I should say at the beginning that I bought my copy of the game in the UK. Rockstar (the game developer) claims that with regard to content all versions are identical, except for Germany and Australia where they are censored.

Now, about the book. It indeed contains not only very detailed description of each of the main story missions, but also strategies to complete the mission, and relevant map cutouts with weapon, health, and armor pickups as related to a given mission. Lots of information about multiplayer minigames and unlockables. There is also very useful info about side missions and odd jobs. For example, there are detailed routes for all courses in Quad, Dirtbike, and BMX races. So, before attempting to run a course, you can practice and get yourself aquainted with this particlular route.

Be prepared to find many extremly annoying inaccuracies in this book. It gives false locations for about 1-2 red balloons and wrong descriptions for, maybe, 4-6 balloons. What is worse, it gets completely wrong about 70% of rampages (these are certain challenges where you have to defeat a given number of enemies within a time limit with a given weapon). The book gives correct locations of these, but the descriptions are completely wrong (different weapons, different objectives). Therefore, the strategies in the book are completely irrelevant to what you actually encounter in the game. This is something quite strange. Every Brady guide for GTA games has its fair share of mistakes. But what I find here really blows my mind. Also, ther is no map of police bribes in this guide. On some mission specific maps, these pickups are indicated, but it's not clear whether these are complete. You will find yourself going to the internet to find more precise information about this game.

The Grand Theft Auto Vice City Stories Strategy Guide is well worth the wait. The thick guide is more similar in size to the San Andreas strategy guide than it is the original Vice City guide.

Okay, so a lot of people say, "Why buy the guide, there are walk thru's online," but the visual that the books provides is invaluable. Of course the PSP controls are included early in the book. What I like best about this particular guide rather than just telling you about each mission they actually provide you with helpful STRATEGY! One of the difficult early missions is Boomshine Blowout. The guide provides helpful strategy on how to complete this mission.

There is so much new to this game. Now you can bribe police officers and doctors and buy back your weapons if you lose them.

The guide also includes helpful maps. You won't be looking for hidden packages this time. This game you will be popping 99 red ballons. The guide includes a balloon map. Other maps included are insane jump stunts, and a rampage map. There is a list of weapons that can be found in the game but no map.

The guide also includes a ton of info about pastimes includes beach patrol, air rescue, and races.

There are a lot of missions in this game and it's nice to peek ahead in the book. I will say though that the resolution on some of the screen shot images in the book is not the greatest, perhaps this is because they were taken from the small PSP screen. I'm very pleased with this game guide. Brady Games did not let me down.