Rating: 
Summary: DO NOT EVEN BOTHER
Review: This has to be the worst guide I have ever bought. Everything is on there web site.The reson I buy guides is so I don't have to go on the net. I likehave a book I can refer to quickly. With I have to go on the net with my 56k modem and wait forever to get the info I want. Anyways don't even bother buying this. It SUCKS!
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Summary: Dan Birlew is a sloppy FAQ writer
Review: The problem with Dan Birlew is that he is far too used to getting away with sloppy work. He runs a Resident Evil webpage and used to write FAQs for free. Those FAQs on Resident Evil 1 and 2 are some of the worst ever. He leaves out big chunks of info that the obsessive gamer (like me) needs! So perhaps the guide for Final Fantasy IX is more up his alley. At every junction that you need information, all Lazy Dan had to do was insert the url for Square Online which is where the answers are. The $... you stand to spend on this guide would be better spent burning to keep you warm.
Rating: 
Summary: What Happened???
Review: I don't know what they were thinkin when they decided to make a guide like this, I could've got a free guide that was 10X more detailed.
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Summary: Nothing short of an absolute disgrace, kupo!
Review: This is apparently Square's way of forcing people to start using their PlayOnline website. Basically the entire "real" walkthrough of the game -- which should be included within these pages -- exists only on their website. All of the vital information was then hacked out and the rest was published as this guide. There is *nothing* more irritating than shelling out money for a guide and then reading nothing but website referrals over and over, literally a half dozen times on *each* page: "To find out what you REALLY bought this guide for, go to PlayOnline!"Here's a hint for all involved: People play console games so they don't have to be bothered with running their PC all the time. Pausing your game to run to your PC all the time kinda defeats the whole purpose of a console game. I can only imagine that Square pushed Brady into doing this as a tactic to force people to use their website, since the online version is *this exact guide* without the important stuff hacked out of it. I can hardly imagine a company wanting to release a print guide in this format. All I can say is, I hope they don't foist this on us for the next FF chapter.
Rating:
Summary: Shame on...
Review: Shame on who? Is it Dan Birlew? Is he responsible for this "innovative" go-to-the-website-for-just-about-every-question-that-you-want-answered-but-won't-find-one-to-in-this-book "style of writing"? Is it Brady Games which, funnily enough, did a most excellent job on the strategy guide for Final Fantasy 8 (thanks Mr. Cassady)? Or is it Squaresoft, trying to lure everyone it can to its website so that surfers can perhaps buy additional merchandise while looking for the answers that should have been in this book in the first place? I guess we'll never know. But someone should be very ashamed for creating the disgraceful deception here that masquerades as an "Official Strategy Guide". I don't take kindly to the fact that I forked over money (somewhere else) just to be tormented with "find out more at PlayOnline.com". It's an extremely embarrasing black eye on an excellent gaming franchise that, until now, could do little wrong. Shame on you all! And really, Squaresoft, you should know better...
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Summary: Save a tree!!
Review: I felt bad to see that this book involved cutting down a tree to process it. What a waste of a good tree, they could have used it for a note book rather than this "ONLINE" non-Strategy guild
Rating:
Summary: It is not a good guide
Review: It doesn't have a great and clear information, and it doesn't have any maps at all, it is not worth to buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Sucks...
Review: Its the uncomplete guide I ever seen!!! You had to have internet to explore the secret. Well, I think the only thing you need is internet than this guide. You can find all the secrets you need to know. You can buy it IF only you are a collector or something(like me ^_^).
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Summary: Good concept, but it just didn't work for me
Review: Typically, I like BradyGames strategy guides; however, for FFIX, they chose to write a walkthrough that constantly directs you to a web site to learn more. About every third paragraph, the guide directs you to online help for details. Neat concept, but it didn't work well for me. The FFIX Strategy Guide may have work well for those who don't mind turning to its web site for supplementary information, but the physical guide doesn't stand well on its own. As opposed to the FFIX guide's reviews, customer reviews for the Chrono Cross Strategy Guide were very complimentary. It was very well written and contained all of the elements necessary to enhance the gaming experience. While the CC guide was about 1/3 thicker than the FFIX guide, it was all inclusive and well structured. I'm sure that BradyGames will learn that the FFIX guide / web site combo isn't the way to go, at least the way they implemented it in this case. By the way, GameSpot has a free online manual for FFIX that you can print; it is very helpful. Cheers!
Rating:
Summary: The worst guide for a great game...
Review: Honestly, of every guide I've seen, this is quite possibly the worst of them all! I know I have another review, but this will help you more. This guide is enhanced by playonline. Now if enhanced means, they enhanced it to be horrible, then the guide really is enhanced in SEVERAL WAYS! EVERY SECRET, and I mean EVERY secret, is at playonline. "Want more enhanced bestiary? Play online can help." and there is plenty more where that came from. (every page in the guide has something about play online.) If I were you, I'd just register to the site and forget about the guide. Now I've e-mailed bradygames about this. All they said was "People are telling us that we spoil the plot too much..." and blah blah blah. Now I ask you. Would you rather have the plot spoiled, or rush to the computer 208 times through the game? I'd rather have the plot spoiled...! This was a waste of trees. I wish they would look at the positive things about their guides. Now, I'm not one to say alot but, everything you need is at play online. It would be easier to just register onto playonline and save your money. The guide has no area maps (not even in the back), the boss strategies are the worst I've seen. (My three year old cousin could make better, and he doesn't even know what a game is.) Even the bestiary is bad. Unless you're looking for nothing but HP listings, then this guide will help in that category. However, it won't tell you the weakness of enemies, what they're weak against, etc. The walkthrough, and weapon list are the most incomplete part of the guide. (other then the secerets). But, with weapons, it won't explain abilities or anything for weapons. So the only thing I can say is register to play online, and forget about buying the guide. Its better to register for free then to pay... for a senseless book.
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