If you're shopping for a video game strategy reference, the first question is whether you need a full walkthrough or just a collectible piece for your shelf. That split separates the four retro guides covered here. They're close in price, but they serve very different purposes: one is a Game Boy Advance walkthrough, one is a Kingdom Hearts II magazine, one is a Super Game Boy guide, and one is an RPG walkthrough. Here's how to choose.
Quick Take
The four guides range from $11.99 to $15.99, and each one has a different job. The Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories guide is a book for the Game Boy Advance, Tips & Tricks #135 is a magazine for Kingdom Hearts II, the Super Game Boy guide is an official Nintendo title, and the Granstream Saga guide is a Prima walkthrough. Your choice comes down to which game you're playing.
Price Comparison
The four guides sit in a tight price band; the spread is about $4 from least to most expensive.
| Guide | Listed Price | Price Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories Official Strategy Guide | USD 15.99 | |
| Tips & Tricks May 2006 #135 | USD 14.95 | |
| The Granstream Saga: Prima's Official Strategy Guide | USD 15.00 | |
| Super Game Boy Nintendo Strategy Guide Book | USD 11.99 |
Decision Matrix
| Use Case | Guide | Why this guide |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Chain of Memories on GBA | Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories Official Strategy Guide | Complete walkthrough plus fold-out poster |
| Kingdom Hearts II magazine read | Tips & Tricks May 2006 #135 | Glossy issue focused on Kingdom Hearts 2 |
| Super Game Boy / Game Boy reference | Super Game Boy Nintendo Strategy Guide Book | Official Nintendo coverage of the accessory and compatible games |
| Granstream Saga walkthrough | The Granstream Saga: Prima's Official Strategy Guide | Game-specific tips and strategies for Granstream Saga |
The decision matrix makes the split clear: buy for the game you're actually playing, not just for the name on the cover.
Product Notes
Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories Official Strategy Guide
If you are playing Chain of Memories on the Game Boy Advance, this is the guide to have next to you. The 144-page trade paperback has a complete walkthrough, illustrations, and a fold-out poster, so you get both step-by-step help and a collectible extra. Greg Sepelak and Beth Hollinger wrote the book, and this copy is in Very Good condition with clean pages and no torn or missing pages. The limitation is scope: the walkthrough is tied to this specific Game Boy Advance game, so if you move on to another Kingdom Hearts title, you will need a different guide.
Tips & Tricks May 2006 #135 (Kingdom Hearts 2)
This is a magazine, not a book, and that distinction matters. The May 2006 issue of Tips & Tricks, number 135, is glossy and built around Kingdom Hearts 2, making it a nice period piece for fans of that game. It's in Very Good condition. If you want a lighter read that feels like a magazine from the mid-2000s, this delivers the easy page-flipping format. The limitation is the same format: it's a single issue rather than a dedicated book, so it lives in magazine territory, not reference-book territory.
Super Game Boy Nintendo Strategy Guide Book (SNES)
This official Nintendo guide looks back at the Super Game Boy accessory for the SNES and the Game Boy games you can play through it. It's in Good condition, which means visible wear: light corner and edge wear on the front cover, surface impressions and creasing on the back, and small dings at the spine. The full-color cover features screenshots from Tetris, Dr. Mario, Yoshi, Kirby's Dream Land, and more, which gives it real shelf appeal for Nintendo collectors. The limitation is focus: this is a reference book for the accessory and its library, not a walkthrough for one specific game.
The Granstream Saga: Prima's Official Strategy Guide
If you're working through The Granstream Saga, this Prima Games book is the walkthrough to reach for. It's in Very Good condition and is dedicated to that specific RPG, with tips, tricks, and strategies for the game. The focus is what makes it useful: you get game-specific help rather than general gaming advice. The flip side is that the coverage is built entirely around Granstream Saga, so if you're also playing a different RPG, you'll need another reference for that one. For this particular game, though, it gives you a direct path through the adventure.
Final Recommendation by Use Case
- For a Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories playthrough on the Game Boy Advance: the official guide is the pick.
- For the least expensive book in this set: the Super Game Boy guide.
- For a Kingdom Hearts II magazine read: the Tips & Tricks issue.
- For Granstream Saga: the Prima walkthrough.
