The Bard's Tale : Prima's Official Strategy Guide (Prima's Official Strategy Guides)

Rating:
Summary: The extras to this guide make this guide EXTRA special
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Slightly flawed, but worthwhile
Review: Prima's guides have saved me many a headache during a difficult portion of a game. That having been said, I was slightly disappointed with this guide. Several pieces of information were inacurate. I'm not sure if this is due to the fluid nature of the game or not enough product testing. A world map would have also been helpful. On the other hand, if you're stuck in The Bard's Tale, this guide is a worthwhile purchase.

Rating:
Summary: Honestly, the best strategy guide I ever read -- EVER!
Review: 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.