Prima Guides

134 files

1. 

   Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation Official Strategy Guide

   By Areala

   Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation was a grand and confusing piece of art, with some excellent ideas and some utterly brain-wrecking puzzles which were clearly put there to pad out the play time and prevent people renting the game and beating it over a weekend. This was the first Tomb Raider released on the Sega Dreamcast, but aside from slightly better graphics than the PlayStation edition, it and the PC incarnation are all the same game, so this guide can walk you through any incarnation.
   Much like Tomb Raider III, Last Revelation absolutely screamed for a strategy guide due to the aforementioned hair-pulling puzzles and some generally obnoxious gameplay elements which made things far more difficult than they should be. It's the most difficult of all the "classic" era entries, even harder than picking Nevada last in TR3, so if you managed to complete it without resorting to a walkthrough at any point, hats off to you. It's also the longest single entry in the franchise, comprising 42 stages in total, although some of these are re-visits to older stages with some minor tweaks due to story progression. It's the first Tomb Raider game to feature no hidden levels or special bonuses for collecting all of the in-game secrets (of which there are 70), although the British paper The Times teamed up with Core Design to release a special, PC-only downloadable level which celebrated the 75th anniversary of Howard Carter's excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb. Interestingly enough, this level wasn't just DLC, it was a full-fledged mini Tomb Raider game all on its own which didn't require the full version of Last Revelation in order to run, and came with two other TR-themed puzzle games to mess around with. This guide doesn't cover that bonus level, but if you're interested in playing it, you can find it at Stella's Tomb Raider Page. Both the GOG and Steam versions of Last Revelation come with the Times bonus content, just FYI.
   Anyway, at nearly 180 pages, this is also the longest classic-era Tomb Raider game guide Prima ever made.
   Enjoy! ❤️
   

   986 downloads

   4 comments

   Updated December 20, 2023

2. 

