Metal Gear Solid: Official Mission Handbook (Authorized Official Strategy Guide) (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"About 10 Metal Gear Solid-related books (guidebooks and more) have been published and sold in Japan. However, there there is not a single one that matches the excellence of the guidebook by Millennium. Namely, the taste (artistic sense) oozing from all pages is superb. This is the kind of book we have been waiting for! Each page is elaborately and finely laid out. The level of completion as a guidebook is extremely high. It even incorporates the essence and setting details of Alaska. Its composition as pure reading material is wonderful. And most important of all, it is visually very well polished and sophisticated, leaving us in the development team awe-stricken. As for screenshots, we can tell that the editors made sure they got what they really wanted to show. I could feel the deep love of the editors for Metal Gear Solid. Even the forklift and gun cameras in the game are given extensive explanations This is what a true guidebook should really do -- effectively supplement the game to follow up on details that could not be done in the game itself. Above all things, I am extremely touched that this "game" called Metal Gear Solid, created by a group of Japanese people, is very sincerely dealt with as a piece of art. I would like to express my utmost gratitude to the staff who have put together this wonderful guidebook." -- Hideo Kojima, creator and director of Metal Gear Solid

Product Description

The video game event of the decade involves a deep cover operative on a deadly mission in a remote Alaskan military base, and now any Metal Gear Solid operative can complete their mission with the only Official Strategy Guide to the game. It this massive 170+ page book, you'll receive a complete walkthrough with official maps, massive training and item sections, a team interview with seven key members of the development team (including Hideo Kojima), intense VR Training routes, an art gallery and even a special sealed section with every game secret and end mission tactics. This is essential gear!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Millennium Publications, Inc.; 1st edition (September 23, 1998)
• ISBN-10: 1893102769
• ISBN-13: 978-1893102767
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,176,480 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this guide rules !!!!!, April 29, 1999

By A Customer

All I can say when I got this book was WHOA. This book rocks and is the best srategy guide for any game. It is so detailed and cool. I recommend this book to any Metal Gear fan even if you already beat the game. The book is worth all the money. It comes jam packed with info on all the characters and guards. Info on guns and items in is included also. If you own Metal Gear Solid BUY THIS NOW!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Guide that's INCREDIBLY DETAILED 4.5 Stars, June 24, 2004

By	Nite - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Metal Gear Solid is a fantastic PSX game no matter how you play. But attempt to uncover EVERY secret and master EVERYTHING the game has to offer and you could probably use a leg up. While a guide for MGS isn't needed, those wanting to master the game will probably need it.

The guide is vividly detailed in the aspect of its artwork and maps (both of which are official) and incredible interviews. The guide certainly has lots and lots of eye-candy for you to look at. The character bios are in-depth and provide LOTS of info on the characters.

The guide also does what virtually all the other ones don't. Actually detail the differences between the difficulty levels! Want to know what changes when you play EXTREME? This guide will actually tell you! Unlike all the others I saw. The guide even provides tips and hints for the higher difficulty levels.

The guide also gives off strategies for the VR Missions and they're useful. They'll help you get some good times, although some of the unauthorized guides will give you better. But you'll definitely pass through ALL of the VR missions with ease, speed and using the least of your resources.

The walkthrough is grand. Complete with official maps that point out where you start and where you should go. The strategies and tips are unbelievable and the guide is full of screenshot after screenshot after screenshot. All of which are incredibly detailed. The screenshots are crystal clear and there are a huge abundance of them!

The maps have points in them (A,B,C and all that stuff) as well as an items list. Incredible detail that guides you through everything you need.

The walkthrough however, is where the problem is. This is a Mission Handbook and therefore the walkthrough talks to you as if briefing you on an area. This isn't so bad but it makes it so the guide takes a while to get across information that could be vital to your survivial.

The second part wrong with the walkthrough is that some info is all over the place. Looking at point A on the map will mean reading an entire page to get the gist of just what the author is trying to tell you. Also, they have "Tech Notes" which is more or less repeated information from what you read in the main sections of the walkthrough.

The guide also has a crapload of spoilers! Yeah, spoilers. I don't mind spoilers very much but the next gamer might. The endings and every movie cinema can be spoiled if you look to the bottom of a page.

The good news is the game has been out for a while now so everyone probably knows the story. The bad news is that a guide is still a guide and therefore I must be fair.

So yes, grab this guide ESPECIALLY if you're into collecting them. The guide is by far one of the best looking and most presentable of any strategy guide I've ever seen before. A great guide for a great game.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars High tech action/stealth adventure that whoops GOLDENEYE 64, March 1, 1999

By A Customer

I've played many rpg games and I must say Metal Gear Solid takes the cake. The guide was very dedicated to detail making it easier to figure out the games many creative traps and tricks. Unlike other rpg games such as Resident Evil Directors Cut, Resident Evil 2, and Parasite Eve the guide was complete and left you prepared for lurking guards and cameras prepared to shoot you with machine guns. The guide actually gives you full descriptions of things such as stationary trucks and tanks and helicopters, but even the forklift truck in the loading dock. This kind of accuracy almost makes the guide more interesting than the game! The only problem is when it tells you how to snap a guards neck. If you aren't precise when you do it you can end up throwing the guard and causing attention to yourself. In all this guide is for any person who is having trouble with the game. I should know becuase it helped me find Revolver Ocelot on the B2 level. Now when ever my Nintendo loving freinds wave GOLDENEYE64 in my face I whip out Metal Gear Solid and my guide in theres. In laymans terms they shutup real fast when I do. My only advice to other gamers is to buy this guide as soon as they possibly can. No true psx gamer should be with out a handy thing like this! Now all we need is them to write up a guide for Syphon Filter and playstaion will rule the market. As a final word I would like to thank the writers of this guide for making my life a little easier. TTTTHHHHAAAANNNNKKKK YYYYOOOOUUUU!!!!