Memorable Manuals
Instruction booklets are a dying art and it's up to me to save the world.
45 Games
If you need instructions, check out the enclosed instruction book.
1
One of the fattest manuals I've had the pleasure to ever hold in my hands. They put so many words into this thing.
You could blindfold me and make me hold every Wii game I own and I could instantly guess which one is Radiant Dawn just by weight alone. This thing is more thorough than the manual for Xenoblade Chronicles and it's not even close.
You could blindfold me and make me hold every Wii game I own and I could instantly guess which one is Radiant Dawn just by weight alone. This thing is more thorough than the manual for Xenoblade Chronicles and it's not even close.
2
Did you guys get your free Wahoo taco yet?
3
"Spend some quality puppy time with Nintendogs! Train your pup, walk it, and enter it into tournaments... Isn't everything in life better with a puppy?"
They have so many gorgeous photographs of dogs in this thing. I feel like I've doggy died and gone to a doggy gallery in doggy heaven.
They have so many gorgeous photographs of dogs in this thing. I feel like I've doggy died and gone to a doggy gallery in doggy heaven.
4
Great color story in this one. I like that all the various dimly-lit background images feel like looking down a dark, out-of-focus hallway. Reading this imbues me with the mood of stepping into a creepypasta and I think that's exactly the feeling I should get out of this.
Neat character artwork I haven't seen anywhere else before too!
Neat character artwork I haven't seen anywhere else before too!
5
Did you know that the Wii U includes digital manuals?
Before the sterile era of the Nintendo Switch, the Wii U allowed developers to include detailed, interactive instruction experiences with their software that you could access and view at any time.
Paper Mario: Color Splash pushed this feature to a remarkable extreme. Here you can listen to some exclusive manual music, and even read up on developer interviews and learn behind-the-scenes facts about the game!
(There also may have been embedded videos but this may be me simply mis-remembering)
It's the sort of thing that you'd never get to read in a physical booklet since those are often incentivized to be quite lean when it comes to page count and quality, but the amount of material available here for interested readers is simply luxurious. We will never see something this cool again.
Before the sterile era of the Nintendo Switch, the Wii U allowed developers to include detailed, interactive instruction experiences with their software that you could access and view at any time.
Paper Mario: Color Splash pushed this feature to a remarkable extreme. Here you can listen to some exclusive manual music, and even read up on developer interviews and learn behind-the-scenes facts about the game!
(There also may have been embedded videos but this may be me simply mis-remembering)
It's the sort of thing that you'd never get to read in a physical booklet since those are often incentivized to be quite lean when it comes to page count and quality, but the amount of material available here for interested readers is simply luxurious. We will never see something this cool again.
6
The unmistakable style of Sonic's Yuji Uekawa-era artwork is not wasted on the graphic design of this manual.
All the left pages being for Hero-story stuff and the right pages being for Dark-story stuff is a very cute touch.
All the left pages being for Hero-story stuff and the right pages being for Dark-story stuff is a very cute touch.
7
First few pages beat you over the head with camoflage, 45˚ angles, gunmetal greys, and other various military-adjacent motifs before mercifully Becoming Cool.
Partway through, this instruction manual turns into a comic where the characters are explaining the game in the midst of a mission. This kicks so much ass.
Unfortunately, I'm sorry that Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is outdone in this department by a pair of Skechers shoes I received as a kid in the early 2000s. It came with a comic about the features of this particular model of shoe. Something about odor prevention, I think? Snake should sell shoes.
Partway through, this instruction manual turns into a comic where the characters are explaining the game in the midst of a mission. This kicks so much ass.
Unfortunately, I'm sorry that Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is outdone in this department by a pair of Skechers shoes I received as a kid in the early 2000s. It came with a comic about the features of this particular model of shoe. Something about odor prevention, I think? Snake should sell shoes.
8
Huge points to this one for personality. All the pages are made to look like they're made of cardboard sloppily taped together.
9
The different actions this manual needs to explain to you are laid out along printed demo levels that spread across both pages edge-to-edge. It's a very pleasant way to absorb this information relative to some of the drier stuff I've seen.
10
This manual contains many pre-rendered images of Mario smearing red and blue motion blur all around as does his little dives and flips.
11
Loads of illustrations, there's a lot to absorb here beyond just the intended information. Definitely the sort of thing that'd be fun to peruse if you're not able to immediately jump into playing the game.
There's got to be a better way to visualize how the hit system in Super Mario games works though. Continuing all the way up to at least 3D Land they seem to have a really hard time simplifying this information. Bizarrely messy.
There's got to be a better way to visualize how the hit system in Super Mario games works though. Continuing all the way up to at least 3D Land they seem to have a really hard time simplifying this information. Bizarrely messy.
12
"As well as having an unfeasibly high IQ of 300, Eggman is a romanticist, a feminist, and a self-professed gentleman."
