Halo 4 Collector's Edition: Prima Official Game Guide

I don't often buy guides for games unless they're for big, expansive adventure games like the  Legend of Zelda series  or  Okami , to name two examples; and even when I buy guides, they're often only as a side reference to make sure I didn't miss collectibles or whatnot. Why would you want a guide for a game as straightforward and action heavy as Halo? A question I pondered heavily before making this purchase. However, I love Halo as a series so much that I decided to splurge on this limited edition guide and boy am I glad I did. This beastly tome is nearly 500 pages long. I'll let that fact sit in the air for you to digest for a minute. Yes, 500 pages of guide devoted to Halo. What could they possibly fill that many pages with regarding a single Halo entry? Turns out, everything plus the kitchen sink, but nothing here is watered down with filler to stretch it out that much. It really is a helpful guide.First off, Halo 4 is a fantastic game, and 343 Industries really took the series to new heights in terms of story, scale, detail, and gameplay possibilities. This guide rises to the occasion in almost every way. The book starts with an introduction to the Halo series, followed by a "basics" section that tells you anything you'd want to know about the characters, weapons, enemies, etc, that will be in the game. Great start.The campaign section of the guide is very detailed, and not just about what you'd encounter just playing through the campaign as a normal, casual gamer would. There are detailed maps and descriptions of every major battle site and combat situation that all scream quality and attention to detail. For hardcore Halo fans, there are boxes labeled "Legendary Strategy" that proves to be sage advice. The guide also goes into great detail about hidden things, such as terminals and easter eggs. I didn't really use the campaign guide on my first playthrough as I wanted to be surprised by each new story event, but as I read it now, I really appreciate the writer's discretion. He avoids many spoilers, and that's much appreciated.The "Infinity", also known as multiplayer, section is really impressive. Not only are there meticulously detailed maps of each map, helpful info on each weapon and armor ability, and how the new ranking, load-out, and customization systems all work, but the book also has tons of advice written by many notable MLG gamers who obviously know their stuff. The advice they wrote here has been really helpful to me. Most of the Infinity section is devoted to the competitive "War Games" mode of multiplayer. Seeing how 90% of Spartan Ops hasn't even been released, and some of it hasn't even been finished yet, they didn't have a whole lot to write about it in this book, but I'll take what I can get. Fortunately, there's a code included with the book that allows you access to a special site online where Prima WILL post new updates each week to coincide with each new Spartan Ops episode. While I don't think this is ideal, it is the best one can do under the circumstances, and I find it to be a really nice touch.There's an appendix that essentially breaks down lots of technical info into simple charts chronicling things like when each armor piece and emblem will unlock, every possible commendation and the rewards associated with each, stats on each weapon, and other things like that. I've found it to be a helpful resource.That's the content of the guide, all great. How's the presentation though? In a word, awesome. There are high-quality screenshots, pictures, and concept art strewn about the book that is simply stunning to look at. Overall, the guide's format is clean and minimalistic in an attempt to mimic the human aesthetic from the Halo universe. It works well, and leaves the book looking clean and fresh. Nice job Prima! And how about that cover? The picture of John facing the cryptum is gorgeous beyond words. The bright orange parts of the color are foil, so the cover really pops out at you in pretty stunning fashion.Lastly, there's the additions specific to the limited edition. The end of the book has roughly 50 or so pages filled with interviews with various members of the 343 team that made Halo 4. Needless to say, it's an interesting addition and the kind I always appreciate with books of this nature. It's always cool to hear the experiences of the those who poured their blood, sweat, and tears into such beloved game series as Halo. The limited edition also comes with large reference cards for each multiplayer map, as well as a code to download your own avatar shirt (that happens to be the same image as the cover of the guide itself) unique to this guide. The cards and avatar download are nice additions, but ultimately, it's the guide's quality content and brilliant cover that helps the limited edition really steal the show.Like I said earlier, I don't often buy guides for games. I am so glad I did in this case. It's not only an incredibly helpful resource, but the limited edition's stellar design and brilliant cover make this a book I'd proudly display on my coffee table. It's a fantastic book to get, and especially if you're a big fan of Halo. I fall into "huge fan" category, and that been said, it's a book you'll probably want to have. Trust me. :)

I've always been one to buy game guides but not for the cheating. I just love it for the artwork. This is my first Halo game. The book IS A MUST, for Halo fans. The detailed artwork on the front and back of the hardcover is amazing especially since it was etched a bit. So you have something to feel :) Dry Erase maps are a bonus for those who like to strategize and mark their locations. There's a content code for an exclusive cryptum avatar t-shirt :] You get to learn about 343 industries and their staffing. Overall what are you waiting for? Get this book. It's worth your money.My only disappointment is the lack of artwork it's actually a true strategy guide. A bunch of words and maps telling you the how to. Prima's finally giving the people what they want lol.

