# Best video/computer game manuals **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 7, 2002, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808 "2002-08-07T17:48:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Maximino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@Mighty\_Maximino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Maximino)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/1 "2002-08-07T17:48:15Z")
Every now and then, a video game company will rise above the simple one-page insert, and actually come up with a manual that’s almost as fun to read as the game is to play. I’d like to recognize a few of the teams that made an effort. I’ve got a few suggestions to start off: _Most informative_: **Aces of the Pacific**. The manual reads almost like a history textbook, and it’s filled with personalities, tactics, and trivia. One of my high school teachers even used a chapter as a handout for our WWII in the Pacific section, and since he was actually there, I consider that high praise. _Coolest backstory_: **Echelon** for the C64. What can I say, I’m a sucker for pirates. Anyone else got some favorite manuals? ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/2 "2002-08-07T18:00:40Z")
The Age of Empires series manuals were excellent. History lessons as well. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/3 "2002-08-07T18:07:20Z")
The Falcon 4.0 manual was very impressive, in a doorstop-like fashion. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/4 "2002-08-07T19:13:45Z")
I used to read and reread the Pirates! manual for my old Apple IIc. Very nicely done. It was even printed on a suitably piraticle quality of paper. I’m also fond of the materials that came with the old SSI gold box games. Lot of reading material there… ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/5 "2002-08-07T21:50:34Z")
Fallout, Fallout 2, and Fallout: Tactics had the right amount of humor in them to ensure that I read every paragraph, even the pointless boring crap about how to install. Along with Aces of the Pacific, I’d pick Red Baron as another highly informative manual. Apparently Dynamix thought they were on to something there. ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/6 "2002-08-08T01:12:23Z")
I love me some **Fallout** manual. The whole little binder with the safety tips cracks me up. I’d also go with **Crimson Skies**. The manual really draws upon the atmosphere of the game. Just for kicks, I also like the “about the company” section of **Giants: Citizen Kabuto** ’s manual. ---
**Author:** ![CyberPundit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@CyberPundit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyberPundit)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/7 "2002-08-08T04:25:38Z")
**Alpha Centauri** has one of the best manuals I have seen. Lots of useful tables and some nice appendices at the end with made-up statistics about the fictional world. ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/8 "2002-08-08T04:35:47Z")
I was quite pleased to see that the inch-thick _Neverwinter Nights_ manual was spiralbound – a detail many manufacturers overlook. For some interjections of subtle humor, though, I found the _Planescape: Torment_ manual an interesting read. I seem to recall enjoying a cheap Xerox copy of the _M.U.L.E._ manual when I was younger – found it about two years after I started playing the game. (Man, I miss _M.U.L.E._ … wish I had the space to set up my old C64, just to play that) ---
**Author:** ![Chocobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Chocobo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chocobo)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/9 "2002-08-08T07:08:23Z")
Lunar: Silver Star Story and Lunar: Eternal Blue. It’s hardbound and about 100 pages. Great story description, character set up, illustrations, etc. Excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/10 "2002-08-08T08:03:17Z")
Fallout manuals. All of them. ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingwithChickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@SwimmingwithChickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingwithChickens)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/11 "2002-08-08T12:41:03Z")
I have to back the Fallout manuals. It’s been a while since the last in the series was released, but I still find myself going back to them for a quick laugh. Is there any rumor of additional Fallout(s)? ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/12 "2002-08-08T13:00:45Z")
\*\*Swimming Chicken[\b] Well, nothing solid, but Black Isle will be releasing IWD2 soon, and Feargus Urquhart has mentioned they’ll look at Planescape 2 (may or may not be directly related to Planescape). Fallout 3 could not be completely off their minds. I do think they’re not entirely sure what to do with engine/issues. We may see a new 2D engine, incorporating more 3D elements a la Fallout tactics. but back on topic, Fallout had good manuals. Baldur’s Gate was packed with info, and though difficult to comprehend for the first-time DnD’er, it also had a lot of funny quotes by Volo Geddarm and Elminster(!). ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingwithChickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@SwimmingwithChickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingwithChickens)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/13 "2002-08-08T13:37:04Z")
I’m sorry, but what’s IWD2? Am I that out of the video game loop that I don’t recognize that tag? While I’ve never played Planescape, I have heard that it’s quite good and as soon as I finish Arcanum (to my satisfaction) I think I’ll pick it up. Another good manual was from a game that I can’t remember. Shoot. It’s probably 10 + years old by now. The game was basically a Sci-Fi space ship shooter game. What I remember is that there were cut outs in the back that you could fold up and make space ships out of… Damn I wish I remembered what game that was- I think it was out around the same time as Wasteland if that helps? ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingwithChickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@SwimmingwithChickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingwithChickens)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/14 "2002-08-08T13:44:33Z")
It’s not Wing Commander either. For a split second I thought it was… I think your character was a Rogue Trader or something… Damn I wish I could remember!! ---
**Author:** ![Wearia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Wearia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wearia)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/15 "2002-08-08T17:02:13Z")
Another vote for Fallout. Those cartoon things were hilarious. One was a guy on the ground dead and there was a guy standing above him with a knife. The dead guy was holding a picture of the man who stabbed him signed “My Friend”. I don’t care if it was morbid. It was funny dangnabit… ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/16 "2002-08-08T18:38:11Z")
IWD2 = IceWind Dale 2. The original IceWind Dale was a very different game from most RPG’s, as it is a big dungeon crawl that Black Isle was gutsy enough to relese opposite Diablo 2 (and posted very good sales). I like it much better than Aranum, mostly due to that horrible weapon degrading. Are you sure you don’t mean Wing Commander Privateer? Zork games had a very silly and fun manual. Huge numbers of cheezy jokes and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/17 "2002-08-08T18:59:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SwimmingwithChickens \* > \*\*Another good manual was from a game that I can’t remember. Shoot. It’s probably 10 + years old by now. The game was basically a Sci-Fi space ship shooter game. What I remember is that there were cut outs in the back that you could fold up and make space ships out of… Damn I wish I remembered what game that was- I think it was out around the same time as Wasteland if that helps? \*\* I’m pretty sure that you’re thinking of Space Rogue **Dragonblink** , you know you could get a C64 emulator and play M.U.L.E. on your current system, right? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/18 "2002-08-08T19:06:26Z")
Forgot to add my input for this list: **El-Fish** for the fish puns. **Warhammer 40,000 Final Liberation** and **Roadwar 2000** for their backstories. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/19 "2002-08-08T19:48:47Z")
Space Quest V came with the Galactic Enquirer tabloid parody as a manual. Genius! ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingwithChickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@SwimmingwithChickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingwithChickens)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808/20 "2002-08-08T19:51:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\*I’m pretty sure that you’re thinking of Space Rogue > > **Dragonblink** , you know you could get a C64 emulator and play M.U.L.E. on your current system, right? \*\* Kick ass man! I’m almost certain that was the name of the game!!! Thank you so much, that was bugging the hell outta me. As I recall that was a pretty neat game too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-video-computer-game-manuals/122808.md?page=2)