Spore: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides)

I've had really good luck buying strategy guides but this one was the worst and an obvious waste of money that I regret.

Pros:
Good details on every single selectable item and lots of good examples of setups for every single stage except one.
There are some hints periodically that I didn't think of till reading this guide.

Cons:
The only stage this book is terrible at is the most in-depth and difficult stage in the game. The Space stage. 80 - 90% of the book is dedicated to the earlier stages but only a sliver is on the hardest/most complex stage.

Overall impression:
[...]. Do a little homework online for any details/hints/walkthroughs you might need and you will be far better off with even more cash in your pocket. Sure there are a couple of hints in there I didn't think of, but not [...] worth of hints and help. Maybe [...] worth. Save your money.

Side venting regarding the game.... I HATE DRM. They are going to DRM Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 as well. What JERKS! I'm the type that uninstalls a game, reinstalls, uninstalls, reinstalls. It's all based on what I feel like at any moment in time and given that I own hundreds of games, it's easy to change my mind for something else. The DRM did NOT affect the 2 stars I gave to the guide. The guide really did deserve 2 stars. The game is worth 4-5 stars but I gave it a 1 because I don't want to be annoyed when I reinstall my own game. Why should I have to justify my life to some stranger just to get another install license?

The guide is useful, in that it lists some information that you wouldn't otherwise get (like how trading spice actually works in space stage).

But, it's told in storybook form, which I find annoying. Seriously, most of the "story" is covered by the in game tutorial, so why go over it again for over 3/4 of the book?

It contains at least a couple charts that are meaningless (how other space empires react to you - what do the numbers mean? No idea, they never say.) It contains references to information that would probably need more fleshing out (what are the reaction bonuses that you have for other empires? They mention it for civ stage, but not space stage?)

It contains relatively too few strategy tips, and those that are there are often buried in otherwise useless stories about their creature "Clumpy".

The poster is really ugly, and despite what the cover says, there's no "comic" inside.

In short, a slapdash effort for Spore addicts only. I could have done better if given a couple weeks - they spent more effort on the graphics than the text. My guide would have had almost no graphics, and about 5 times more text.

[...]

the guides pretty decent cept they do not tell you how to actually really defeat the grox and get to the center of the galaxy oh well.. guide is still cool i guess.

[...]

From what I've read of this guide it is done pretty well. It gives alot of tips on how to evolve your creature the way you want to and strategies for helping you to succeed and not wind up getting eaten!
The only thing keeping this guide from getting a 5 star rating is it doesn't mention how to get rid of the draconian SecuROM DRM.

I bought this guide thinking it would explain a lot more about creating spores, buildings, and vehicles. It shows you some pretty awesome creations and the parts to build them but I had hoped it would show you creative ways of adding color and using the eyedrop tools. I don't understand why it spends so many pages explaining the most basic part of the game, and like another reviewer said, no time at all on the space stage. I am very disappointed with the guide and think it was a waste of my money.