   Complete Final Fantasy III Forbidden Game Secrets

   By Areala

   Holy cow, you guys, this book.
   This is one of the most ridiculous guides I've ever owned.
   Back in 1994, Final Fantasy III was released in the US, and like many people, I went absolutely ga-ga over the game. It's my favorite entry in the series, and I've beaten it multiple times and on multiple platforms, including the Game Boy Advance version with the extra content. In my obsessive quest to learn everything I could about the game though, I bought every magazine and book I could find about it, including Nintendo's own official guide and Peter Olafson's full-colour guide. And then...there's this one...
   Part strategy guide, part fanfic, Complete Final Fantasy III Forbidden Game Secrets is a nearly 500-page tribute to absurdity and lies.
   The author's name, "Hayaku Kaku", is written as '早く書く' in Japanese. This isn't actually a name, it's a fragment meaning "fast write", and it's a clue to why this guide is so bizarre. See, Final Fantasy III (or Final Fantasy VI as it's now known) is a massive game, and as noted in the introduction, not one you can finish over the course of a three-day rental. Writing a guide to a game that large requires an exceptional lead time if you're planning to match the game's release date, and from the contents of the book, it's easy to ascertain that the author (in this case, Bill Kunkel, aka "The Game Doctor" himself, with assistance from another writer named Ken Vance) was working off pre-release materials.
   One of the necessities for squeezing all of the story into the cart, as related by translator Ted Woolsey in an interview, was re-naming the bulk of the enemies, items, spells, and Espers in the game, in order to fit into the character limits imposed by the game. What's odd about this book is that it gets almost all of the character names and spell/Esper names correct, even when it comes to the bizarre spellings imposed by Woolsey to comply with the aforementioned character limits ('Fenix' instead of 'Phoenix', etc...). But the items? Almost all the item names in this guide are completely incorrect--it's likely the item list was among the last things Woolsey worked on, since the majority of his effort was likely focused on the game's massive story. If that's the case, it's almost certain Kunkel and Vance were working off incomplete information and a near-zero knowledge of the Japanese language. More credence is given to this theory since one of the screenshots includes the original Japanese "Bar" sign, which was censored by Nintendo, and read "Cafe" in the US edition of the game.
   'Spears' are translated as 'spheres' for some reason. Item names, as noted, often bear no resemblance to their final forms. What's more, the explanations of item abilities and magic spells often read as though someone gave them a very basic, machine-like translation from the original which were never edited for clarity. (Edit: see the update below, but this is exactly what happened).
   The maps, maps, and more maps hyped on the back cover are likewise odd. These are not maps, exactly...more like someone took pictures of the screen, printed those pictures out, then placed a sheet of tracing paper over them and drew over every building, tree, hill, stream, and other feature, but never bothered to fill in any of the information. Thus, what you get are a bevy of hand-drawn maps that show the entire area...but are almost completely worthless for all the work put into them, since they don't point out any useful features.
   Even as a walkthrough or secrets guide, the book is deficient. It will point out what items can be found in each area (well, most of them at any rate...Kunkel and Vance didn't find a lot of the off-the-beaten-path goodies), but it does not explain where any of them actually are in relation to the map, or what steps might be necessary to uncover them. In addition, a lot of the walkthrough is just plain incorrect in literally dozens of places. It's impossible for anyone well-versed in the game to go more than 2-3 pages without finding another mistake, whether it's a simple mistranslation or flat-out misinformation like: claiming you can earn experience in the "Beastfield" (the Veldt), when in fact, battles there don't earn you any XP; claiming it's possible to get Shadow back into the party via betting items at the Coliseum if you didn't wait for him on the Floating Continent; claiming Locke gains the ability to pick locks as the story continues; saying Celes can use her 'Runic' ability to learn spells faster; a screenshot of a character suffering the 'Imp' status effect incorrectly labeled as 'zombified' by the caption; claiming the 'Quartr' spell reduces the target's HP by 1/4th, when it actually results in a 75% reduction...the list goes on and on.
   Speaking of lists, while the book impressively details the Items, Magic, and Espers available in your quest, it also omits an awful lot of other useful lists which other guides did not. These include a list of Gau's available Rages (and the enemies he needs to fight in order to acquire them), a list of items bet & won at the Coliseum, and a list of enemies from whom Strago can learn his different Blue Magic spells.
   Also omitted are seemingly obvious things you'd want to point out in a strategy guide: while it explain that calling the Merton esper in combat causes a raging inferno to scream across the battlefield, it neglects to mention this afflicts both the enemies and your party. Now, sure, you're going to learn this as soon as you use it the first time, but knowing an attack could nuke my team BEFORE I use it is kind of the point of a strategy guide, right? Likewise, there's no indication that the Cursed Shield (or the "Bloody Shield" as this book refers to it) can be un-cursed, or that you can equip a Ribbon in order to remove nearly all the negative effects your character will suffer while trying to do so. The book assumes Cid will die, when it is in fact possible (and rather easy) to keep him alive.
   I seriously could go on for pages about everything wrong with this guide. There are a lot of books over the years which I have no problem labeled shameless cash grabs, but the level of hyperbole this book builds on its back cover compared to the results it delivers between the pages is a disconnect of truly epic proportions. Download this and read it to understand the nightmare which was the world of video game strategy guides in a pre- (or at least very young) Internet age, marvel at its inconsistencies, and boggle at the fact they were willing to charge $14.95 US (or 2.89 gold flemkes in "East Domo").
   In an old forum post at the J2Games website, which is no longer accessible since they removed their forum, Bill Kunkel spilled the beans about writing this book, and how much of a nightmare the project was. I almost feel sorry for him, and got the impression from reading it years ago that this project very quickly spiraled out of control in terms of the time they assumed it would take to write, and the results here speak for themselves. The good Game Doctor is no longer with us, but it's a shame his spirit is forever associated with this absurdity.
   Enjoy! ❤️
   Update: I discovered, to my delight, that Kunkel's recollections about working on this game guide in that old forum post on J2Games were collected in one of the chapters in his autobiography, Confessions of the Game Doctor. I've corrected some things in the above writing which I got wrong due to my own faulty memory (chief among them: his co-author was not Rusel DeMaria, but Ken Vance), but I'm reproducing this part of the book so you can see exactly what went into the creation of this guide.
   It was actually worse than I remembered!
   So, there you have it. A strategy guide written by two guys who cribbed all the relevant information about the game by having a local Japanese professor translate bits and pieces of Japanese guide books which Prima imported instead of actually playing through the game (something they apparently didn't even have access to).
   You really can't make this up.
   

