Since last year, I've become interested in collecting strategy guides. The idea was that with less time to game these days, I'd be able to flick through the guide and 'enjoy' the game without actually playing it. I don't think its quite worked out as I intended, as many of these guides are hundreds (300+) of pages long and take way too long to read, but nevertheless, I really like having all these books. I think some day even when I don't have the game installed, I'll enjoy reminiscing on these games.
My Skyrim Special Edition guide just came in and im pretty much all caught up in all the guides I want, so it was a good time to make this thread. If you have a guide you want to recommend, list it here.
My collection thus far -
Battlefield 4
Bloodborne
Civilization V Gods and Kings
Dark Souls II
Diablo 3: ROS PC
GTA V
MGS V Phantom Pain
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Nintendo 4 Game Guide (Animal Crossing, Mario Kart 7, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Zelda A Link Between Worlds)
Pillars of Eternity
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Smash Bros Brawl
Skyrim Special Edition
The Witcher 3
Xenoblade Chronicles X
My Top 3 Guides so far have to be -
1. Pillars of Eternity Collector's Edition
This thing is gorgeous. The pages are really high quality in feel. Each page is beautifully designed, and the whole thing is filled with amazing artwork from the game. There's also plenty of lore at the start of the book. The only downside I've found is that the walkthrough is a bit uneven and doesn't explain some stuff. For example, and by the way I'm not a very good RPG player, the part I'm stuck at now says "... you're met by a fearsome group of Phantoms and Shadows. Slay them all." without actually telling you good battle tips. "Slay them all" isn't really helping me! Aside from that, this thing is beautiful.
2. Civilization V: Gods and Kings
Remember large PC manuals? Well this strategy guide is just like it. For the past year, I've been trying to find the Civ V guide, but it was basically sold out everywhere. I just happened to stumble across the last copy at Play-asia a month ago, and snapped it up as quick as I could.
There's no 'walkthrough' here, which is exactly what I want from a strategy guide. It has great explanations for the nations, units, buildings and has strategy to play the game. That's it. It reminds me of my old Civilization IV manual except expanded to include lots of art. I know, it sucks we have to pay $20 to buy a manual, these things should be included with the actual game (in a hard copy!).
3. Elder Scrolls Skyrim Special Edition
I'll be honest, this thing just came today, and I haven't really had much chance to flick through it. But its 1100 pages! In A4. Whoever wrote this thing (David Hodgson) is sadistic and mean. Who is going to read all of this? Regardless, if any strategy guide is worth the paper its printed on, then this would have to be it. It came with a large pull out map, and a (much needed) bookmark. This is a reprint of the existing Elder Scrolls Skyrim Legendary Edition guide, so there's no new information added since then. I was a bit indecisive about buying the previous version and in the end it sold out, so I snapped this up quick smart. If you're considering getting it, I'd suggest the hard cover version, as the book is so heavy that the paper cover is going to get damaged in no time.
One more tip, I purchased from The Book Depository and the price fluctuated like crazy for a while. At one time it was $22, another it was $40+, keep a check on the price before purchasing.
So if you have cool guides to recommend - list them below. Looking forward to seeing what guides other people like.
My Skyrim Special Edition guide just came in and im pretty much all caught up in all the guides I want, so it was a good time to make this thread. If you have a guide you want to recommend, list it here.
My collection thus far -
Battlefield 4
Bloodborne
Civilization V Gods and Kings
Dark Souls II
Diablo 3: ROS PC
GTA V
MGS V Phantom Pain
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Nintendo 4 Game Guide (Animal Crossing, Mario Kart 7, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Zelda A Link Between Worlds)
Pillars of Eternity
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Smash Bros Brawl
Skyrim Special Edition
The Witcher 3
Xenoblade Chronicles X
My Top 3 Guides so far have to be -
1. Pillars of Eternity Collector's Edition
This thing is gorgeous. The pages are really high quality in feel. Each page is beautifully designed, and the whole thing is filled with amazing artwork from the game. There's also plenty of lore at the start of the book. The only downside I've found is that the walkthrough is a bit uneven and doesn't explain some stuff. For example, and by the way I'm not a very good RPG player, the part I'm stuck at now says "... you're met by a fearsome group of Phantoms and Shadows. Slay them all." without actually telling you good battle tips. "Slay them all" isn't really helping me! Aside from that, this thing is beautiful.
2. Civilization V: Gods and Kings
Remember large PC manuals? Well this strategy guide is just like it. For the past year, I've been trying to find the Civ V guide, but it was basically sold out everywhere. I just happened to stumble across the last copy at Play-asia a month ago, and snapped it up as quick as I could.
There's no 'walkthrough' here, which is exactly what I want from a strategy guide. It has great explanations for the nations, units, buildings and has strategy to play the game. That's it. It reminds me of my old Civilization IV manual except expanded to include lots of art. I know, it sucks we have to pay $20 to buy a manual, these things should be included with the actual game (in a hard copy!).
3. Elder Scrolls Skyrim Special Edition
I'll be honest, this thing just came today, and I haven't really had much chance to flick through it. But its 1100 pages! In A4. Whoever wrote this thing (David Hodgson) is sadistic and mean. Who is going to read all of this? Regardless, if any strategy guide is worth the paper its printed on, then this would have to be it. It came with a large pull out map, and a (much needed) bookmark. This is a reprint of the existing Elder Scrolls Skyrim Legendary Edition guide, so there's no new information added since then. I was a bit indecisive about buying the previous version and in the end it sold out, so I snapped this up quick smart. If you're considering getting it, I'd suggest the hard cover version, as the book is so heavy that the paper cover is going to get damaged in no time.
One more tip, I purchased from The Book Depository and the price fluctuated like crazy for a while. At one time it was $22, another it was $40+, keep a check on the price before purchasing.
So if you have cool guides to recommend - list them below. Looking forward to seeing what guides other people like.