Customer Reviews

Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria Official Strategy Guide

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have to start by saying that I really don't think this is a "poor" guide, per se, but it's definitely not one of Bradygames' better ones. I've noticed a distinct pattern in Bradygames' guides - they tend to alternate in quality, with one being great and the next being useless. The guide for Dragon Quest VIII wasn't good, for example, but the guide for Xenosaga: Episode 3 was great. Unfortunately, the pattern continues here, as this guide for Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria is mediocre, an overall disappointment.

While the guide provides maps - not the best quality, but at least they're there - it really provides little in the way of a walkthrough or strategy, save a few comments peppered here and there. While locations that you visit are clearly laid out in the recommended order, a thorough, detailed walkthrough with directed suggestions/hints is absent. Often, the strategy for a particular location (many of which are extremely complex) is limited to a paragraph of general tips with little specific information.

But hey, at least there's *some* walkthrough, right? Unfortunately, the guide falters elsewhere as well. When it comes to recruiting einherjars, the guide will point out when you get them, but fails to suggest when to release them or what equipment to give them at that time to maximize the stat-boosting items you receive afterwards. The guide is equally inept at suggesting equipment to purchase, or in recommending which of countless rune-word-based skills you should attempt to learn at what time.

While I don't expect to have my hand held every step of the way, my take on it is this: if I'm going to pay $15-20 for a book that tells me how to play the game to maximize rewards, find all of the hidden goodies, and get the best ending, then I expect the guide to publish that information. Without it, it's little more than an incomplete reference - an atlas with maps, pretty pictures, and not much else.

While no guide can ever be totally comprehensive, it can easily provide more information than this one does. The walkthrough, while passable, is still incomplete; other tips, tricks, and pointers are almost absent. Not as bad as some of the guides I've seen, true, but this one isn't worth the cover price either.

And Bradygames, please start holding all of your guides to the same standard instead of letting short, incomplete ones like this one slip through the cracks. Bottom line: skip this one and use a walkthrough or FAQ you find online. Save your money for the (hopefully better) guide to FFXII.

I have to agree with the other reviewer in that this is a mediocre book at best. It is extremely brief in its approach, especially for a game as complex as this one. You basically just get a map of the dungeon and a few tidbits on item locations. They don't go over what enemy parts you should break for runes/items, they don't tell you how to manipulate the sealstones, there isn't anything on releasing einherjars, etc.

Save your money and wait for someone to write a good guide online..

I wonder how could Brady Games approved a half-baked guide like this!
It's not that bad actually but it doesn't go deeply in the game...
For example, there's a lot of treasures that require several acrobatics using the Photon and jump timing and the guide simply gives you a map of the level, locating them but skipping the how-to-get.
For me (and I believe everybody), this is the major problem of this guide.

Bradygames nous a habitué a beaucoup mieux...
Le cheminement est pour ainsi dire inexistant, les cartes sont trop petites et illisibles et les tableaux récapitulatifs des objets ne sont pas illustrés ce qui les rend particulièrepment indigestes.
Je m'attendais à un guide qui me permettrait de traverser le Seraphic Gate sans trop de problème mais la seule information que l'on vous donnera sur ce donjon, c'est le nom des boss et leurs caractéristiques : les puzzles sont totalement ignorés !
Un point positif (tout de même) : Les énigmes du jeu sont bien expliquées.

Conclusion : n'achetez pas ce guide, les FAQ du net sont autrement plus complètes et précises.
Conclusion : Don't buy this book, FAQ on the Net are much better

I had just recently lost the copy i had and i am very glad, after searching every game store in three cities that i was able to find it here on amazon.com. Also i igot a good deal on an exellent copy of Final Fantasy 7.

This guide is great but there is a little problem:
The most of important items writing on the book has different name in the game. This is the only disadvantage that i considered. The remaining of this guide is great, at least for me. THE GAME is THE BEST!!!

The guide book contains great figures of characters, including their profiles. If the book had a way to get those tricky treasure, it would be better.