, I'm challenged on medium). However, I doubt it will be used for little more than a casual reference to the songs. Save your money and do the Rock Band tutorials that come with the game.
   
   I am 0 for 2 with Prima guides. The other was Madden 08. I have a PS3 and I found that many items in the book are not available to me. Also, they switch back and forth from platforms as the PS3 is often ignored.



2. I was happy to see this priced lower than many of the game guides I've bought before, but I was still disappointed in the content.
   
   There is no more instrument-specific information here than in the little pamphlet that comes in the game package.
   
   Things it does not answer but should have: what the blue background means when playing bass (I've since determined it means you've exceeded the 4x multiplier that Lead is limited to, and you're in a "bass groove"), what the difference between "static" and "scrolling" for voice is, exactly how voice difficulty changes (does it get stricter? use speech recognition? etc.)
   
   Instead, it regurgitates the game pamphlet, provides hints straight out of the in-game tutorials, then pads out the majority of the pages with useless song-by-song information. The "history" of the song is basic copyright dates and authors, no trivia or actual history of the songs, followed by someone's opinion of how hard they found it at medium and hard (nothing for easy or expert) where my mileage definitely differed. What appears to be little bits of trivia scattered around the page is straight out of the game load screens.
   
   This really ends up being worthless, which is a shame. The excellent game deserves so much more.

5 comments about Dragon Warrior VII (Prima's Official Strategy Guide).

1. Indeed, it took me over 100 hours to finish DW7, it was a satisfying game. It was very satisfying, but also frustrating for I got stuck few times here and there. I got really stuck at one point and bought this strategy guide. I expected a full blown walk through with detailed step by step, however, I was left with more frustration because of this strategy guide rather than feeling liberated from the agony of being stuck.
   
   It doesn't have a WHOLE WORLD MAP, which confused me lot of times, and how to reach certain location was just vague. It would've been a much better strategy guide if they simply put a whole map with arrow pointing at every location with their name-I'm not sure if the writer's intention was for the gamers to figure out the rest of the game with only structured guide, so the gamers can have their own share of 'fun' to figure out the way- and I don't think that's 'funny' or 'justified' when we are talking about a game strategy walk through. Information regarding items, weapons, and armors was insufficient. For instance, if you can only get this weapon from an enemy, it doesn't specify which enemy you would have to fight to get it, or though the whole walk through does show where to get certain items from either treasure box or from a certain event, on the weapon/armor list, it doesn't say anything, doesn't specify specific location.

   If you are looking for something 'barely' enough to proceed with your games, this might work fairly well, however sometimes, that 'barely enough' isn't enough, really.
   I don't know what to say.. unless the price is really reasonable, I wouldn't recommend this strategy guide at all. But again, what are you gonna do when you are really stuck, right? It's a hughes game and I'm sure it might be an impossible job to really create a thorough walk through, however, just basic element and content of any walk through for RPG was missing, thus making it very frustrating. Good Luck.




2. Wonderful!! A great help. it was organized, a step by step success to defeat the Demon Lord and restore the world of all it's lands free of evil. Every aspect of this strategy is in FULL detail. gives great information on the weaponary, armory, Items and special item showing a pictures and plenty of information, gives an entire beastiary (monster) selection as well giving from Hp to capture rate. tells you almost exactly where every last Shard is and where the pedistals are in the temple to use them. a MUST have to know all the information in this great game



3. Wonderful!! A great help. it was organized, a step by step success to defeat the Demon Lord and restore the world of all it's lands free of evil. Every aspect of this strategy is in FULL detail. gives great information on the weaponary, armory, Items and special item showing a pictures and plenty of information, gives an entire beastiary (monster) selection as well giving from Hp to capture rate. tells you almost exactly where every last Shard is and where the pedistals are in the temple to use them. a MUST have to know all the information in this great game



4. While it doesn't look like much, the author packed a crazy amount of useful information in this small book! The job/level system is a little overwhelming at first, and the author sumerized it up nicely in the beginning of the book. I found this great since you don't have to read through the walkthrough section and spoil the story for yourself. When you get stuck, each part of the game has a it's own section in the walkthrough, so it's really easy to find. There are tips-0-plenty throughout the guide as well. Over all, I am very satisfied, and recommend this guide to anyone who wants to get the most out of Dragon Warrior VII.



5. This book will come in very handy if you buy the game. The game takes between 100-250 hours to beat and is extremely difficult. Without the book it will probably take well over 500 hours to beat it, if you don't give up. My brother is hard-core gaming geek and has well over 200 RPG games. He has only needed a strategy guide and help 3 times and this was one of the games he needed it for. If you can beat the game without it, you are a genius.
   
   It gives you walkthroughs and maps of most of the levels. It also has a guide in the back of all the monsters you will face and what they drop, etc. Weapons, armour, items, characters, etc. also have their own sections. The only thing I don't like and I really can't fault Prima for it is, is that it does not give "all" the info you need. For example, it tells you that there is a couple of bonus dungeons but, not how to get all the pieces to open them. This may seem small but, I tried for weeks to figure out how to open them. After 3 three weeks I finally found something on the internet how to open them. Another is tiny medals, there are tiny medals in this game to upgrade weapons. You do not really need them but I wanted to try to find all. The prima guide gives you the location for a lot of them but not all. You need to 100 to open the bonus dungeons and if you invest this much time into a game it will make your blood boil if you can't find them. Find that stuff at Dragon's Den on the internet. Other than these small things the guide gives easy explanations how to beat the game, for the most part. BUY IT!