5 comments about Official Final Fantasy VII Strategy Guide, Playstation Version.

1. really helps with the game when you get lost or if you want to find the hidden things.



2. My husband had this book with his game and used it alot. However...he forgot to put it up and our 2 yr old son got ahold of it and he had to get a new one!



3. This guide is great, it covers everything in the entire game. It even arrived 2 days earlier than expected!! Definitely worth the money.



4. Finally playing out FFVII to learn the original story. This walkthrough is a helpful guide through the complex world of Midgar, Shinra, Cloud and party, Chocobos and monsters. Loads of technical info help equip Materia and items, weapons and accessories properly.
   The relatively low resolution of the Playstation game is a difficulty present generation gamers need help with (like me). It is sometimes hard to tell just what is going on when the charachters look like they are Lego people shooting pixels.
   At times I found the walkthrough maps dense, too dark, and filled with letters and numbers not easy to relate to a legend.
   The sequence of your wanderings is essential for a coherent story. This walkthrough pays close attention to this need and has allowed me to experience the memorable encounters and hi-res scenes recently recreated in Advent Children so well.
   This walkthrough is already dog-eared and worn though I'm barely halfway through. I'm sure it will have served me well to the 'Final' boss.



5. I bought this guide first of all as a Final Fantasy series fan and in second place to get all my game could provide. I just find the guide pretty complete, I got to know some summons I never watched before. Overall is a very useful resource if you have the game or just to have an item of FF series to collect.

5 comments about Final Fantasy X Official Strategy Guide.

1. It would be impossible to accomplish all of things you can accomplish in this game without some help. There are simply too many secret places, special weapons, hidden aeons, etc. than one person could unlock on their own. The book is easy to use, easy to understand, and put together in a helpful, comprehensive manner. You will enjoy this game even more with this valuable resource.



2. There is no getting lost in the game with this by your side. You'll always know what you need to do next.



3. Helped in some complicated situation, very good quality for a book, in color,i received it very quickly with the other final fantasy book that i had ordered. very good product



4. This guide works great for me. Easy to find the more obscure quests and items.



5. The item is exactly as described. It shows everthing needed to beat the game easily. Great on showing all bonus features too.

5 comments about Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides) (Prima Official Game Guides).

1. First let me say that the omissions noted by the other reviewers are correct. A detailed index to the quests would be helpful. I've have had to thumb through the various quests within a general category to find the side quest I'm solving. Once you are on a major category, like the Mages Guild stuff, the manual trundles right along, quest after quest, and you can follow them in order as you proceed, with no need for an index, just a book marker. The trick is to stay off random side quests that someone in the game requests. Just say no. Stick to the main categorical quests and the manual can be your best friend.
   
   If you get duped into a solving a random quest while solving individual quests under a general category, there is plenty of online help for locating random quests; one site provides a detailed world map. My old friend google helped me find them.
   
   So, why buy this laboriously-written manual?
   
   First of all, it's beautifully illustrated, well-written, and almost devilishly detailed. To locate a random quest - I should have said `no' to the bugger -- I go to a website which is nicely indexed, and follow the walk-through. Usually, the Prima version when I find it is more complete and helpful than the on-line walk-through.
   
   The world map the game itself provides (Play Station 3) is helpful, as well as its individual maps. The game provides pointers on the map to follow and also on its compass when your role-playing hombre is trudging through hill and dale.
   
   From my experience, I have found the manual well-worth purchasing. I recommend buying it, and am giving it five stars.
   
   Someone put tons of work into this manual, a work of love, and should be financially compensated, this at the very least.



2. This book provides helpful maps and walk thrus for all missions. It's easy to use too so if you get stuck on a part of the game it won't take you long to find the answer to your problem. It was well worth the very reasonable price I paid for it.



3. Just yesterday I received my copy of this Prima guide from Amazon. I've not had much time to look at it but I did want to mention right away that my copy does indeed have the missing maps that some buyers did not get. When I ordered the book I went ahead and downloaded and printed the missing pages from Prima's website, but this turned out to be unnecessary!
   
   Maybe I got lucky, or else they've corrected the mistake and the newer editions have all the maps.
   
   Can't comment on the content just yet, but the book itself is beautifully illustrated and of high quality.



4. This is an excellent guide and I would like to point out my book does have the map section printed out at the end of the book, awsome!



5. I don't know how I could play the game without this gotta have book. It has helped me get through a lot of the quests and gates and gives you a detailed, play by play instruction on the main quest that keeps you from dying too may times. Great book... A must have for the game.

