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Assassin’s Creed Unity Strategy Guide Review

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Assassin's Creed Unity strategy guide reviewIt’s ridiculous how far behind I am in my reviewing of strategy guides, but what better way to start getting caught up than with a review of the Assassin’s Creed Unity strategy guide from Prima Games? I am still using this strategy guide, because my overall conquest of Revolutionary Paris is far from complete. It’s not the strategy guide’s fault by any stretch of the means; it’s strictly my own because I want every single little thing out of this game. And I mean everything. Those looking to get that 100% completion in the game, with the main campaign, co-op missions, and all those darn collectibles, the Assassin’s Creed Unity strategy guide will save you countless hours and desynchronizations.

The main campaign is fairly straight forward, and it is incredibly lenient on the never-getting-spotted stipulation that previous AC games were notorious for. Occasionally, remaining in the shadows is a requirement to avoid desynchronization, but it’s often a bonus objective to achieve 100% synchronization. Each mission has at least one bonus objective for 100% synch, and the strategy guide will walk you through the most efficient way to accomplish these goals.

The strategy guide was especially helpful for the final fight, as that was one boss fight that was hardly intuitive. I have no idea how many times I would have died trying to take care of the head Templar in the battle leading up to the final fight as well as the final fight. Thanks to the guide’s heads up and tips, I was able to defeat the final Templar rather quickly (only died once during the final battle, which was mostly my fault and Arno’s fault for running up a wall instead of hiding).

Assassin's Creed Unity strategy guide

See? No one has time for this.

But the real reason to pick up the strategy guide is for all of the side questing, especially the Nostradamus Enigmas. I was patient with the first couple I came across, and after that, the guide has stayed open in my lap as I “cheat” my way through solving the rest. I have zero patience for such riddles. I applaud them for being so clever, but ugh, I don’t have time for that. I didn’t use the guide for the murder mysteries as much, as I do love those and I have patience for those. For the occasional moment when I really was stuck, the guide was a life saver. Same goes for the Paris Stories, that I had a lot of difficulty with. The strategy guide pointed out all of the abilities I should have unlocked before attempting each of these side quests, which alleviated most of my frustration instantly.

For me, the best reason for the strategy guide, other than looking up the answers to the Nostradamus riddles, was getting help with the Heist missions. These co-op missions are 100% stealth only, and I’m not stealthy and my co-op partners are less stealthy than I am. I’ll try to pan out a strategy for breaking into a building, and my partners have already dropped down into the courtyard trying to stab everyone at once. Heist missions fully embrace and enforce the “not-getting-seen” requirement, so having a plan from the get-go is vital unless you enjoy desynchronizing over and over through trial and error.

The back sections of the strategy guide serve as additional tips and story analysis. The “Optimal Progression” page provides invaluable advice on making money fast, when to attempt side quests, and when it’s best to go collectible hunting. The pages explaining what the little Companion App is for also relieved quite a headache.

The last section is for diehard Assassin’s Creed fans only, and should only be looked at after completing the game. This section analyzes the entire story of ACU, including why certain Templars were killed, what other side characters were up to, info on the sages, and the present day characters as well as the First Civilization. This section is perfect for hardcore fans looking for deeper analysis or brand new fans who are wondering what in the world is going on.

If I have one complaint about the strategy guide, it’s that not all of the Achievements/Trophies have tips on how to complete them. Many of them do, such as referencing where to look for more information or straight out saying exactly how to accomplish it. And then a few others say nothing, such as the “Guillotined” Achievement/Trophy. I honestly have no idea how to kill an enemy with a counterweight. How is this possible and where is the easiest spot to nab this virtual reward?

Considering how much I loathed the Assassin’s Creed II strategy guide, I’m so pleased to see Prima Games and Piggyback greatly improving their AC products. I’m extremely happy with the Assassin’s Creed Unity strategy guide, and I can definitively say it’s the perfect companion for that 100% synchronization in Assassin’s Creed Unity. Don’t go stabbing things in Paris without it.

SGR Rating: 4.5/5

Author: James Price
Publisher: Piggyback
Distributor: Prima Games
Editions Available: Paperback, Collector’s Edition, and Initiate’s Edition
Acquired via Distributor

Lightning Returns Strategy Guide Review

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Lightning Returns strategy guide reviewLightning Returns is an utter mess of a game that pits the player in a race against a friggin’ clock to save as many people as possible before the world ends. There are two ways to save souls–via the main story and via completing side quests. In other words, you want to complete as many side quests as possible. The catch is some side quests are only available certain times of the day, or the ability to complete them are only available during certain times of the day. Some only crop up after completing other side quests or elements of the main story. So not only are you battling a countdown, you’re battling against time itself. To say this is overwhelming and a bit frustrating is the understatement of the year. I don’t know how the writers for the Lightning Returns strategy guide were able to compile a guide of any sort from this discombobulated mess, but somehow they were able to, and they crafted the best companion to help anyone save as many souls as possible as efficiently as possible.

