Welcome to NAdventures, if we feel that you as an adventures fan will be interested in a game or peripheral, we will give it coverage right here on NAdventures. If you enjoy other genres of games in addition to adventures, then be sure to visit NShooters and NSports in order to get your fill of gaming content. Check out http://hub.ngenres.com for the highlight stories from each genre.

Guide Review  Conker's Bad Fur Day  
- By Michael Loewer

Conker and I go way back.

Last March, Andrew and I were busy getting NAdventures ready for launch, and I was at Blockbuster supposedly renting something for the Top 10 N64 feature. It was only chance that right before my departure I noticed the staff had just finished placing Conker's Bad Fur Day on the shelves.

Crap and a half.

Luckily, this was during Spring Break, and since I'm obviously too geeky to go party at the beach, I used the next couple of days to beat Conker's BFD. This game represents the only title that I literally begged to review--and I got it placed on the Top 10 at the last second, where it belongs.

So when I heard Brady Games was sending us their official Conker's BFD strategy guide, that sucker was mine--read all about it below.

---

Maps:

Instead of scale drawings or cartoon images to create a general map (which can be difficult to accurately do for a 3D title), this guide uses gigantic, page-sized overhead "pictures" of each level. Literally, the graphics of these pictures are exactly the same as those in the game--it's as if Conker we're able to fly up to 5000 feet or so, look down, and snap a picture. Because the graphical quality is identical to that of the game itself, the view is spectacular, and the location of every item (chocolate pieces, money, etc.) is shown as well with a simple labeling system.

Update:
I recently received an e-mail from Christian Sumner, a prior editor of this guide, with some information regarding the level maps. They were created in full by Alex Garner of Idea and Design Works, not Rare as I previously guessed. Mr. Garner has proven himself to be exceptionally talented, and we look forward to seeing his work in the future.




Hints and Tips

The Conker's BFD strategy guide provides what I deem a 100% rate for hints and tips. The locations of every last dollar, squirrel tail, piece of corn, etc. are provided in the text, including instructions on how to reach them. In conjunction with the giant overhead map (which labels locations of every relevant item) finding whatever you're looking for should be a snap.

The guide is basically a giant walkthrough, so gameplay can be made exceedingly simple. Little side tips are thrown in as well, such as which villagers are easiest to nab during the "Spooky" level--effeciency at its best. The amount of text is simply enormous, making this guide one of the most thorough I've ever seen.

I was also surprisingly impressed with the multiplayer section of the guide. This is an area that could easily have been forgotten, with perhaps a few maps and general descriptions of the different multiplayer setups. Instead full overhead maps are once again shown, with the locations of ever last weapon labeled. Multiplayer walkthroughs are included, so descriptive that nearly every single AI movement is catalogued--losing is no longer possible.




Item/Weapon Descriptions:

This section isn't as important as in say, an NShooters guide review, but I'll try to throw in some filler.

Every "item" persay that Conker uses throughout his journey is practically given to him--which the guide then thoroughly explains in the walkthrough. However, there is no separate "Weapons/Items" section beforehand to detail everything Conker might find.

The multiplayer section uses the same general format. This isn't a first-person shooter, and everybody knows that a bazooka is going to do something different than a chainsaw. Instead, a basic section is provided explaining controls for each weapon, but that's all.





Quality of Writing:

The walkthrough and descriptions use a simple, easy to understand writing style. The last thing we want to deal with is Shakespeare, so a laid-back style in this case is a good thing--especially with the amount of reading this guide provides.



Senior Editor Michael Loewer, signing off.
Shameless Plug: The Necessity

 

The Lowdown on  Conker's Bad Fur Day Maps: Very Good Hints and Tips: Awesome Quality of Item/Weapon Descriptions: Above Average General Writing Quality: Awesome Screenshots: Awesome Overall: Awesome! "A Must-Buy"