5 comments about Pokemon Diamond & Pearl Pokedex: Prima Official Game Guide Vol. 2 (Prima Official Game Guides).

1. Fantastic reference for my 7-year old son. Easy to read and follow. Has really enhanced his enjoyment of the game.



2. Even as a mother I can get into Star Wars, Bionicles, dinosaurs, and other hobbies of my 7-year old son, however, I can't say that I enjoy Pokemon. But noone can deny that the over the decade-old Pokemon craze is here to stay as witnessed by the phenomenal success of Diamond and Pearl. My son refers to this book like a bible and Pokemon Diamond is the only DS game that he hasn't grown tired of even though he's had it almost a year.



3. At first when I bought this I thought it was going to just sit around, but as my son played through Pokemon Diamond he started referring to it more and more. The best description of it now is "very worn".
   
   The fact that every pokemon is listed along with where it can be obtained is its best selling point. The book is really geared for after you've completed the game portion and are working on "catching them all".
   
   You could probably find all of the information in this book online, but not in one location. Having it there to refer to while playing is easily worth the cost.



4. Great guide for kids to look at. My kids have all the Pokemon games and they like to look at this for reference



5. While I don't know much about Pokemon, my son loved this book when he received it. It has everything you need to know about Pokemon all in one book - according to my son. He was a very satisfied customer :)

1 comments about FINAL FANTASY TACTICS A2: Grimoire of the Rift Official Strategy Guide.

1. Once again, Final Fantasy goes tactical. Tactics A2, Grimoire of the Rift is by far one of the biggest Strategy RPGs you can find on a handheld system. With nearly 400 missions you may find yourself wanting some help to get through it all, as well as some of the game's more complex offerings. The strategy guide will more than likely help you out in more than a few situations. Much of the guide is pretty detailed. If you're stuck, this is the guide to get.
   
   It waste no time jumping into most of the basics of the game. While Grimoire of the Rift seems fairly straight forward, this is definitely useful to those still feeling little confused about the games mechanics.
   
   Perhaps one of the more rewarding things about the guide is the breakdown of each race and every single job in the game. Showcasing how each race grows with certain jobs and detailing all the job abilities. It'll also tell you how to unlock each job. It'll also show you the growth and a few tactics to using the job. There's actually a lot of information here that can be very beneficial to what you need to survive.
   
   Finally, the game gives you a brief overview of combat. For experienced Tactical Strategy RPG players, this isn't something you'll need. If this is your first time playing a Final Fantasy Tactics game, however, some of this information is probably much more important than it appears. What all players may want to take a look at, however, is all the information pertaining to the laws. here is where they have a list of each law, what it means, and a note or two on how to overcome the law.
   
   After all this basic stuff, the guide finally jumps into the main missions. When it comes to the tactical front, there isn't always a lot you can say in most missions. While the maps are good, showing you where your units are placed and where your enemies will be, as well as pointing out treasure and traps the overall strategies are fairly basic. It's hard to penalize the guide for this, however, given that there are so many ways to go about any battle. Rather than telling how to go about the battle, it's more focused on helping you get set up and pointing out the important aspects. They'll suggest certain units to deploy, but for the most part, they let the player go about the way he or she feels is best. Much of what's helpful in the guide is not found within the walkthrough. It's found in much of its other content.
   
   It'll also cover all the side missions. It'll help you set up dispatches if need be. Not every optional mission has a map, but there's really no need for there to be a map for every mission. After all, you'll visit some areas a ton of times. There's also a lot of information on the auctions if need be.
   
   One of the most helpful aspects of this guide, however, is the Clan Trials. This will tell you everything you need to know about them. The strategies here are fairly in depth and it'll tell you the info you need to know for each difficulty concerning it.
   
   After all this information, the guide goes into the monsters data. At first it will show just about all the loot monsters can drop. After that, however, it goes into a huge bestiary. The bestiary is very exhaustive. Especially considering many guides to a Tactical RPG don't have them. But you will learn just about everything about your enemy. Including how far they can move and each and every ability they're capable of using.
   
   Finally, there's a lot of data on the weapons, armor, etc. Each piece of equipment also tells you what you'll need to create it in the bazaar.
   
   There's a lot of information crammed in this guide. And it'll actually tell you how to get all of it. Including unlocking all the hidden characters and job classes. It also manages to be a very well organized guide, and has a good presentation.
   
   If you're looking for an immensely detailed database on Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, then look no further than this guide. It's incredibly detailed and user friendly. There are fewer resources for Final Fantasy Tactics A2 as good as this one.