   822 downloads

   9 comments

   Updated December 20, 2023

3. 

   Jade Cocoon - Story of the Tamamayu - Prima's Offical Strategy Guide

   By E-Day

   Jade Cocoon - Story of the Tamamayu - Prima's Offical Strategy Guide
   

   848 downloads

   2 comments

   Submitted May 4, 2020

4. 

   Rise of the Tomb Raider Collector's Edition Guide

   By E-Day

   Rise of the Tomb Raider Collector's Edition Guide
   

   225 downloads

   2 comments

   Submitted January 1

5. 

   Yu-Gi-Oh! - Capsule Monster Coliseum - Prima Official Game Guide (2004)

   By dablais

   Yu-Gi-Oh! - Capsule Monster Coliseum - Prima Official Game Guide (2004)
   

   209 downloads

   • prima

   3 comments

   Updated January 17

6. 

   South Park - The Stick of Truth - Prima Official Game Guide (2014) [PC, PS3, X360]

   By dablais

   South Park - The Stick of Truth - Prima Official Game Guide (2014)
   Platform: [PC, PS3, X360]
   

   205 downloads

   • prima

   6 comments

   Submitted January 14

7. 

   The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Prima's Official Strategy Guide (2002) [PC, PS2, XBOX, GBA]

   By dablais

   The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Prima's Official Strategy Guide (2002)
   Platform: [PC, PS2, XBOX, GBA]
   

   151 downloads

   0 comments

   Submitted January 6

8. 

   Star Wars - Battlefront - Prima Official Guide (2015) [XONE, PS4, PC]

   By dablais

   Star Wars - Battlefront - Prima Official Guide (2015) [XONE, PS4, PC]
   

   124 downloads

   • prima

   0 comments

   Submitted January 1

9. 

   Star Wars - Knights Of The Old Republic - Prima's Official Strategy Guide (2003) [XBOX]

   By dablais

   Star Wars - Knights Of The Old Republic - Prima's Official Strategy Guide (2003) [XBOX]
   

   294 downloads

   • prima

   4 comments

   Updated January 4

10. 

    Ninja Gaiden 3 - Prima Official Game Guide (2012) [PS3, X360]

    By dablais

    Ninja Gaiden 3 - Prima Official Game Guide (2012) [PS3, X360]
    

    139 downloads

    • prima

    0 comments

    Submitted December 25, 2024

11. 

    Mario Kart 8 - Prima Official Game Guide (2014)

    By E-Day

    Mario Kart 8 - Prima Official Game Guide (2014)
    

    207 downloads

    0 comments

    Submitted December 16, 2024

12. 

    Mario Party 5 - Prima's Official Strategy Guide (2003)

    By bogusfrank

    Mario Party 5 - Prima's Official Strategy Guide (2003)
    

    394 downloads

    3 comments

    Submitted June 7, 2023

13. 

    Sega Sports NFL2K Prima Guide

    By MigJmz

    Sega Sports NFL2K Prima Guide
    

    89 downloads

    0 comments

    Submitted October 23, 2024

14. 

    Sega Genesis Games Secrets Greatest Tips, 2nd Edition

    By Areala

    Straight from Prima, the official book publishers of GamePro (according to the small print on the back cover), here's ONE THOUSAND freaking hints, tips, secrets, passwords, cart swap tricks, and other assorted nonsense from the Pros. If you've been struggling with Sonic the Hedgehog, bogged down in Beast Wrestler, stuck in Splatterhouse 2, caught up in Castle of Illusion, wrapped up in Wings of Wor, traumatized by Trampoline Terror, paused in Predator 2, grounded in Gaiares, broken by Burning Force, tripped up by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist, agonized by After Burner II, demented by Dark Castle, pounded by Pit Fighter, thrashed by Technocop, menaced by Might and Magic, abused by Arnold Palmer Golf, outgunned in Onslaught, mystified by Mortal Kombat, dizzied by DecapAttack, harassed by Heavy Nova, crushed by Chakan the Forever Man, undone by Universal Soldier, zonked by Zombies Ate My Neighbors, shamed by Stormlord, kicked by Klax, lambasted by The Last Battle, rattled by Rolling Thunder 2, embarrassed by El Viento, or mauled in Mutant League Hockey, then maybe, just maybe, the stuff you need to win can be found in this handy-dandy booky-wook.
    Download it, slap that 'Like' button, and leave a comment so I can afford a new thesaurus.
    Enjoy! ❤️
    

    435 downloads

    5 comments

    Submitted February 4, 2024

15. 

