1 comments about Yu-Gi-Oh! The Falsebound Kingdom (Prima's Official Strategy Guide).

1. Prima seems to have built a reputation with their guides, though not the best sometimes, they still are fairly decent from the few I have from them. Unfortunately, this guide fails the standard test.
   On first look, the guide seems good enough, diffrent sections for each campaign, in order by mission, plus a item list and monster list. Then it goes downhill. The last part for both the Kaiba and Yugi mission gets clumped together at the end of the guide, and though its in order by mission, the information is sometimes out of order, not concrete enough, or not there. It also isn't very well organized, and can get confusing. Some of the strategies aren't the best from what I have found.
   The Item lists seem alright enough, but the monster list could have been better. It doesn't list where to find the monster, nor any of the abilities that the monster has and learns as it levels up. And I'm not 100% sure, but I think I found some monsters missing from the list as well.
   If you just need basic information, this guide will have to do since it is the only one out there. However, you'll probably find more detailed information on gaming websites, that's where I went when the guide wasn't clarifying things.

5 comments about Jagged Alliance 2 Official Strategies & Secrets.

1. Lots of the book is already available to you in the game, e.g. MANY pages are devoted to telling you all the various merc stats, and totally obvious strategy "hints" ("don't get bunched up", "use covering terrain"). The only really worthwhile part is the walkthrough. If the book was half as thick and cost half as much i'd like it a lot better.



2. If you have played the game for more than ten hours and still have questions, find an unofficial internet source. MUCH of the book is filler. It does explain stats a little better and gives merc interactions... thats about it. It didn't say how and which items to merge and what they do. I've had more success with online FAQ's.



3. This title has very little going for it, and as a result isn't worth buying unless you are a complete newbie with no internet savvy to find better guides on the internet. Following is a list of pros and cons on the guide, broken up into two parts, 1: Strats and Stats and 2: Walkthrough:

   In part 1, the guide is far from comprehensive, and sometimes even goes to the extent of omitting critically important information. Also missing is a section detailing the inner workings of the game and its mechanics, which would go a long way toward helping gamers enjoy the game to its fullest.

   Chapter One (mercenary stats and profiles) is incomplete in that it does not distinguish between normal and expert proficiencies in skills; therefore Bull, a mercenary, who has hand-to-hand (expert) as his skill, is listed as having only hand-to-hand. The character descriptions are intended to be colourful rather than definitive, and more importantly, do not indicate "psycho" personalities, which can greatly affect one's opinion of that mercenary. Also missing is a "like" list in contrast to the "hate" list.

   Chapter Three and Four contradict each other with respect to the Crepitus enemies. Chapter Three states that more detailed information on the Crepitus, such as breakdowns on their type, stats and armament, is available in Chapter Four, but no such information is available, save a paragraph or two that really doesn't answer any questions. Other than that, there are no stats or at least stat ranges for the different types of enemy soldiers and bloodcats.

   Chapter Five is the one with the most glaring and unforgivable or errors. First off is the presentation of the equipment data: all weapons and armour are described as whole categories, not individually, and their data is confusingly presented in a table that raises questions more frequently than it answers them. For example, the AP cost to fire the weapon should be reflected in the table, and not the number of rounds that it can fire in four rounds.

   Secondly, there are serious errors in the text, though I am sure the author knows they are mistakes: the Automag III is mistaken for the Glock 18, the M870 for the M79 and the thrown grenades have some of their types mixed up. 40mm grenade rounds are not even given a passing mention, and the CAWS gives 50 points of damage on one page and 40 points on the next. Some of these errors are actually corrected in the second part of the guide, which goes to show that it was put together rather shoddily. Explosives like TNT, RDX and C1 and mines and detonators are skipped entirely and valuable information on gun attachments are given a passing mention. There is no information on how to combine items or an explanation on what each item does in the game (only the most important ones are mentioned). Ammunition is also very loosely dealt with; no lowdowns on AP, Ball and HP ammunition, and possible locations and availability of equipment is also given a miss.