There's no reason a black-and-white manual should be this high but I suppose it's as good as one can be.
There's no reason a black-and-white manual should be this high but I suppose it's as good as one can be.
13
I oftentimes look at the single-digit number of physical Nintendo Switch games I own and sometimes regret not going all-digital, but some of these boxes are pretty nifty for what they offer.
Despite Nintendo Switch games not including neither physical 'nor digital manuals, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe finds a way by printing its instructions on the inside of the cover sleeve itself! Everything you need is available at a quick glance, all on a single page. A creative solution to make the best of a crummy situation.
Despite Nintendo Switch games not including neither physical 'nor digital manuals, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe finds a way by printing its instructions on the inside of the cover sleeve itself! Everything you need is available at a quick glance, all on a single page. A creative solution to make the best of a crummy situation.
14
Wastes no time and cuts right to the chase. This is probably one of the best ways to present what information comes in which order. Really tightly balanced.
The entire thing takes place in a book-within-a-book, and there's a fun touch where you can occasionally see that some pages have been ripped out. I know exceedingly little about the Sly Cooper series but I assume it's to get me thinking about the mysteries that take place within the game. Neat!
The entire thing takes place in a book-within-a-book, and there's a fun touch where you can occasionally see that some pages have been ripped out. I know exceedingly little about the Sly Cooper series but I assume it's to get me thinking about the mysteries that take place within the game. Neat!
15
I like how this one's travelled like an amusement park travel map. Cute stuff!
16
In an era where Nintendo booklets were just starting to lose their lustre and become black-and-white wastelands of text walls, Super Mario Galaxy offers a premium experience filled with a ridiculous amount of colors and images.
I feel like I'm being taken out to a fancy restaurant by this thing.
I feel like I'm being taken out to a fancy restaurant by this thing.
17
Wii Safety Man gets his big break!
18
The sub-headers in this one have this blocky yet groovy 70's-style typeface. Can't say I've ever really seen anything like it!
19
FUCK YES THE PAGES ARE SKEUMORPHIC FABRICS FUCK YES!!!
20
There was only one thing I could have asked for (skeumorphic paper theming) and that's what I got (skeumorphic paper theming).
The edges of the page have some extra little curtains-esque detailing as well to match the stage-themed battles. It's not skeumorphic paper theming but hey I'll take it!
Still not as cool as Kirby's Epic Yarn though.
The edges of the page have some extra little curtains-esque detailing as well to match the stage-themed battles. It's not skeumorphic paper theming but hey I'll take it!
Still not as cool as Kirby's Epic Yarn though.
21
This one gets an honorable mention simply because I vividly remember getting this game out-of-town and having to wait for us to get back from a family road trip to play it.
I loved looking at the different ghosts and re-reading the character blurbs to try and squeeze any enjoyment out of this new thing that I otherwise couldn't use yet.
I'll miss you black-and-white printouts of Professor Elvin Gadd.
I loved looking at the different ghosts and re-reading the character blurbs to try and squeeze any enjoyment out of this new thing that I otherwise couldn't use yet.
I'll miss you black-and-white printouts of Professor Elvin Gadd.
22
Shit, this thing supports the Link Cable?
They definitely got better at explaining this stuff over time. Not nearly as good as Radiant Dawn's unforgettable follow-up but there's some interesting faded artwork of various towers in parallel at a Dutch angle that evokes some interesting feelings.
Gets a little busy at time but still gets a few style points for being in color and bothering to have a decent amount of character bios.
They definitely got better at explaining this stuff over time. Not nearly as good as Radiant Dawn's unforgettable follow-up but there's some interesting faded artwork of various towers in parallel at a Dutch angle that evokes some interesting feelings.
Gets a little busy at time but still gets a few style points for being in color and bothering to have a decent amount of character bios.
23
Stumbled across this while looking for the other MGS2 manual but there's some neat imagery in here nonetheless.
It's still in color in other areas for the purpose of showing off character artwork, but there's some really eye-catching monochromatic silhouettes for each of the actions you can perform. Decent stuff!
It's still in color in other areas for the purpose of showing off character artwork, but there's some really eye-catching monochromatic silhouettes for each of the actions you can perform. Decent stuff!
24
Wii Fit Island Running Map
"This is a map of the island you can explore while running in Wii Fit. Use this to imagine where you are running."
"This is a map of the island you can explore while running in Wii Fit. Use this to imagine where you are running."
25
"With a strong love of freedom, the only thing Sonic hates is oppression."
Remarkably straightforward and clinical relative to Adventure 2.
Remarkably straightforward and clinical relative to Adventure 2.
26
Pretty unremarkable stuff but I always lose it when I see that render of Fox screaming with his teeth out like that. You know the one.
27
Plain as can be, re-used renders, AND it's in black-and-white.
