A handy look at the units, terrains, vehicles, weapons and defenses available to players of Westwood's excellent Dune 2000 real-time strategy game, as well as a sneak peek at the game's various maps, and a walk-through of the solo "quest" mode's many stages from every alliance's perspective.

Now, this is more like it. I'm very critical of the industry that has sprung up around video game strategy guides, especially when the games are constructe in such a way that you virtually need the books to get anywhere with them. Dune 2000 is not such a game; many strategies could get you from point A to point Z, and none of them guarantee your survival. The best you can hope for is a broad selection of helpful hints, and despite this book's thoroughness, that's what you get here. Nothing in this book is a connect-the-dots guide to help you see the next cool cut scene. You're still going to have to kick ass on your own - but at least now you'll have some pointers.

In many ways, Prima's Dune 2000 strategy guide makes a better manual for the game than the one that Westwood provides. There are some fundamental pieces of information about running a Dune 2000 warfare campaign that the game's actual docs just leave out, forcing the player to figure it out through what is likely to be a string of frustrating losses. I strongly advise any gamers who are just now checking out Dune 2000 to get this guide at the same time.

This is my idea of a good strategy guide. Then again, Dune 2000 is my idea of a good game. Check 'em both out.

Reviewed by Earl Green
theLogBook.com editor/webmaster

• Year: 1998
• Author: Steve Honeywell
• Genre: Video game hint book
• Length: 245 pages
• Publisher: Prima