Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver: The Official Pokemon Johto Guide & Johto Pokedex: Official Strategy Guide

The Pokemon Company have put out an odd product this time. There are several sections to this guide, and it is rather interesting that it is a volume 1. I'm assuming that this means that Part 1 is for Johto, and Part 2 is for Kanto. We'll see, when there is a Part 2.

I've had mixed feelings towards this book. As a strategy guide, it seems to be lacking some things that I am used to. Also, some of the information is not as in-depth as I would prefer, while other information is remarkably in-depth.

So, I'll break this up into sections for my review.

Section 1: Introduction of characters.
-This section has a few pictures and names of the various characters you'll meet in your adventure. While I understand this is a flavor section, many of these characters are introduced later as well. I feel that this section was a waste of a few pages.

Index:
-This section was done rather well, with other sorting methods used to try and...Read more

With 3 pokemaniacs in the house, this book is getting a lot of use, unfortunately we've been sorely disappointed with this offering.

Here some of the Good, the Bad, and the... Meh. (I'll be updating this as the book gets more use. Updates are denoted with asterisks.)

Update added:
* 4/28/2010 *
** 5/15/2010 **

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The Good:

Yay a index for the pokedex! Another plus attacks that require contact are identified.

* Nice page recommending 6 pokemon that can learn HMs, Flash, and Headbutt for field use (though a complete list of available pokemon would have been preferred). *

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The Bad:

The book arrived with the edge of the exterior lamination already pealing off and, of course, use has spread this. Also, the laminate had a flaw, a hole half the size of a pencil eraser, even before application. Construction quality does not seem the best. * Bubbles...Read more

When I pre-ordered this guide, there was NO notation that this was just Volume One. Sure, this is the way the Diamond and Pearl guides came out, but I was relieved that Platinum was just one volume, complete in itself.

The pros for this guide: maps, I suppose. And info on sidegames, but only those available during the first half of the game.

The cons: Worthless Pokedex. Not even egg moves! No info on any Move Tutors except for Headbutt, because these will be in the second volume. I kept flipping back and forth, because of the non-linear "do this here before that event, then come back later for these things..." descriptions for each section. No info on trainers, except gym leaders and your rival. By now most Pokemon players know about shiny Pokemon, but this guide doesn't bother to mention the phenomenon at all - it just states that the Red Gyarados is a shiny Pokemon, with no explanation. The guide doesn't even mention the odds of shinies, or that...Read more