5 comments about Grand Theft Auto IV Signature Series Guide (Bradygames Signature).

1. The game is huge in scope, and so is this book. It guides you through just about everything, so I play with it on my lap. I've been pretty unimpressed by guidebooks before, but this one has a ton of content, down to every single flying rat, with pictures of them! Having accurate maps of all the pickups goes a long way, and is a time saver for folks who want to focus on the missions.



2. Game wasn't very much fun, but if it had been, this guide would've been okay. A little confusing, but manageable.



3. There is so much to GTA IV that without this guide, it would be extremely hard to hit that 100% completion.. This guide takes you though all the details of the game, mission by mission.. Also includes things like location of every stunt jump and flying rat.. Details of the jobs for Jacob, Brucie's Wanted Car List, Stevie's Wanted Car List, Street Races, Random Characters, Most Wanted Missions, Assassination Missions, and also all your friends and girlfriends favorite activities..
   
   The only thing I do not like about this guide is the odd jobs and friends activities are mixed in with the missions.. So I have to flip back and find what I'm looking for.. If they had kept that separated it would be a little easier.. All in all I consider this guide a necessity.



4. This is a great product with an extensive range of information to assist you with missions and various other need to knows. Would have been good if they included a car guide.



5. i bought the guide just to find out what there was to do in the game. the guide was straight forward and easy to use.

4 comments about Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots -- Limited Edition Collector's Guide: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides).

1. Don't get me wrong. This guide is awesome. So why only 3 stars? Well, I have to be blatantly honest. The maps are somewhat very difficult to read at times. When playing the game, you press start to get a view of the map when you start to feel a little lost, or just want to know where you might be. When you do this, you get a choice of viewing it in two different ways. One is a flat, un-detailed map, while the other is a 3-d map that can be rotated. That's where the problem comes in. The maps in this book are very detailed and pretty much don't look exactly like what you might be looking at on your tv screen map. Also the way that the map is shown in the book is often shown in a different angle then what you see on your tv, making it difficult to even tell where you are.
   I am sure that somebody can figure alot of this stuff out with some time, but why would you? I want to play the game, not read a book all of the time while I play. I really just want to see some readable maps, and then I'll decide to read the other stuff maybe later. I have got lost numerous times, thinking that the map in the book I was looking at, was not the one I was playing on. Well usually it was, but I had a real hard time figuring it out. They should have done the maps in this book, like they did in the Metal Gear3 Snake Eater book. There you got a clear example of great maps.
   Other than that rant, I do have to recommend this book to all Metal Gear fans because all of the content is truly awesome. It has some real cool pics of the characters and does give some decent advice. You can't go wrong getting this guide, but really don't expect an easy time looking at the maps.



2. It's a decent guide. The maps can get a little confusing, but in no time you should be able to figure out the layout. The information and how to unlock secrets are useful and even the little extra stuff at the end is neat.
   
   I think it compliments MGS4 pretty well. Must have for MGS collectors.



3. This Limited Edition Collector's guide is a MUST have for fans of the game. It comes with a nice Collectible Lithograph and the guide is packed with colorful pictures and content. The game playthrough guide is spoiler free so you can follow along with the game and not spoil any key elements to the story. There are also more detailed sections (with spoilers) that you can follow along with after you beat the game the first time so that you can work to uncover all of the secrets in the game.
   
   It's great that the guide also has a complete Synopsis of the whole Metal Gear Story (not just from Metal Gear Solid 4). This is great because the game and series is packed heavy with soooo much story that it's helpful to be able to go back to the synopsis and reaffirm the story. Definetly a nice hard cover guide that I highly reccommend.



4. This Metal Gear Guide book is the perfect guide book if you are new to the series because it tells you back story and explains all of the characters quite well. It also has a lithograph included that is a limited numbered edition. The walkthroughs are very detailed and the extras and secrets to getting the goods are all very thorough and the best I have seen in a guide book in a while. If you are new to the series or you just like the extra pizzazz then this guide will be the one for you.

5 comments about Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides).

1. This guide is well written with lots of visual aids and screenshots. First it gives you an overview with the basic skills needed to play the game, then it gives you a list of characters with their special abilities. This is important because you will need certain characters to get to specific items in the game. The next chapter is a walkthrough, so you can read up to a point without spoiling the next level if you feel adventuresome enough to try your skills without the guide. Finally, there is a bonus chapter to make sure you have not overlooked anything. This should really add to your enjoyment of the game.



