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A Link Between Worlds Collector’s Edition Strategy Guide Cover Revealed

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Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds strategy guideToday’s news from Prima Games held a bit of exciting news for me. Not only did they confirm that there will be a strategy guide for Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, but they also confirmed there will be a Collector’s Edition of the guide.

And if that wasn’t enough, it made me even happier that said Collector’s Edition is following the tradition of their past Zelda Collector’s Edition guides! So if you have been collecting them in the past (like me), this strategy guide will fit in so very well on your shelf. Or if you’ve preordered the ginormous Legend of Zelda Collector’s Edition boxed set from Prima Games (like me), this strategy guide will fit in so very well with these guides!

Oh it’s going to be such a Zelda-riffic fall for this strategy guide aficionado…

The Skyrim Strategy Guide WAS the Largest Strategy Guide I Own…

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The Legendary edition has kicked its butt and then some. Holy hell. The original Skyrim strategy guide is 656 pages, and the Legendary Edition, which includes all of the DLC, is a whopping 1119 pages. That’s over 400 pages…that’s 2-3 more average strategy guides.

This…this isn’t helping my fear of playing Skyrim at all. Although, with Thing 2’s due date right around the corner, this could be the perfect accompaniment for those sleepless nights that will be coming very, very soon.

Borderlands 2 Collector’s Edition Strategy Guide: Why Should I Buy?

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Borderlands 2 strategy guides

It’s a tale of two versions of the same strategy guide, Borderlands 2. One is hardback, one is paperback. One’s $21.99, the other is $36.99. What does the Collector’s Edition of the Borderlands 2 strategy guide offer that the other doesn’t? Is it worth it? Take a look for yourself.

The inner artwork is just as different as the outer covers, and personally, I like both the inner artwork and the cover of the paperback guide better than the CE.

Borderlands 2 strategy guides - inner artwork

CE on left, paperback on right

The paperback even had really nice black-and-white artwork in the back flap. The CE did not, although the back cover was quite exquisite.

Borderlands 2 strategy guides - inner artwork Borderlands 2 CE strategy guides - back cover

The CE did include some interesting bonuses, such as the artbook section in the back as well as developer interviews. Most interesting, however, was the paper pop-outs in the center of the guide.

Borderlands 2 paper dolls

With these, players can create paper toys from Borderlands 2. It’s very reminiscent of my childhood when we had similar paper dolls, but it’s not something that I found that exciting. Maybe if I was a bigger fan of the franchise, I’d feel differently, but they raised my eyebrows more than they got me thinking, “How cool!”

The art section was enough for me to say that the Collector’s Edition of the Borderlands 2 strategy guide, as I am an artbook freak, but at the same time, there are a lot of things, art-wise, about the regular guide that I just liked better. Unless you’re into reading developer interviews or art or creating your own paper toys from the game, I’d pass on the CE at this time.

Assassin’s Creed III Strategy Guide Cover Revealed

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I can’t lie. I honestly don’t think I’ve seen a more beautiful cover for a strategy guide come across my email ALL YEAR. Piggyback Interactive has really done themselves proud with this artwork. Normally, the hardcovers are very subtle, with raised Assassin’s insignias on white. Those were always gorgeous, but it’s going to be hard to top this one.

Assassin's Creed III strategy guide cover

I may be reviewing this strategy guide with gloves on so I don’t ruin it with fingerprints! Let’s hope that we can judge this book by its cover, and that the strategy content inside will be just as fantastic as the cover itself.

Mass Effect 3 Collector’s Edition Strategy Guide – Why Should I Buy?

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The Mass Effect 3 Collector’s Edition Strategy Guide is, without a doubt, my most anticipated strategy guide this year, if not ever. So when it arrived this morning, it took so much energy to not immediately hug it and stroke its spine. Instead, like a good little reviewer, I flipped through it and took a few photos to illustrate why this is the strategy guide you should buy, and not the regular, paperback edition.

If you’re even half the Mass Effect fan that I am, you need to pick up this version for your collection. The beautiful hardcover alone should be enticing enough.

Mass Effect 3 Collector's Edition Strategy Guide Mass Effect 3 Collector's Edition Strategy Guide

If that’s not enough, then okay, I’ll crack it open for you and show you the extras.

There are 16 pages in the front and 16 pages in the back of the guide that are nothing but behind-the-scenes content. There are interviews with the main forces behind the franchise, including Casey Hudson and lead writer Mac Walters. There are also plenty of concept art and discussions about the long journey the franchise has taken.

Mass Effect 3 Collector's Edition Strategy Guide Mass Effect 3 Collector's Edition Strategy Guide
Mass Effect 3 Collector's Edition Strategy Guide

If you’re a lukewarm fan, then these items may not matter much to you. As someone who has read all of the books and comics, owns all of the soundtracks, owns the giant art book, and has played the games 2-3 times, I greatly care about this info. I can’t wait until lunch rolls around so I can read them.

As a diehard fan, I may not be as unbiased as I should be when it comes to recommending the Collector’s Edition, but since CEs are usually for the diehard fans, I have to say that this one does not disappoint. For all diehard Mass Effect fans, the Mass Effect 3 Collector’s Edition Strategy Guide should be a no-brainer purchase, even if you aren’t into strategy guides at all.

Now if you will excuse me, I have some book hugging to do.

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