The only complaint I have with this strategy guide is that when you open it, see how it is organized, and see the game plan before you, it overwhelms you. Considering that the game itself has this mound of pressure on you to begin with, the guide initially stressed me out. Virtually every hour is planned out, leaving very little room for time errors. If you don’t know what you are doing, it feels impossible.

After spending half an in-game day trying to work things out on my own, I began to understand how the strategy guide was framed, what I needed to do, and how I needed to approach each task. Sadly, because I took this time, I’ve had to pick and choose which side quests I can get done in the time I have left. As such, I really think this strategy guide is best for a second playthrough, after you already have your feet wet and know how the game works.

It sounds like I’m blaming the strategy guide, but I’m really not; the strategy guide did the best it could with what the game gave it.

Lightning Returns strategy guideUsually with large RPGs like Lightning Returns, strategy guides are divided up into main quest and side quest sections. In the Lightning Returns strategy guide, a daily agenda section sits before the main and side quest chapters. It requires a lot (and I mean a lot) of page turning to use the guide, but there really is a method to the madness.

The agenda is literally a detailed itinerary for what the player needs to make Lightning work on for each hour. For instance, Day 5 has the following agenda:

  • Advance the “Free Will” Quest in Yusnaan
  • Complete Chapters 4-1 and 4-2
  • Complete Chapter 5-6
  • Complete Chapter 4-3
  • Resupply in Ruffian
  • Complete Chapter 4-4

Each bullet point has the recommended hours to get these things done. For the side quests listed on each day, the times are often important, because those quests may only be accessed or completed during those times. As you can see, that’s a lot to get done in one day, and it appears very out of order. The only aspect that is really in order in this game is the clock, so anything can be completed at any point in the game if the in-game time is right. (Yes, the game is that maddening.)

The reason why the strategy guide breaks the main quests up like this is so the player can efficiently complete as many quests, side and main, with as little travel between realms as possible, as travel costs time.

With the itinerary, you plan out your in-game day, and then you use the other two walkthroughs for assistance in completing those quests. I didn’t use the actual walkthroughs as much as I used the maps. The maps will save you so much time and grief from running around everywhere trying to find that one last crag mole for that chef. This woman lost her dog while traveling. Do you really want to run all over the place trying to find this dog? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

In theory, it is possible to complete everything the guide lays before you, but I’m not sure how possible it is when you’re completely green at the game. The game has an incredibly steep learning curve thanks to the darn clock and learning how to effectively use Lightning’s abilities to manipulate the clock. If I could have done it over again, I would have started a game, ran around like a maniac for a day to learn the game and then started over with that veteran information. But then again, that would require me to play the game again, which reflects on the game, definitely not on the strategy guide.

But if you do want to do everything Lightning Returns has to offer, want to save every soul, get the fast track on the Canvas of Prayers, and make your god happy, then I can’t imagine doing so without the assistance of the Lightning Returns strategy guide.

SGR Rating: 4.5/5

Authors:James Price and Tony Gao
Publisher: Piggyback
Editions Available: Collector’s Edition and Paperback
Acquired via Publisher

No strategy guide for inFamous: Second Son? What gives?

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I am a huge fan of the inFamous games, and their strategy guides played no small part in developing that love. The next title in the series, inFamous: Second Son releases in just two weeks, and there’s no strategy guide in sight. I’m unbelievably pumped for this game on the PlayStation 4, so this sad fact about a lack of a strategy guide will not deter my purchase. I’m just gravely disappointed and I’m curious why one will not be written, especially since there have been guides for the first two. I’d wonder the same thing if a Final Fantasy game was ever released without out.

I’ve double-checked all announcements from BradyGames, Prima Games, and I’ve scoured both Amazon and Gamestop’s online markets. Nothing. Zip. Nada. This makes me think that European companies such as Piggyback and FuturePress won’t be producing one either, but I need to check with my contacts there first. FuturePress created the first one, so this is a possibility.

Casualty of the New Generation?

inFamous: Second SonA couple of E3s ago, I talked to a few strategy guide companies about their lack of strategy guides for handhelds, and they all said the same thing–many retail stores aren’t interested in selling strategy guides for handhelds. If they can’t get stores to buy their books to sell, they aren’t going to publish a book. I wonder if this is the same case for the new generation of consoles.

Thus far, the only new-gen exclusive game that has a strategy guide is Dead Rising 3. Killzone: Shadow Fall, a game that could have used a strategy guide, particularly near the end, did not have one, even though every Killzone game in the past (save the PSP game) has had one. I don’t have the sales figures in front of me, but it wouldn’t surprise me if strategy guides for Dead Rising 3 didn’t sell well because the game didn’t sell that well. Did that experiment put a hold on future strategy guides for next-gen games?