   In part 2, the walkthrough is designed to get one to the endgame in a fast and direct manner. It does not deviate from this path to tell one about all the game has to offer, but instead tells you how to do most of the quests and then get straight to Meduna to defeat Deidranna. In short, the details follow:-

   -- there is no map/walkthrough for the Tixa basement and secret level

   -- Shank is not listed as an NPC and the fact that Estoni can be a refueling point is given only a passing mention

   -- the scientist Madlab and his robot have been completely omitted

   -- there is no walkthrough for the hillbillies farm sector

   -- three Meduna sectors are skipped in the walkthrough because you can skip them and still win the game

   -- special solutions to quests are not mentioned, like the mustard gas kill, Maria helicopter rescue and buying 2 hummers for the price of one, either because they are bugs or the author is unaware of them

   Generally speaking, the guide is lacking in the explanation of the game's mechanics like calculating accuracy, action, healing and repair points, and what triggers the availability of equipment through the various arms and equipment dealers. There are very little hard facts and figures available, and what little is available is sometimes even incorrect. The guide also doesn't list the changes in the game through the various patches and how they affect gameplay. Great secrets and tips like the the duplication of items and a random secret cache in M9 or an alternative POW sector in N7 are also not mentioned. What the guide does have going for it is this: it has an accurate Q&A section for the IMP quiz and explains the inner workings of the mercenary generation process correctly (but it doesn't mention the "90210" load function), and it tells one how to recruit Terry the terrorist, which is something even the internet hasn't mentioned.

   Overall, the disappointment that this guide is can be explained in one or more of three ways: (1) Bart Farkas is a poor choice of author for this game; maybe another person could have done better, (2) another publisher, possibly Prima, may have done a better job with this, since they usually pay much more attention to game mechanics and statistics, and/or (3) Sirtech/Talonsoft deliberately withheld useful data on the game (unlikely in my opinion).




4. While it is true that this book does leave a lot of the detail on the game out, it is useful for some things. It does give detailed information on the Mercs that you would otherwise have to look up in the game itself (a tedious and multi-click operation). The book is thick on statistics and maps. There's lot of 'background' information given for characters and quests. However, what is left out is glaringly conspicous by its absence...

   I disagree heartedly with many of the so-called 'walkthroughs'. You try some of these strategies and you'll be doing it the hard way and putting lots of soldiers in bodybags. Night ops are completely left out of discussions. And leaving out such things as the Hick quest is unforgiveable (get up on the roof of the storage building and picking off enemies is a good way to handle them, BTW).

   I'm still glad I bought this book as I like having printed out sources of information with pictures. But find good strat guides on the Internet such as Patusco's strategy guide for Jagged Alliance 2 as well. Jagged Alliance is an addictive and incredible game, but it can be as hard as heck, you'll need all the help you can get!




5. As a long time JA and now JA2 fan I was only somewhat pleased with this lacluster effort by Mr. Farkas. There are several good strategies on how to apporach sectors, what items to combine, and what merc's make a good team. There is about 100 pages too many about the history of each character and the game.

5 comments about Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy: Prima's Official Strategy Guide.

1. I think this game is so cool, but so short! I got the game on christmas and I beated it in 3 days!!!! but the stragety guide helped me alot because I couldn't find 1 specific power cell...



2. Very disappointed in this guide because it uses low quailty paper instead of the high quaility glossy paper that produces clean, sharp photos of the game screens. Photos are low quality and many are useless because its hard to tell what is what. Also, there are no maps like in the ones in the Spyro series of guides. However, there some good tips in the text section of the guide. Great game but poor manual.



3. I bought this guide because I thought it'll help with the game. However, I received a very short magazine-like book which had very short description of what to do. It does mention what to do, but left out a lot of description. It went from one thing to the other without filling in the gap in between the two different subjects. Overall, this guide left me searching all over the place and I've had to figure out most of the things by myself with the little clues the guide had to offer. Sure there are a few nice pictures to look and it slightly helpful but very very short description, but I wouldn't suggest purchasing this guide if you aren't very experienced with this game (like me). Its probably better to look for a walkthrough on the internet, even though it may be a little less convenient .



4. This game sort of came to a stand still for my daughter as she couldn't figure out certain things and how to get past certain areas. Very frustrating for her. But this book has opened up the game for her and allowed her to be able to go further in the game. If strategy books are used as my daughter uses them (to help break through the part she is unable to figure out) then these books are very helpful.