2. This guide has pretty much everything you can think of about the game. The step-by-step for each section of the game is well explained and contains very useful hints throughout that did come in handy. Definitely a must if you are trying to get to 100% or trying to attain all the achievements and artifacts. The bonus section explains how to get the secret characters and play the extra levels that one would otherwise never know about. Only negative thing I could think of is that it does not contain a section with cheat codes. Overall its a nice quick reference, instead of searching online.



3. this is a very good game guide. help us out a lot. would recommend it.



4. This guide is great. It got me through all the hard puzzles and showed me all the hidden treasures. If you get stuck in any level, get this book.



5. This book contains the location of all the items in the game and is overall very straight foward.

1 comments about Penny Arcade Volume 5: The Case Of The Mummy's Gold (Penny Arcade).

1. This book rocks. Not that there has been one so far I didn't love, but the instant I finished reading this one I went through and read it again. I can't believe how much gold there is in this year. Some of the earlier books were interesting in a historical sense (as Tycho outright admits) but I think this is the first book where they have found personalities for Gabe and Tycho that allow them to make the most use of them, and their comedy is always on. I think some people were a bit disappointed in "Birds are Weird" because of the lack of extras, this one has some interesting extras I think you'll like.

5 comments about Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides).

1. Piggyback Interactive doesn't release a lot of guides within the United States, but when they do, it's a treat. Their guides are far more detailed and organized than BradyGAMES or Prima. In the past I've described Piggyback Interactive guides as being a companion rather than just another guidebook. The same is true of the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Strategy Guide. Developed on site at Konami studios, this is easily the best Metal Gear Solid 4 resource you can find, and it ensures the game is still fun to play.
   
   The guide begins with a heartfelt foreward from Kojima himself, ensuring that the guide will help any gamer to understand the game better and to make sure the gamer enjoys the game for himself. The collaborative effort you get in the end shows that Kojima and Piggyback Interactive, kept their word.
   
   After the foreward there's an exhaustive "How to Play" section which will showcase some of the tactics you can perform. Not only that, but it gives you a complete overhaul of the game basics. Complete with clear screenshots, diagrams and some fantastic explanations. Whether you're a Metal Gear Solid veteran or a newcomer, this guide will help you adjust to Metal Gear Solid 4.
   
   After that, the guide wastes no time jumping into the walkthrough and this is where the guide becomes your best friend. It's very well organized and easy to use. The walkthrough is divided into the five acts of the game. When you dive in there's a distinct format used for the guide. On the even pages (the left handed pages) you'll see the map with call outs and captions. This is all the basic stuff that's needed for those who want to go through the game with as little interruption as possible. This doesn't hold your hand, but it's also meant to be used with the lower difficulty setting. On the odd numbered pages (the right hand side), however, is a step by step process of everything you need to do, but much more in depth. The odd numbered pages are meant to be used on higher difficulty levels, as it details how to go through the game without killing anyone and will even give you strategies for bosses that will help you get the best rankings. You can, of course, use the odd pages if you decide those strategies will work better for you.
   
   The odd numbered pages also utilize the "A, B, C" method found in a few other guides. That is to say that you look on the map for the letter "A" and then find section "A" in the text and see what you have to do there. It makes for a well organized guide that lets you consult it when you need it rather than page flipping and trying to find your place all the time. Another great aspect about the guide is that it doesn't just cover one difficulty level. It covers ALL of them.
   
   The maps are also very detailed. Showing the traps, where your enemies will hang out and just how severe the population of an area is. Another good aspect of the walkthrough is how detailed and crystal clear the screenshots are. But there are also other goodies found within the walkthrough such as alternative strategies where they are needed. Mission briefings that spoil absolutely nothing, as well as flashback moments that will remind you of the significance of other games in the series. Again, while it may seem like it, there are no spoilers. The Flashbacks just serve as a helpful reminder. After all, Metal Gear Solid 4 has a lot to swallow. All this is done without spoiling any of the game. Any spoilers found within the walkthrough are things that have already been touched upon in previous games in the series
   
   After the walkthrough we get into the Inventory. This is where the guide begins to warn you of possible spoilers. While there's nothing big spoiled here, there are a few surprises that may end up being not so surprising to curious eyes. There's a lot of detail here just as well.
   
   Metal Gear Online is also a very good section. Just as detailed. Giving you tips for all the different types of matches and for whether you're playing single or multiplayer. While most guides usually just have a mention of what you get from an online mode, Piggyback really digs into Metal Gear Online. No stone is left unturned.
   