I understand that with a new generation of consoles, many developers and publishers (of games and guides) don’t want to embrace a console with guns a-blazing on the off-chance that something fails. It’s good financial sense to dip your toes in the water first and find out for yourself if the water is fine. All the same, it makes me sad that games of popular franchises that traditionally have had strategy guides get sacrificed first.

I had honestly hoped that at the very least, since the PlayStation 4 had an amazing console launch that we’d see strategy guides for the PS4-exclusive games.

Lightning Returns Collector’s Edition Strategy Guide – Why Should I Buy?

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Welcome to the first of what I hope will be many video-renditions of “Why Should I Buy?” for collector’s editions of strategy guides. Thanks to the good people at Piggyback, the first collector’s edition strategy guide to get this treatment is the Lightning Returns strategy guide.

Our full review of the Lightning Returns strategy guide will go up as soon as possible.

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Strategy Guide Review

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Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag strategy guide reviewHistory is a big place. It’s dangerous to go wandering around the Caribbean without proper guidance. Thankfully, Piggyback Interactive have compiled the meat and potatoes within Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag in a helpful strategy guide that leads players step by step and place by place through the adventures of Edward Kenway and his pirate comrades. While not essential to the Black Flag experience, this strategy guide certainly helps to overcome the game’s frustrating and puzzling moments while also providing enough general, generic assistance to not spoil absolutely everything.

The Assassin’s Creed series is packed full of a twisting, confusing narrative that spans several sequels and side-games, so for those coming into the world of Assassins and Templars late (or those who just need a refresher), the strategy guide thankfully opens with a lengthy recap of each main game in the franchise across both the past and present timeline (minor titles like Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery and Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation go overlooked). Extensive spoilers detail the story of Desmond Miles and his ancestors, bringing everyone up to speed on the story so far. Honestly, I found this part of the strategy guide to be the most helpful before I even began playing the game as after all these years and so many games, I’d forgotten a lot of the Creed lore.  More strategy guides need a recap section of this style for long-running, story-heavy franchises.

Speaking of refreshers and recaps, the strategy guide also include a detailed look at just how the gameplay in the Creed series works. A primer explains basics such as how to read the onscreen display and the concept of mission synchronization to general character controls to more advanced tactics like effective stealth and combat maneuvers. In the old days, most of this material would have been covered in the game’s printed manual, but in this era of cost reductions and saving paper, it’s up to strategy guides like this one to pick up the slack and provide a clearly explained reference. Creed veterans may skip over this section on the way to the actual walkthrough, but it’s worth a look.

The walkthrough itself comprises the majority of the strategy guide’s actual guide portion. Each mission in each sequence is outlined and explained point by point with a summary of objectives, descriptively labeled screenshots to show optimum routes through areas, and paragraphs of text which explain what to do and how best to do it. Anyone wanting to follow the strategy guide beat by beat can certainly do so, but it can be a bit too detailed at times if one wants to avoid plot twists or other surprises. I found myself only referring to the guide when outright stuck in order to not accidentally find out what was about to happen next. A similar section for the game’s many side quests follows, blowing out every optional task, mini-game, and upgradable unlock condition.

For better or worse, Black Flag features online multiplayer modes. The strategy guide includes a full look at these modes and explains how to play them effectively. Each character is listed with gorgeous artwork and their unique ability sets. Scoring and progression are explained, but the real draw for multiplayer enthusiasts is the large printed overhead maps of each stage.  Planning raids and attacks has never been easier thanks to having access to a plan view of the playfield. There is more about multiplayer explained here in this section than in the game itself, and I was glad for the additional information.

It’s a series tradition for Assassin’s Creed to leave players with questions after the credits roll, so to put some lingering doubts to bed, the strategy guide concludes with a large “Extras” chapter which poses some of the more common questions raised by the game and answers them with interesting and informative explanations. There’s also a quick list of unlockable secrets and the conditions required to open them such as bonus outfits, swords, shanties, and cheats. Finally, a massive selection of production and promotional artwork leads into information on the game’s key characters and settings in a feast for the eyes.

It’s difficult to find a bad word about the Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag strategy guide. I had the pleasure of reviewing the collector edition of the guide which is an impressive hardback volume containing sixty-four additional pages of content. Free access to the bonus eGuide is also included as well as a beautiful fold-out map of the game world. Fans of the game who want more information about Edward Kenway’s world will enjoy the biographical and story content, while those looking for just the nuts and bolts of assistance will find their needs met. It is recommended.

SGR Rating: 5/5

Author: James Price
Publisher: Piggyback Interactive
Editions available: Paperback and Hardcover Collector’s Edition
Acquired via publisher

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