I purchased this guide to go in my game room. It's very thick, heavy duty, beautifully colored and high quality. It's just as any other prima guide with its content. My book came on time and in great condition.

I won't bore you w/ all the details.. some great Review's were done.. so... I get to make my review short.. LOLLike the others reviewers state, Awesome book.. 343 did great w/ Microsoft & Prima.. this guide has it all and more !Well worth it.. and glad I got it from Amazon.. they gave me a discount on my pre-order.. price drop guaranty..A1+ in my book "haha...".. the only way it would have been better if this copy had the writers Autograph it hehe..or if they would have added a metal bar with LIMITATION on the book.. like L.ED. V.game.. that would of been nice.This Hard-back will be a great addition to my library.. if you don't have a copy.. "what are you waiting for.. get it !"

But I'm a massive fan of Halo and had to have this collectors edition prima guide. High quality materials, amazing detail about Halo 4 and information about the franchise and 343's approach to taking over from Bungie whilst making a game in one of the most feverishly community protected franchises.For any Halo fan this is worth the purchase even if you never intend to use it for its campaign and multiplayer details and guides.

it contains everything u need to do really good in multiplayer with separate multiplayer maps. My son put those maps in a plastic sleath that he can use dry erase markers with and come up with attack plans with his friends before they go online for some of the different multiplayer levels, which raised his multipliers and friends multipliers up. It also includes the campaign maps in a very detail form.

My boyfriend is a huge Halo fan and finding this for half the price I found in store I didn't think twice before adding it to my cart. Would definitely buy again. It shipped the night I ordered it and I received it in about 4 days in perfect condition still wrapped in the original plastic. I was very happy that it was shipped in a box rather than the recently popular envelopes I've been getting from my amazon orders.

Halo 4 was an amazing experience for me solo, and co op. The story makes Master Chief more personable, and the story is taking an epic step forward. And this guide is a must for BIG Halo fans. The Collectors edition strategy guide, gives so much more than just a guide in the right direction. Insight, beautiful photos, and an idea of what is really going on in the world of Halo.

A great book to go with the game. I know the game isn't necessarily recognised as one of Halo's best but that's not the books fault. The graphics, artwork and quality of the paper are all top notch.

