When you are shopping for a video game strategy reference for a retro collection, the decision usually comes down to focus versus range. Do you want one deep guide for a single console, or a lot of strategy guides across several systems? That is exactly the choice between the 3DO Games Secrets Book Two and the Video Game Strategy Guide Lot that spans PlayStation 2 and 3, Xbox, GameCube, Nintendo 64, SNES, and PC.
Quick verdict
For a dedicated 3DO player, the secrets book is the obvious pick: it concentrates on one console's games. For players with games across multiple systems, the lot is the stronger buy because it spreads the coverage across many retro platforms and includes guides connected to The Legend of Zelda and Lost Kingdoms II.
At a glance
| Aspect | 3DO Games Secrets Book Two | Video Game Strategy Guide Lot |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | USD 29.00 | USD 79.98 |
| Coverage | 3DO games | PlayStation 2/3, Xbox, GameCube, Nintendo 64, SNES, PC |
| Focus | Single-volume secrets and walkthroughs | Multi-guide lot |
| Condition | Good | Good |
| Highlights | 1996 trade paperback by Zach Meston and J. Douglas Arnold | Guides tied to The Legend of Zelda and Lost Kingdoms II |
| Price bar |
Where each product wins
- The 3DO Games Secrets Book Two wins for focused depth. It stays inside the 3DO library, with hints and walkthroughs written specifically for that system.
- The Video Game Strategy Guide Lot wins for library coverage. It casts a wider net across older consoles and PC, so it is the better fit if your collection is not confined to one platform.
Product notes
3DO Games Secrets Book Two
This 1996 trade paperback from Sandwich Islands Publishing gives you a period-specific look at 3DO games. The authors, Zach Meston, J. Douglas Arnold, and Doug Arnold, pack the book with hints, secrets, and walkthroughs for a single console, so you can stay inside one guide while playing a 3DO title. The ISBN matches the 1996 edition, making this a clean single-volume reference for that niche. Choose it when you want to focus on 3DO and prefer a dedicated book over a mixed stack of guides. The limitation is equally clear: the coverage starts and ends with 3DO. If most of your games live on other systems, this book will not help you with them.
Video Game Strategy Guide Lot: PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Nintendo 64, SNES, PC
This lot bundles multiple strategy guides into one purchase, and the included guides touch PlayStation 2 and 3, Xbox, GameCube, Nintendo 64, SNES, and PC. The guides keep their pages, posters, and inserts intact, and titles connected to The Legend of Zelda and Lost Kingdoms II are part of the mix - good news for players with broad retro libraries. If your collection spans several systems, this bundle fills that need when you want a wide-reaching reference set rather than a single-title deep dive. The trade-off is that it is a lot by nature: you accept a bundle of guides, not one focused book. The wider net may include systems outside your regular rotation, but for a multi-format collection it turns one purchase into coverage for many older platforms.
Final choice by use case
At the listed prices, $29.00 buys the focused 3DO Games Secrets Book Two, and $79.98 buys the multi-console Video Game Strategy Guide Lot. Pick the secrets book if you own a 3DO and want one console's walkthroughs in a single trade paperback. Pick the lot if your games span several platforms and you want broader reference coverage in one bundle.
