Final Fantasy XIII

Product Review

A labor of love from our team of devoted Final Fantasy veterans,
Final Fantasy XIII: The Complete Official Guide is a comprehensive, lavishly-crafted and - if we may be so bold - downright essential companion for all players who intend to enjoy the full FFXIII experience. Structured for maximum ease of use, it features everything from measured step-by-step guidance to analysis of hidden gameplay mechanics. Whether you use it as a well-thumbed reference tool, or make it a near-permanent fixture on your lap until you conquer every last challenge, this 100% complete guide will answer every question you may have - and, indeed, many you might never have thought of_

Optimum Walkthrough: While the opening hours of play may seem fairly straightforward, FFXIII grows in complexity throughout the adventure. Its later chapters provide numerous opportunities to venture off the beaten track and take on challenges separate to the main storyline. With detailed annotated maps, step-by-step guidance based on user-friendly waypoints, and expert analysis for those attempting a "perfect" playthrough, the walkthrough charts the most rewarding route through the main journey and all optional side-quests, acting as an indispensable tour guide.
Essential: FFXIII features a staggeringly rich game system, with many complex mechanics and attributes governing the result of each battle and the development of both characters and equipment. All of these factors (including many hidden variables and calculations) are revealed and - more importantly - explained in an approachable yet accessible manner, with visual graphs and diagrams turning long explanations into immediate "eureka!" moments.

Advanced Strategy: Major enemies and bosses can take countless attempts to conquer without advanced preparations and carefully formulated tactics, so forewarned really is forearmed in FFXIII. In addition to targeted advice on the best way to defeat each opponent of note, we also reveal locations to visit for effective power-leveling, how to set up a battle party for maximum strength and efficiency, and how to exploit profitable tricks and special techniques.

Absolutely Comprehensive: Seriously - if it's in the game, it's in the guide. The guide has large sections dedicated to in-depth analysis of all aspects of FFXIII: side-quests, battle system, equipment upgrades, Trophies and Achievements...you name it. Our exhaustively-researched reference chapters reveal all key stats for every last object and adversary encountered (including hidden attributes), reveal how to create ultimate weapons, how to super-specialize party members, how to obtain rare items - and much, much more.

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review

(114 customer reviews)

68 of 73 people found the following review helpful

The FFXIII Encyclopedia (PS3 and Xbox 360), March 10, 2010

A. Dent "Aragorn" (Minas Anor, GD) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Final Fantasy XIII: The Complete Official Guide (Hardcover)

This is the first and apparently complete guide on Final Fantasy XIII. For your money, you get over 270 glossy, 8.5x11", full color, beautifully illustrated pages that, as far as I can tell cover EVERYTHING that you'd ever want to know about the game except for most of spoilers - the assumption is that you do NOT want to see spoilers.

The book is divided into six main section and an Index:

- QUICKSTART - things you need to know as you start the game and for the first few hours of play.

- WALKTHROUGH - the bulk of the book (over 120 pages). It has all the maps, all the scripted encounters - and much of FFXIII is tightly scripted. It's a good thing to have whenever you get stuck and discouraged. The authors promise that spoilers were kept to a minimum.

- STRATEGY AND ANALYSIS - here you get hints on tactics and strategy, hidden games mechanics are covered, everything there is to know about the Crystarium and Paradigm features. It's page after...Read more

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

The most well-written guide I've ever seen., April 5, 2010

Rixiden (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Final Fantasy XIII: Complete Official Guide - Standard Edition (Paperback)

I've seen a lot of different guides for games and this company Piggyback is the best I've seen so far. Nothing is missing from this guide. It's got everything you need, like an encyclopedia for FFXIII. The words are intelligent and descriptive and they think of anything you may need to know at any given point in the game. They even have spoiler warnings and an index, as well as an intermission mid-story to get you prepped for the rest of the game. It has an excellent strategy and analysis section that teaches you everything about the way the game functions, as well as tables for every weapon, accessory, component, dismantles, EVERYTHING.

A+ best I've seen in about 18 years of hardcore gaming.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

Strategy without Spoilers, March 16, 2010

Pyanfar Chanur (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Final Fantasy XIII: Complete Official Guide - Standard Edition (Paperback)

The Piggyback Complete Official Guide for Final Fantasy XIII covers all the bases the Brady guides for Final Fantasy XII did and goes one step further. If you're familiar with these guides, you'll be happy to know that Piggyback seems to have looked at all the complaints of the Brady guide and addressed them well. Spoilers are avoided as much as possible. Instructions are clear to follow, with the occasional sidebar to underscore the point. I haven't beaten Final Fantasy XIII yet, but so far the advice appears to be very useful. Better still, a concept isn't dumped on you all at once, interrupting the flow of reading: instead, you're given the information you need to know at the point in which you need to know it, with a promise that more will be given to you at the appropriate time. There are a lot of passages in the walkthrough like, "You don't need to worry about the rest of that for now - we'll come back to it later when the time comes that you need it", or "We'll go into...Read more