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Strategy guides for video games have always left an odd feeling in me. I think games should be beaten based on the information in your head not in a book. But with the level of games becoming so increasingly complicated and the answers to abstract puzzles so difficult in scope that it would be impossible to solve, I can see why they are becoming so popular. With my copy of Socom II, I received a copy of the official strategy guide, so I thought I'd share my thoughts on this particular one.

The Socom II guide gives a comprehensive list of weapons, equipment and characters found in the game along with a detailed guide to each and every mission. In fact the guide breaks down each level and the secondary missions that evolve in the game. In fact, the guide would be helpful to anyone who played the game, wanted to play through it again but needed to know what missions were missed. And speaking of that, playing through the game on each of the difficulties is the only way to unlock all of the weapons and characters to use in the online part of the game. I have had my copy sitting next to me for a week now and it’s starting to show signs of wear as I have pages dog eared and folded. Sad, because the screen shots provided and the layout of the guide is done quite well and I’m ruining mine from use.

Purchasing the guide will certainly aid you in completing the game, but this is where I like to caution gamers. The guide should only be referenced when absolutely stuck and only the part you are stuck on should be read. Why? Well the game makers spent a long time developing this game and put in clever plot devices and surprises that should be discovered, rather then read about first. Don’t get me wrong, the guide will certainly help you through the game’s tougher scenarios (and there are plenty), but the feeling of accomplishment is ruined if you beat a game by merely following instructions instead of gutting your way through the tough spots. Again, beat the game first, use the guide when you get stuck, and then read it cover to cover once you reach the end of the game. With a game as developed as Socom II, you honestly can’t go wrong with picking it up.

Now you know how I feel about playing the single player game with a guide, but what about the online game with a guide. Well, here are my thoughts on that. Using the guide to get a good look at maps and to read about general strategies is good for those players who don't have a sneaky or cunning bone in their body. Why is this OK? Because no matter what a guide will tell you, the general gaming population will come up with a better strategy then any guide could possibly generate. So in this case reading a guide will merely put you on par with veteran Socom players, for a little while, but if you fail to adapt and change, you will be left in the proverbial dust. Plus, it gives veteran players a good idea of what the new maps look like from a bird’s eye view.