5. This book is an ideal companion to the game. It helps you find all the 100 orbs and including the 101st orb that is usually missed in that mine cart scene near the end. Makes the game easier to play but also reveals spoilers.

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

1. I wouldn't recommend it. Hard to get a game of people because noone plays. Things are imbalanced. Save your money like I wish I did.



2. I have been playing Shadowrun at least 5 nights a week since it was released. So I bought this guide mainly to have a nice manual on hand since I like the game so much.
   
   However, I was pleasantly surprised. There were many great gameplay tips which I hadn't seen or thought of before. There are STATS for every single race, weapon, and magical item (I bet you don't know how many health points a tree has), and there are detailed drawings and descriptions of every single map.
   
   This is an awesome game guide and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys Shadowrun, even experienced players like myself.

1 comments about Wing Commander: Prophecy: The Official Strategy Guide (Secrets of the Games Series,).

1. A well structured, full detailed guide that serves not only as a "what to do" book, but also as an improver of your stats on replaying the missions. Think of it as the mission notes every pilot has strapped up his right foot in the cockpit. And as it has the ORIGIN approval on it, it is well thought to be a masterpiece (my experience in all ORIGIN approved guides for the Wing Commander ga- mes, tells me so). Then you will say why the four stars (with five stars top rating) ? Its black and white layout compared to WING 4 colour enhanc- ed guide, seems like a step back (viz WING3 guide) When everything else is in full detail, from the backstory, your ships, allien ships, original Mead's skteches, mission profiles, full games paths, aso, the user would at least expect some full colour screenshots and ship photos, not to forget the lavish plot frames of WING 4 guide. Finally, a must have of all Wing Commander fans and also a comprehensive sidekick for all space simulation fans. And it saves your eyes from Dalt- onism (dicease where you see the red colour as green - have you seen "Colour of the night" with Willis ?).

5 comments about Dungeon Survival Guide (Dungeon & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying).

1. Do NOT buy this! It's mostly a rehash of portions of the Dungeon Master's Guide + a catalog of some other Wizards products. Total. Waste. Of. Cash.



2. When I saw the beautiful cover of this book I naturally picked it up. I mean "Dungeon Survival Guide" sounds great doesn't it? Does it give me lists of special gear and generic dos and don't in dungeons? Does it give me a few maps and tactical examples of how to approach a difficult objective? What about suggested strategies for different types of monsters. Not even close.
   
   After hefting it and becoming aware that it had fewer pages than some comic books I thought, "uh oh, this must be some kind of promotional material". You know, something pretty and inexpensive for the coffee table (not that I have a coffee table). Then I flipped the book over and saw the price tag.
   
   20$ This product is clearly mis tagged I think to myself. Scanning through the book was even more of a disappointment. It's basically a spoiler guide for a series of products, most of which I'll never play or probably even see (though oddly they look like advertisements in this "book").
   
   This is no longer a matter of being frustrated. I laughed. I kept laughing all the way back to my car. My friends and I joke all the time about how greedy WOTC has become, reducing page counts, skimping on indexes, and regurgitating material. We joked, in complete fiction, that one day something like this would happen. Wow, it finally has.
   
   Whatever you do, *go look at this book in person* (DO NOT ORDER IT ONLINE).
   
   Once you have had it in your hands for a couple of minutes, it'll most likely be right back on the shelf. When it hits $5, maybe.



3. I checked this book out from the library, just to see for myself if all of these negative reviews are warranted. Unfortunately, I think they are.
   
   First off, this is a 64 page book. That's shorter than many magazines. Yet the book is a hardcover, even though the cover is just as thick as the pages contained therein. The only possible explanation for the cover is that Wizards thinks the information inside is so invaluable, that you'll be returning to this book time and time again. Only a hardcover can provide that kind of durability.
   
   The information inside; however, is anything but invaluable.
   
   The first half of the book is reminiscent of material found in the `D&D for Dummies' and `Dungeon Master for Dummies' books. But it's less useful. It's mostly a soft overview of what D&D is about. Party roles are covered (Fighters fight things, Rogues find traps, Clerics heal and Wizards cast spells). You get a rundown of what makes a dungeon a dungeon (they tend to be underground. Who knew?). And you get a basic guide to adventuring (what equipment you need and how to use it). Then; after all of that exposition, the reader is treated to almost zero information about the actual mechanics behind playing the game. What were they thinking?
   
