Generally Useful, 25 Aug 2008
In general terms I have found this a fairly essential piece of kit to get the most out of GTA: San Andreas. There are a few issues with the pictures for the tags/photos and horseshoes though actually it's the latter which I have found out of synch with the guide.
The mission guides are exactly that and if you want more creative or alternative solutions to some of the tasks, the excellent essays on Gamefaqs may prove more useful.
That I've had the book two and a half years and it's so well thumbed that pages are falling out is testimony to how well used it's been. Unfortunately also highlights the rather poor quality binding in a book that's likely to get heavy and extended use, including photocopying list pages to avoid marking the original.
Awful, 11 Feb 2008
I love Grand Theft Auto, I managed to complete San Andreas to 100% despite this guide.
Basic sections, such as the photographs that need taking in San Fierro are wrong, the pictures don't match the descriptions which don't match the locations.
Descriptions of the tags in Los Santos are usually incorrect or provide so little information you'd be better off without them.
The guide says annoying crap like 'mystery weapons/vehicles' without actually telling you what these are, despite being a 'complete' guide.
Generally its a load of crap, the only nice thing about it is the design, bold artwork and nice composition. It's set out like a tourist guide; even the paper's texture is nice, but its all a hoax. Whoever wrote it needs a slap and clearly never double-checked any of the crap they wrote.
Don't buy this, you can get much better 100% guides much freer on the internet.
Its good...but there are a few flaws, 11 Jul 2007
As the title says, this guide is great in most parts, BUT one thing which can really annoy, is the section on the 'Photo-ops' in San Fierro, where the locations which are numbered, dont match the images of where to take the photo, which just confuses everything, and also, some of the images where is says where to take the photo, its not even there, it'll be like a mile above it in the sky...which just takes the piss, and also, the parts which stat where the weapons are on the map, it uses random names, like for the shotgun, it names it the 'chrome gun'...or for the combat shotgun, it calls it the 'spaz shotgun'....one question..WHY!?!...
Full of omissions, errors... in a word, shoddy., 12 May 2005
The producers of computer games as well-respected and successful as the Grand Theft Auto series should really have better sense than to licence out official companion material to such shoddy, amateurish companies.
This is a really poor product. The walkthrough aspect of the book is more plot synopsis than guide; and the hidden weapons locations are marked in completely the wrong place on their 'handy' maps. I would go even as far to say that the book is 'faulty'. after all, it certainly doesn't do what it is supposed to - and that's make the game easier to play.
One of the chief reasons for purchasing this guide would likely be to find all the hidden items (horseshoes, oysters, gang tags, photo ops) - a feat that would be nigh-on impossible without some form of assistance. BradyGames' official guide manages not only to indicate most of these items as being an inch or so (which could be several hundred meters in-game, given the massive size of the play area), but also to use completely different numbering systems for their maps and keys (photo op #9 on the map is really #35 on the key! Genius)! Their attempt to assist further with screenshots of the locations of each item is made worthless by virtue of the fact that said screenshots appear to be from a different build/version of the game: they display objects and scenery which are not actually present in the finished game.
I would expect inconsistencies, vagueness and even outright errors in guides created by fans on a non-profit basis, not in the premium official product. Imagine my surprise, then, when I eventually found myself resorting to the former to eke out the last hidden secrets of the game. The bottom line is that GTA: San Andreas is not a difficult game by any stretch of the imagination - yet this strategy guide manages to make it one.
Best strategy book I've ever read!, 18 Mar 2005
This is the biggest and best strategy guide I've ever read!It's detailed,can help you get through the game alot without cheats(now thats hard!!)and it's official!The best strategy guide along with the best game!Ain't that the truth!!It helps you understand the cars,locate EVERYTHING(and i mean everything),from flowers to guns,every mission is made so much easier,with hints and tips along with the walkthrough and how to deal with all thw extras,e.g girlfriends,M.O.D garages,new vehicle missions and other odd jobs.So,if you are stuck with ANYTHING on this game buy this guide!
P.SIt's also a bargain(thanks again amazon)!!