   Once we get into the extras this is where that SPOILER warning comes in handy, and yes, Piggyback warns you. Several times. The only thing I will mention here for anyone who wants to know is that it'll tell you all you need to do the obtain all the different rankings (with subsequent tips for The Boss Extreme mode). I'll mention nothing more to those still trumping through Metal Gear Solid 4. I'll only tell you its an exhaustive section that spans more than fifty pages.
   
   Lastly, and this is a big spoiler, but a nice little bonus that the guide showcases. In past Metal Gear Solid guides, Piggyback has always summed up the story and helped the player understand it better if they feel a little confused. It's never anything the player has the view and here they even warn you that you are NOT to read this section before you complete Metal Gear Solid 4. So if you do read it, you were warned. Not once. Not twice. But three times. And just like other Metal Gear Solid guides produced by piggyback, they give their own interpretation. Once you complete Metal Gear Solid 4 the first time, you might want to check out this little extra as it opens the door for discussion over Metal Gear Solid 4's incredible story.
   
   The last tidbit is simple. With so much detailed packed into one book, there's bound to be a lot of page flipping right? Wrong. The very last page is an index that helps you pin-point whatever it is you need. And for the fourth time, the guide warns you of any possible spoilers.
   
   Metal Gear Solid 4 is amazing game and it's given an amazing guide! Everything you ever wanted to learn about Metal Gear Solid 4 is here. Not just everything you wanted to learn about Metal Gear Solid 4 is here, but also everything you ever wanted to know about the Metal Gear Solid series. It not only gets you through the game, but will help you understand the story better if need be. This is the perfect example of a perfect guide.



2. Don't get me wrong. This guide is awesome. So why only 3 stars? Well, I have to be blatantly honest. The maps are somewhat very difficult to read at times. When playing the game, you press start to get a view of the map when you start to feel a little lost, or just want to know where you might be. When you do this, you get a choice of viewing it in two different ways. One is a flat, un-detailed map, while the other is a 3-d map that can be rotated. That's where the problem comes in. The maps in this book are very detailed and pretty much don't look exactly like what you might be looking at on your tv screen map. Also the way that the map is shown in the book is often shown in a different angle then what you see on your tv, making it difficult to even tell where you are.
   I am sure that somebody can figure alot of this stuff out with some time, but why would you? I want to play the game, not read a book all of the time while I play. I really just want to see some readable maps, and then I'll decide to read the other stuff maybe later. I have got lost numerous times, thinking that the map in the book I was looking at, was not the one I was playing on. Well usually it was, but I had a real hard time figuring it out. They should have done the maps in this book, like they did in the Metal Gear3 Snake Eater book. There you got a clear example of great maps.
   Other than that rant, I do have to recommend this book to all Metal Gear fans because all of the content is truly awesome. It has some real cool pics of the characters and does give some decent advice. You can't go wrong getting this guide, but really don't expect an easy time looking at the maps.



3. The short story: If you're new to MG, BUY THIS BOOK. If you want to completely* understand this game, BUY THIS BOOK. If you want to have a book that you can be glad you spent every penny for, BUY THIS BOOK. :D
   
   
   MGS4 is my first experience with the entire Metal Gear 'saga.' Since MG has such a complicated storyline, my first playthrough involved a whole lot of listening to the cut scenes.
   
   However, despite all that, I was still a bit lost.
   
   Not only does this guide cover 99%* of the game, but it also contains a very readable synopsis of the entire story. (WARNING: Be careful if you read it before you've finished MGS4. You can get away with reading a lot, but ...) This is what really made this book worth it, to me.
   
   Of course, the rest of the book helped a great deal as well, and is what I'll be consulting during my future runs through the game (one of which started the day after I completed MGS4).
   
   
   *: This guide doesn't cover the passwords that Konami hasn't released yet. Oh well.



4. I typically do not buy video game guides. My previous experience with Brady guides for Unreal Tournament and GTA IV, left much to be desired and are collecting dust on a shelf. My iternet research indicated this guide was different because it was published by Piggyback and was drafted in-house by Konami. After reading and using the guide, I agree. The writing is interesting, the inforamtion is helpful and the illustrations are great. I would highly recommend getting this guide. FYI, unless you are a MSG fanatic, I would avoide the deluxe hardback edition, the paperback has all of the same game information which is what I was looking for. Good luck to all the Snakes out there.



5. This game guide was perfect. It's easy to understand the game. This game guide was describing well. You can't miss anything. I like this game guide.