When you're shopping for a video game strategy reference, the right guide can keep you moving through an older game without endless trial and error. The MDK Official Prima Strategy Guide and the Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories Official Strategy Guide are two very different retro picks. One comes from the late 90s, the other from the 2000s, and the better choice depends on which game you're playing and how much wear you're willing to accept.
Quick verdict
Quick verdict: The MDK guide is the pick if you want a late-90s companion written specifically for MDK. The Kingdom Hearts guide is the pick if you want a portable-era strategy book for Chain of Memories.
At a glance
| Guide | Listed price | Price bar | Condition | Key extra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDK Official Prima Strategy Guide | USD 18.00 | Good | Each-level walkthrough plus game pro insert | |
| Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories Official Strategy Guide | USD 15.99 | Very Good | Fold-out poster and complete walkthrough |
Where each product wins
- MDK Official Prima Strategy Guide wins for MDK players who want the guide that followed the original game.
- Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories Official Strategy Guide wins for Kingdom Hearts players who want a later companion book for the Chain of Memories adventure.
Product notes
MDK Official Prima Strategy Guide
Written by Bart Farkas and published in 1997, the MDK Official Prima Strategy Guide comes from Prima's strategy line and walks through each level of the game. That level-by-level structure makes it a practical companion to keep open while you play. This copy is in Good condition, but the top right corner has damage that reaches into the first few pages; the readable text is unaffected. It also includes a game pro January 1998 insert with the headline "make mincemeat out of MDK," which adds a bit of period flavor to the set. The main limitation is the condition-if you want a collectible cover, this corner damage will stand out. But if you want a usable MDK walkthrough and don't need a pristine book, this one covers the levels well.
Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories Official Strategy Guide
Published by DK Games in 2004 and written by Greg Sepelak and Beth Hollinger, this Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories guide is a 144-page trade paperback with illustrations, a fold-out poster, and a complete walkthrough. It's in Very Good condition, with clean pages and no torn or missing pages, so it's the cleaner book of the two. The walkthrough matches the Game Boy Advance version of Chain of Memories, which makes it a useful companion for that specific adventure. If your goal is to uncover all the secrets in that GBA title, the included poster and step-by-step coverage give you a lot to work with. The limitation is scope: this book is tied to the Game Boy Advance release, so its maps and page references are aimed at that version rather than other Kingdom Hearts games.
Final choice by use case
- For MDK players: Choose the MDK Official Prima Strategy Guide.
- For Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories players: Choose the Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories Official Strategy Guide.
- If both games apply: Start with the one you're actually playing.
