Mass Effect (Prima Official Game Guide) Reviews

• Unfortunate oversights make this guide less than helpful.

  
  By A2LTA83LBPUDJP on 2007-11-21
  Game guides are a difficult product - since they are usually published at the same time as the game, they are often rushed to print, and it shows in this case. There are entire sections of the guide missing, including the interpersonal subplot section (even though it's referenced elsewhere in the guide!). Some "how to do this" descriptions are explicitly left out (for example, one acheivement says "It's up to you to figure out the rest."). None of the choices that must be made for certain conversation rewards are laid out. Only buy this guide if you absolutely must; otherwise, searching the internet for online guides written by fans will give you much more precise, helpful, and accurate information.
  
  

• Rush to print creates shoddy product.

  
  By A2C1UJI2I3SZ0H on 2007-11-22
  This is the worst game guide I have ever purchased. There are numerous typos, and printing errors. There are even errors in the table of contents. There are references to appendicies which do not exist. There is no information on the romantic subplots. Whole sections are printed out twice in a row. Save yourself a headache and do not buy this guide!
  
  

• The worst

  
  By AV9CSIM8YKK24 on 2008-01-02
  Incomplete, inaccurate, in short, the worst excuse for a game guide I've ever seen. How can such a great game, authorize such a crappy guide? Don't waste your money on this.
  
  

• Pages missing

  
  By A7QW9GTYZIT7V on 2008-01-05
  I have to agree with the multiple reviewers that call this a shoddy product. There are more than a few pages missing. For example in the table of contents, it skips straight to Appendix 3, without listing Appendices 1 and 2. However, multiple times in the text of the book references are made to these missing appendices.
  Also, on a few occassions, the only mention at all of some of the numerous side missions, called assigments in the game, is a checklist at the beginning of each chapter; no explanation on how to better complete them is given.
  This book is not all bad as it does give a rather extensive list of equipment available, as well as extensive talent matrices that will help you maximize your player's abilities. However, in comparison to some of Prima's other game guides, this one is subpar.
  
  

• Is this guide for the game it is named after????

  
  By AA9X4ZQEGAERE on 2007-12-26
  This guide was rushed into production so it could be released along with the game. "MassEffect" is a game that you don't need a strat guide. Write your own as you play. In otherwords, take notes and lots of them, and don't spend your money on this product. Seek help with online guides if you need it.
  
  
• Subpar publication for an above par franchise
  By A1QFOOFUMKKM1A on 2008-02-05
  I have to agree, this publication have typo errors, uneven sized fonts, unacceptable wrongly inserted words/phrases, missing sections etc.
  
  The reason I bought this was because they bundled it together with the art book (which would cost more if bought separately).
  
  Doing such sloppy work and knowing people will buy this because of the Mass Effect name, Prima should be ashamed of themselves (or is that a word not in their vocabulary)
  
  
  
  
• Good Reference for Completionists
  By A4LFAASWD8SWA on 2007-12-14
  I'm a total completionist when it comes to RPGs so having a decent guide is a must. The Mass Effect guide, while not perfect, did the job for me with excellent maps and codex entries and good to very good game play strategies. All of the landable planets featured full maps including all of the points of interest which saved me hours of driving around in circles trying to find obscure collectibles. I also loved the assignment checklist at the start of each major walkthrough section, once my journal started to overflow with mini-quests having that walkthrough was a lifesaver. There are a few obvious omissions in this guide, for example, why was there no walkthrough for the romance quest? The romances were pretty easy to initiate and navigate through, but since they were the most interaction you had with the crew I expected there to be a little more than just a couple of paragraphs. Also I felt the walkthroughs for some of the minor quests especially for some of the uncharted worlds should have been more substantial; I was always able to make my way out of trouble but if the guide were clearer I wouldn't have landed in trouble in the first place. Even with those two issues and a few minor problems with proofreading that were missed, I still feel that I got my money's worth both from the guide and the game.
  
  
• Stratagy Guide
  By A2U3BFJT2L81IO on 2008-02-08
  This book has everything you need to save the universe from Saren. Everything. Walkthrough includes bot Paragon and Renagade choices. A must have really.
  
  
• WHy?
  By AHRC59PBB1V46 on 2008-02-21
  I dont understand why people waste their hard earned money on Game Guides...i mean not only can you find strategy on the internet but in the case of Mass Effect it is a pretty straight forward game. I've beaten the game on Hardcore mode and I'm working on Insanity and I have used no game guide at all. Stop wasting your money and just play the game
  
  
• Fun fun fun but frustrating
  By A28CTULMFG98L7 on 2007-12-21
  I love this game, I cannot put it down. Planet Hopping in a non-final fantasy roleplaying environment(I don't have a PC and do not play MMO's) with real-time action is something new for me, and I love it. Why the four instead of five? Well, the game's flaw is combat. Even though I've gotten used to it, it is clunky at times and completely outrageous at others. It's kind of like Gears of War where cover plays a key role and there is no auto aim. This can be rectified by upping the reticle speed in the options menu, and I suggest you do it because it will prevent you from having your butt handed to you like mine was until I sped it up. The AI for your team is almost worthless-at one point all the enemies in the area were dead and my squadmate was standing directly in front of a wall blasting away for no reason I could see. This is unfortunate as it would be nice to have some companions who are more useful when you aren't controlling them(which you can't in this game except picking their weapons and using their powers with a pausing menu). However, that bit of boo aside, I'm completely hooked on this game right now and my bare minimum of a social life is taking a big hit, so if you like sci-fi and roleplaying elements, give the Mass Effect a shot!
  
  

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