   The rest of the book is devoted to two page mini articles about D&D adventures that have been released over the years. I think their intent is to be how-to guides. But they're mostly a random collection of quotes from fictitious adventurers, very generalized bullet points regarding how to survive (it turns out the crampons are really handy in the ice and snow), plus overviews of various aspects of the dungeon. There's also a tiny picture of the adventure's cover, with a note as to the author and its publication date.
   
   I have no idea how or why any of the adventures featured were chosen. The list is apparently meant to be a greatest hits collection, but many of D&D's best known adventures are nowhere to be found. Several of the chosen adventures have been out of print for 15 years or more, so this how-to guide is a little late in the making. A guide is great and all, but not if you can't actually buy a copy of the adventure you're being guided through without searching used bookstores and auction sites. Once again, what were they thinking?
   
   I'll finish with the artwork. There is a lot of full color art for your eyes to enjoy. Almost all of it can be found in books that have already been published. Much of it is pulled straight from the D&D core rulebooks, which is a shame. Someone at Wizards had a field day with Photoshop.
   
   So, one star it is. Because I can't vote zero.



4. I know that the folks at Hasbr ... er Wizards are super de dooper psyched that they have a shiny new edition out next year, but did they have to put out a hardcover catalog of their previously-published adventures and charge $20 for it? Is it a rule that they have to publish at least one suppliment a month? I really can't see why they wouldn't put out something that wasn't edition specific but yet had some good ideas for dungeon crafting. I wish you could give no stars ...this turkey would get it. I am only glad I was able to peruse this piece of trash at my local bookstore so I didn't waste my money on it.



5. I have been playing Dungeons and Dragons for over twenty years, so when I saw they were releasing a "Dungeon Survival Guide" as a part of of their young readers line of books, I wondered what it would be like. I have already read the Practical Guide to Dragons and A Practical Guide to Monsters, and was impressed at the way that Wizards was trying to reach out to a new audience.
   
   Both of those books were attached to young readers book series, while the Dungeon Survival Guide isn't. It is, in its own way, attached to the role playing game directly instead. Most veteran gamers will wince at this book, we can be an entitled lot thinking that all products are just for us.
   
   But, if I were ten years old again and was wondering what all those guys at the book/comic shop were talking about when discussing "White Plume Mountain" or "The Temple of Elemental Evil," this book would have given me just enough information to want to play the game attached with the book. In fact, as I read it as a veteran gamer, I find the stroll through my own memories to be almost as pleasant.
   
   This book isn't for everyone, and it might be a little pricey for a walk down memory lane, but if you are a parent wondering what kinds of adventures D&D typically expects its players to participate in -- then this is the book for you.

2 comments about Manhunt Official Strategy Guide.

1. First off, ignore the above "from the back cover" and "book description" (which give the same disinformation). Not only doesn't the "back cover" say all that but there are no maps to be found in this guide (the first time that I can recall a BradyGames guide being without one). Be that as it may, BradyGames comes through again with another comprehensive strategy guide for another Rockstar game aimed squarely at a mature audience. It gives a complete rundown of all the moves, execution techniques, and the weapons you'll need to survive through 20 missions that Starkweather puts you through. While having no maps, each of the 20 mission walkthroughs are thoroughly explained with plenty of clear pictures to show you want you're up against. Speaking of which, the gangs you'll encounter include the Hoods, the Innocentz, the Smileys, the Wardogs, and the Skinz (as well as the Carcer City police, their S.W.A.T. team, and Starkweather's own Cerberus force). For each mission completed with 3 stars (or better) in either mode, you are awarded a bonus artwork panel. For each set of 5 missions finished with 3 stars (or better - also in either mode), you are awarded one of 4 bonus missions. Tips for these (and walkthroughs for the last 2) are found in the back of the guide. Also in the back of the guide, you will find general tips, hardcore tips, explainations on improving your score (to unlock the codes), and how to unlock the bonus features and missions. An excellent guide to have on hand at 3 in the morning when you get stuck playing the guilty pleasure that is Manhunt. Mr. Starkweather, I'm ready for my close-up.