    Super Mario Galaxy - Prima Official Game Guide (2007)

    By E-Day

    Super Mario Galaxy - Prima Official Game Guide (2007)
    

    488 downloads

    0 comments

    Submitted July 8, 2024

16. 

    F.E.A.R. 2 Project Origin - Prima Official Game Guide (2009)

    By E-Day

    F.E.A.R. 2 Project Origin - Prima Official Game Guide (2009)
    

    202 downloads

    0 comments

    Submitted July 6, 2024

17. 

    Medal of Honor - European Assault Strategy Guide (2005)

    By E-Day

    Medal of Honor - European Assault Strategy Guide (2005)
    

    185 downloads

    0 comments

    Submitted June 10, 2024

18. 

    John Woo Presents Stranglehold Prima Official Game Guide (2007)

    By E-Day

    John Woo Presents Stranglehold Prima Official Game Guide (2007)
    

    157 downloads

    0 comments

    Submitted June 5, 2024

19. 

    Mario Kart Wii - Prima Official Game Guide (2008) [Wii]

    By dablais

    Mario Kart Wii - Prima Official Game Guide (2008)
    Platform: Nintendo Wii
    

    649 downloads

    • prima

    0 comments

    Submitted March 18, 2024

20. 

    Burnout Revenge - Prima Official Game Guide (2005) [PS2, XBOX]

    By dablais

    Burnout Revenge - Prima Official Game Guide (2005)
    Platforms: Playstation 2 and XBOX
    

    198 downloads

    • prima

    1 comment

    Updated February 25, 2024

21. 

    Yu-Gi-Oh! - Forbidden Memories and Yu-Gi-Oh! Dark Duel Storie - Prima's Official Strategy Guide (2002)

    By dablais

    Yu-Gi-Oh! - Forbidden Memories and Yu-Gi-Oh! Dark Duel Storie - Prima's Official Strategy Guide (2002)
    Platform: Playstation & Game Boy Color
    

    255 downloads

    0 comments

    Submitted February 19, 2024

22. 

    Super Mario Kart 64 - Prima's Unauthorized Game Secrets (1997)

    By Argus

    Super Mario Kart 64 - Prima's Unauthorized Game Secrets (1997)
    

    300 downloads

    0 comments

    Submitted February 18, 2024

23. 

    Super NES Games Secrets

    By Areala

    Hey all you 'Secrets of the Games' collectors out there! Welcome to volume 1 of Prima's Super NES Games Secrets, where GamePro's Andy Eddy compiled strategies shared by Zach Meston, Rusel DeMaria, and Donn Nauert into a book covering most of the original releases for the console. Expect to see Super Mario World, Pilotwings, U.N. Squadron, F-Zero, Super R-Type, Gradius III, and (admit it, the real reason you bought this book) True Golf Classics: Waialae Country Club!
    Otherwise, why are you reading this? There were something like two dozen books in this format put out by Prima. You know what they look like. You know what you're getting. You already downloaded it. Click 'Thanks' to pay your tribute, and await the release of Volume 2 as soon as I get it finished. ❤️
    

    494 downloads

    8 comments

    Updated February 15, 2024

24. 

    Rayman 2 - The Great Escape - Prima's Official Strategy Guide (2000)

    By Argus

    Rayman 2 - The Great Escape - Prima's Official Strategy Guide (2000)
    

    311 downloads

    0 comments

    Submitted February 10, 2024

25. 

    Diddy Kong Racing - Prima's Unauthorized Guide (1997)

    By Argus

    Diddy Kong Racing - Prima's Unauthorized Guide (1997)
    

    263 downloads

    0 comments

    Submitted February 6, 2024