X-COM UFO Defense: The Official Strategy Guide (Prima's Secrets of the Games) [Paperback]

Dave Ellis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 21, 1994 | Series: Prima's Secrets of the Games

X-COM UFO Defense players must coordinate scientists, engineers, and soldiers to defeat an alien invasion and develop a strategy to ensure human survival. This "Official Strategy Guide" contains charts, tables, maps, and illustrations exposing every detail of the alien threat. In a special section, the game's designers and programmers reveal the game's deepest secrets.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Prima Games (November 21, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559587644
• ISBN-13: 978-1559587648
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,127,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but difficult to find what you're looking for, April 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: X-COM UFO Defense: The Official Strategy Guide (Prima's Secrets of the Games) (Paperback)

I was a little thrown off by the author's admission that he never really sat down to play the game until he was offered the chance to write this book. (This was before he became the lead man for the X-Com series) My initial thought was that it should have been written by someone who had played and loved the game since the beginning. That aside, he did a decent job.

However, having played the game for several years before reading this book, I found that I had difficulties in locating the information I wanted. Some of the tables and charts that seem like they should be grouped together are spread out - thus making me hunt for them.

As for the content of the book itself, it has *nearly* everything you could ask for. The small amount of expert advice in the back may or may not be useful but it is the only strategy tips available, and I noticed a few errors thoughout the book (nothing major, however). At times I find that a lot of pages go by before some useful information turns up. Too much talk about what the game is doing and not enough strategy tips for my tastes. I don't think the book needs to be as thick as it is.

Bottom line: The info is in there. Sifting the proverbial wheat out of the chaff is another thing altogether.

3.0 out of 5 stars Okay... but not great., February 15, 2010

By 

Paul E. Dunn (GA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: X-COM UFO Defense: The Official Strategy Guide (Prima's Secrets of the Games) (Paperback)

Some of the information in the book is very helpful, but some is basically a reprint of the manual.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars X-Com:UFO Defense, August 9, 2008

By 

P. Corleto "gift giver" (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: X-COM UFO Defense: The Official Strategy Guide (Prima's Secrets of the Games) (Paperback)

Very helpful for those who have never finished this game. I still haven't but some day when I retire...