2. Not to say I don't like Manhunt, I love it, it is a little hard to read the stratagy guide. The pictures are itty-bitty and are inpossible to read.
   
   Pros:
   tells a lot about the game.
   
   cons. itty-bitty pictures.

2 comments about The Matrix Online (Prima Official Game Guide).

1. for mmo's this just happens to lack in so many area's, waste of time, and even if it was fun to play, which it isn't, the guide give you zero usable information



2. One of the best MMO's out there but this guide is so out of date that it's a waste of money.
   
   The truth is you just have to get in the game and work it out from there. The community is very helpful and there are some awesome fansites. But there has never been a good printed guide and probably never will be so don't waste your money.
   
   Combat in MxO is beyond anything you will find in any other MMO. The Sci Fi edgy environment beats out fantasy dragon hunting and toonish graphics any day. If you like the movies, the game is immersed in the continuing story from the end of the third film, supported by Chadwick and the Wackowskis.
   
   MxO is a true RPG Sci Fi MMO with lots to offer. But it's a challenging game to learn. Don't bother if you're looking for spoon fed.

5 comments about Victory at Video Poker.

1. You can get the edge at these games, if you know the right ones to play and the proper strategies. You'll find them in this book. Ignore advice to the contrary by foolish reviewers. The right video poker machines can be beaten!



2. Scoblete is victorious!!!!!!!! This was the first book I picked up written by him, because it was recommended by several of my friends. I figured he was just another gambling writer......but I was wrong. He is amazing!!!! I've never read anything like it!!! I read 2 more of his books after this one, and I only had great things to say. I'll definately be reading more of them. Scoblete is magnificent.



3. Words cannot describe this book...it is simply amazing. I'm a huge Frank Scoblete fan, and this book has to be one of my all time favorites. It tells you everything you need to know. It's great!



4. The strategies in this book are written in plain English and are easily memorized and understood. You would think a book such as this would be dry but Scoblete has enough filler material in addition to the strategies that the book is actually quite enjoyable to read. And it has improved my video poker game immensely.



5. This book was one of the video poker books I read while I was still something of an occasional amateur at this game. To his credit, Scoblete covered many different types of video poker games in the book, and was one of the first writers to question whether the payback of the machine could be determined from the displayed payback schedule for each winning hand. Now, the word is out that in New York the video poker banks of machines are controlled by a master computer, and hitting winning hands depend on the master computer and not on the skillfulness of the player--the same as a lottery. I am also suspicious of video poker machines at tribal casinos and aboard cruise ships. In Nevada and Mississippi the payback of the vp machines is based on the posted payback schedule and a randomly shuffled deck.
   
   The bad is that the author obviously is not a professional vp player, and scoffs at the idea that some professional gamblers make their living off vp (they do!). I believe vp is not the author's preferred game. Some of the strategy heirarchies are difficult to understand or wrong.
   
   The author is prolific, and knows a great deal about casino gambling in all its faces. His best book, in my view, is "Guerrilla Gambling." He is referred to in my book "Casino Gambling for Fun and Profit: Second Edition."
   
   J. Edward Crowder

4 comments about Super Smash Bros. BradyGAMES Official Strategy Guide (Brady Games).

1. Regardless of what other people tell you, BradyGames' books totally rule in strategy, explanation, and just plain detail. This book gives you move lists for every player and all the items' description AND how to get all the secret players. Trust me, if you have the game, and don't have this book then you need to get it pronto.



2. The book is ok but i unlocked all players without this book & i figured out every move in training mode + go to pokemon.com & click on super smash bros. & you can get free info on moves, items, hidden characters & the stages. this book got 2 stars becase it hade very little info that the internet didn't & you pay for the book save your money & look on the internet



3. Why do you need a strategy guide for a fighting game? If you practice long enough you can learn the moves anyway! Like the other review said, you can go on the internet and get more info. on unlocking characters and stuff.



4. This book taught me how to get Mushroom Kingdom, Captain Falcon, Jigglepuff, the little earthbound guy, and Luigi.