Favorite Gaming/Strategy/Walkthrough Guide?

[CrimsonBlaze]

So I've recently caught the Sonic the Hedgehog itch and was dying to get my hands on some solid 2D platforming. Seeing as how I loved Sonic Advance 1 & 2, but I've lost my copies some time ago, I went out and got me two functional copies.

I was able to complete Sonic Advance 1 fairly quickly; I have clocked several hours on that game (which was my first Gameboy Advance game) and getting 100% completion was a breeze.

Sonic Advance 2 is a true beast; the final boss stage is a real challenge so it took me a little longer to complete. However, I have completely forgotten how to get all the 'Special Stage Rings' in order to get get all the Chaos Emeralds, so I had to get a guide. Luckily, I was able to get a brand new one and I received it today in the mail.

Why buy a physical copy and not consult an online guide?

1.) I like to own physical copies of stuff when I could (call me old fashion/school), and 2.) I need to be able to look where all the Special Stage Rings are (there's a set path you need to follow in order to get them all in a single run).

However, that's not the coolest thing about this guide.

Inside, there is a plethora of of Sonic facts, images, and other sidebars that I absolutely enjoy. Seriously, I've been looking forward to getting this guide to help me out with the game, and I can't put it down.

So now I ask you, Escapists; do you have a favorite gaming/strategy/walkthrough guide where the thing that makes it stand it is not related to the game it's meant to help you complete?

 

[Kyrian007]

do you have a favorite gaming/strategy/walkthrough guide where the thing that makes it stand it is not related to the game it's meant to help you complete?

Without question its "The Farlander Papers" followed closely by "The Steele Chronicles." Not only did they provide great tips and tricks and a complete walkthrough, the guide itself WAS the game's story. In an era before FMV cutscenes, this provided the story of a game in a far more complete way than was really possible at the time. It still stands up as a great way to deliver a game's story as far as I'm concerned. It beats the heck out of loading screen exposition dumps, game flow breaking audio log type infodumps, and most other "modern" story delivery methods. It was the game's story, AND it's guide and hintbook. They were can't miss.

Oh, they were the guides for Lucasarts' X-Wing and Tie Fighter. I think Alliance had one too, but I can't remember for sure.

 

[Kyrian007]

Both your points aren't really valid. Seeing as how you can not only see, but watch where to go online with videos. All you did was waste money and space.

Wrong-O, at least in the case of The Farlander Papers and The Steele Chronicles. As I said, the game's story was delivered as a novel written within the guide. X-Wing of course predates video walkthroughs so it was the best alternative back then, and it remains the best way to get a walkthrough and tips even today because youtube or twitch or whatever can't deliver the game's story like the guide could.

 

[NeutralDrow]

I spent many happy hours reading the strategy guides that came with Rama and Age of Empires 2: The Conquerors.

Not sure anything really stood out among them, I just like reading strategy guides and RPG sourcebooks.

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

Probably my Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Guide. I got it with the purchase of the game and I didn't need it to finish the game, but it does have the courtesy of telling you exactly where and when in the game you can get to specific Heart Pieces and Gold Skulltulas, as well as a bunch of other tricks I never knew about. Plus each chapter included some great artwork of that dungeon's boss (I particularly liked the artwork of Volvagia) and some of the characters involved in that chapter. I would've never known what the Scarecrow's Song is, never mind how to use it, were it not for the guide.

The Perfect Dark guide likewise and likewise. Not sure how useful it would be for the harder missions on Perfect Agent, but it does show where to find all the hidden weapons (most of the ones in Mission 4 actually require you to do some things in earlier segments of the mission) and all of the hidden pieces of cheese (not useful, just funny) as well as how to unlock all the cheats (sucks how there was one which was even admitted to be absolutely impossible and required you to insert the Game Boy Perfect Dark cartridge to unlock it). It also had some interesting suggestions for customization of multiplayer maps.

 

[Treeberry]

The only thing that's close to a strategy guide that I currently own is the Wizard's Compendium from the Ni No Kuni collectors edition. I really, really like that Compendium though. It's beautiful, intricately detailed and it's nice to read the lore of the game in physical form. Especially since I, sadly, wasn't particularly happy with the game itself (a huge case of 'Stop helping me!' I'm afraid).

I have just bought some though, funnily enough. I've ordered the Legend of Zelda strategy guide boxset in the chest - I discovered recently that I quite like the Legend of Zelda games and I don't mind springing for the occasional practical fan item.

I used to have one a Prima guide for Tomb Raider Chronicles when I was a kid purely because I loved Tomb Raider. The funny thing was, I didn't even know about the secret roses until I leafed through that book. I wish I still had it but sadly I left it in a storage area and by the time I remembered it, it fell apart.

I used to look down on physical strategy guides (and guides in general) but I find them much more interesting now. Especially as I'm quite interested in the history of games in general.

Both your points aren't really valid. Seeing as how you can not only see, but watch where to go online with videos. All you did was waste money and space.

Nope. It's not a waste if it's something they enjoy. Apparently they've become a bit of a collectors item too. You missed the part where OP said they like physical items.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Probably the Pokemon Master Guide for Diamond and Pearl.

Ok sure some of it are outdated due to the future games (like the level up moves and TM etc) but still remain the same like the personality chart, evolution and weakness chart aswell.

It's very handy to have when you're not on the pc or the internet isn't working at that moment.

 

[Lufia Erim]

I really liked the final fantasy XII strategy guide. It was big detailed and usefull.