Decent guide. I like collecting them. OCDish I guess. I do have too many. I do use them though! This one, was useful several times. I like playing games without guides, until I hit a roadblock. This game is fairly straight forward and can be had without much guiding. There are times when the openness of the game does require a quick map look to verify directionality. One section in particular, I did not read the book for fear I would be further confused. You are under water, and the various exits and entrances are very 3D, up, down, in all directions, and just felt the guide might prolong the agony of hunting and fighting the swimming creatures. You try it with a read and let me know. Good game of strictly combat skills. Not quite as varied or puzzling as a Half Life excursion, but very nice Hi-Def battling.They just don't make guides like they did in the past with plenty of pic-by-pic play-by-play, such as a Tomb Raider guide from 1,2,3,4,or AOD. They had pictures telling you of every move and where to go next. That being the pinnacle of guides ever made, it is tough to measure up to TR perfection. Many TR games could not be played without a guide. Many a maneuver or jump needed to be made blindly off a cliff to an unseen catch hold or ledge, and would be impossible to ferret out without the help of a guide. I gave it a 7, but could easily vary to a 5 by any else's standards. I really like reviewing the 10 or complete bust, but this was just better than average.I like the surprises in games. The kind that make you jump and start reacting. Guides sometimes remove this visceralness. If you like collecting guides, and do read them occassionally, you will like the guide. Too many people expect too much from a guide, probably old TR readers I guess.One last comment about the usefulness of the guide. This could be just me, but I found that when I went to the guide for direction, it was difficult to find the matching area in the book. I gave up several times and mustered on. When you are in the island/jungle area, many of the guides pictures, chapters, and tips are all a blur at times when you are looking for a quick resolve. Again, unlike many other guides I have used, hunting for a particular area by picture was difficult.