Please be aware that this may be a long review, but I do hope you, the reader and shopper, enjoy it.The internet is full of guide books that are extremely helpful and free, which caused issues with specialist guide book manufacturers as an issue of competing was high.As a gamer, I hardly use a guide book unless necessary, or if the book has more information about the game and/or limited or rare content not available elsewhere.I usually buy guide books if they are limited or collector editions and if they are of high quality, in terms of being a good book, high quality paper and printing, long lasting and as an artwork supplementing the game itself. I hardly use the books for actual help in games, save for one exception.Before I review Halo 4 Official Collector's Guide, I want to speak about that exception above.There is only one guide book that is symbiotically attached to my game whenever I play it; Dark Souls from Future Publishing. Though the guide book was nerfed due to some patches by the developer From Software early on, the book still had a wealth of information in one area that made it a real lifesaver. It is also the most beautiful game guide book I have ever seen, with remarkable typography, extremely well written text and easy to read, high quality artwork (maps and pictures), exceptional stat pages, so on and so forth. It even included links to downloadable videos for certain sections of the game!The greatest asset of this book, however, is that it emulated the feel and look of the game; dark, brooding and scaled with the difficulty of the game (explaining in further detail as you read deeper into the book the real danger of horrors coming up in the game). The book matched the feel of the game, something I have never seen before.This book beat my rare Final Fantasy XII Collector's Guide book, and I have many collector/limited edition guide books including Mass Effect 3, Gears of War 3, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Final Fantasy XIII. Excluding the Final Fantasy XII book, I hardly touched the others as they were decent but standard and were bought for collecting.Dark Souls guide book, however, is the best I have ever read.So, this Halo 4 guide book has tough competition, noting that my Dark Souls guide book is simply amazing art book and tool. I will also mention that I have completed Halo 4 on Legendary prior to purchase of this book, and I am an experienced Halo 4 multiplayer gamer.How does this guide stack up, then?Let’s start with exclusive: individually numbered collector's guide book (inside bottom left of front-flap), two avatar shirts (male/female), ten War Games dry-erase map cards (useful for players starting out, and very high-quality), constantly updated e-guides available to the purchaser, standard tips on achievements and online medals, MLG Pro strategy guides, and most importantly 48 pages worth of interviews and photos with 343 Industries (henceforth 343i).Also to make a note, it is obvious that this book was made in very close conjunction between Prima Guides and 343i, just as Future Publishing had done with From Software for Dark Souls.The hardcover book is embossed with the sphere of the...well, I'll let you find out what that sphere is in the game, but just like a sphere, the embossing goes on to the back flap of the book. The colour is bright and beautiful, and I think it is foil print screened. Excellent.The pages are all very clean and bright UNSC themed as the games, the text of the book is incredibly easy to read (nice font size and spacing) and multiple bout similar clean, simple typography (fonts) used for specific parts of the guide book.The book has a flowing nature to it between one campaign level to the next, a brilliant section having information about characters, enemies and vehicles (with brief tidbits in the campaign/multiplayer sections of the guide), and high-resolution pictures/photos.There are places in the book where there is little text and more pictures, but that may be due to the nature of the game. The map pictures are highly useful, especially to later parts of the game.In terms of multiplayer, there is a great and useful guide pertaining to the various stats for features of Halo 4 multiplayer, such as Specialisations, Commendations, various skin unlocks, and so on. The commendations are something I will be using, and I wish I had the book earlier for helping me achieve some Specialisations quicker. Easy to read stats and number charts to boot.The multiplayer guide section is quite interesting. Though I am not a 'try-hard' or 'bumper-jumper' type of player (I play with like-minded friends for a great laugh most of the time, winning is only good if the conversations I have with friends is funny and slapstick), I am surprised by some of the tips presented in the book. Some of these tips are genuinely useful, and I cannot believe that I missed up or never seen those crevices, the speediest way to special weapons, line-of-sight recommendations, and abusing a map by where to jump to gain greater verticality in a map (access higher areas for example).My favourite part is the interview and behind-the-scenes section of the book; witty, engrossing and delightful.I still think my Dark Souls guide book matches better in terms of feel and text to that of the game than this Halo 4 guide book does (sometimes feeling a bit standard to a typical guide book), but it not a real negative. As a guide book, it is simple and effective if a little sparse feeling at times.It is not, however, very competitive at online guides as my Dark Souls guide book is (except for the stat pages in Dark Souls), but does include a nice in-one-place compendium of information about the game and Halo themes.The online sections of the book are far more useful and more competitive against online guides as it is easier to read and find what you need. The dry-erase map cards are a good match for these sections too.The interview section is definitely a great feature and bonus, great for collectors such as myself.Nothing really beats free guides, but you lose out on a beautiful high quality book with simply astounding artwork, nice exclusives, and more information about 343i.Best of all, this book is handsomely priced; in this context, it beats my Dark Souls book for price/quantity/quality, though as strictly a guide book my Dark Souls guide is the better.Halo 4 Official Collector's Guide is on par with my Final Fantasy XII Collector's guide book, and is a great steal for an enjoyable read.Highly recommend. ^_^

*JUST DON'T READ BEFORE YOU PLAY THE GAME* Don't be silly and read before you complete the game okay? Mission wise and character wise (if you're like me and you want to be somewhat surprised during the game's campaignI bought this simply for the 'Collectors' reason not as a guide. However, after playing through on Normal I used it for Legendary and it works a treat. A couple of Xbox live features like avatar items as well which I didn't know came with it. I wouldn't say it's a definite purchase, but it's well worth the cost.

having played all previous games, I was unsure, after switching from bungie to 343 industries, if it would live up to the standard of the previous games. Fortunately, it had a great campaign and the multiplayer games were, while not as memorable as previous halo games, was still fun to play.

My son was over the moon with this book. Great price as well and delivered free. Now this is heavy book and if had to post it the postage would have been more than the price of the book. Well done Amazon for not only the good price but the free delivery.