Ordinarily these traits combined would stick Shadow the Hedgehog to the bottom of this list but the back of the manual has an ad for a DVD collection of Sonic X episodes that cover Shadow's arc in the show.
To achieve this, they photoshopped an image of Shadow punching the shit out of Sonic. So fucking cool.
Ordinarily these traits combined would stick Shadow the Hedgehog to the bottom of this list but the back of the manual has an ad for a DVD collection of Sonic X episodes that cover Shadow's arc in the show.
To achieve this, they photoshopped an image of Shadow punching the shit out of Sonic. So fucking cool.
28
Pretty dry stuff for the most part but there's some oddly stylish Mario pointillism on the front page that caught my eye a little bit.
29
Another black-and-white manual that's not especially flashy but I do like how they turned down the brightness on Eggman Nega to try and make his appearance seem more mysterious.
30
Possibly the earliest instance of official Nintendo copy saying stupid shit like "The Star Fox™ Zero game" instead of "Star Fox™ Zero".
I will defend many things about this game but this is where I draw the line.
I will defend many things about this game but this is where I draw the line.
31
This and Diamond are actually on about equal footing but this one has a picture of N in it.
32
Pokémon instruction manuals are, across-the-board, the absolute worst. Zero flavor, as dry as it gets. I've been looking at all of these in PDF form but this one truly makes you feel like you're reading a PDF.
Fuck you.
Fuck you.
33
This manual is filled with full-page shoulder-up renders of the game's various characters making direct eye contact with you. I can only describe their appearance as scrotal.
34
Gorgeous gradients and text box flourishes but the actual information presented is pretty straightforward.
No character bios or lore to read up on, just pure instruction. There's not even any pictures of Corrin in this thing!
Sorry Fire Emblem: Fates, you and I both know I wish I had better things to say.
No character bios or lore to read up on, just pure instruction. There's not even any pictures of Corrin in this thing!
Sorry Fire Emblem: Fates, you and I both know I wish I had better things to say.
35
Why is it wet?
36
All the dullness of New Super Mario Bros. Wii's manual but now in digital form and somehow even less inspired.
37
Soulless. Minimal effort. Doesn't feel like Mario Kart at all.
Oh, and the manual's pretty boring too.
Oh, and the manual's pretty boring too.
38
Much like with Luigi's Mansion, this was another game that I couldn't immediately play because I had lost my DS at the time. I brought the box to elementary school to leaf through the manual in my spare time but I dropped it in a puddle next to the playground slide.
Thankfully the cartridge was fine but the cover and manual got all sogged up.
Anyways I looked up a PDF and it doesn't seem especially inspired.
Thankfully the cartridge was fine but the cover and manual got all sogged up.
Anyways I looked up a PDF and it doesn't seem especially inspired.
39
I'm pretty sure the character artwork here is just re-used Sonic X promo material. Being in black-and-white can't fool me!
God bless the poor soul that had to try and explain this dogshit.
"The Zoah name by www.SEGANerds.com"
God bless the poor soul that had to try and explain this dogshit.
"The Zoah name by www.SEGANerds.com"
40
Having the entire manual be in black-and-white and then getting a color ad for Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I feels like a slap in the face.
41
Organized like I'm reading instructions for a DVD player. Not just dry, but sloppy.
Black-and-white, character bios aren't full-body, and the in-game screenshots look so faded it's like I'm looking at a picture of Sonic on a milk carton after he went missing 30 years ago.
Black-and-white, character bios aren't full-body, and the in-game screenshots look so faded it's like I'm looking at a picture of Sonic on a milk carton after he went missing 30 years ago.
42
God, fuck this. Before you're even more than a few pages in, the big cat himself interrupts the instructions by tearing his huge grinning head through the page and goes on a rant about how he wants Stephen King to write his manual. Shut the hell up, Bubsy, I'm trying to read.
Also included is a comic about the Woollies, who I perhaps WOULD hate the most in the Bubsy universe were it not for Bubsy himself. What follows is a non-stop barrage of even-for-its-time dated pop-culture references and wannabe Loone Tunes antics. I swear I've seen Bugs Bunny do literally everything this asshole tries to pull. You'll never be him, Bubsy. You'll never be anything.
Whoever was involved in creating this clearly had an episode of Animaniacs playing in ear-shot while they were busy doing something else and then woke up the next morning thinking that they came up with exactly 22 minutes' worth of original ideas.
Also included is a comic about the Woollies, who I perhaps WOULD hate the most in the Bubsy universe were it not for Bubsy himself. What follows is a non-stop barrage of even-for-its-time dated pop-culture references and wannabe Loone Tunes antics. I swear I've seen Bugs Bunny do literally everything this asshole tries to pull. You'll never be him, Bubsy. You'll never be anything.
Whoever was involved in creating this clearly had an episode of Animaniacs playing in ear-shot while they were busy doing something else and then woke up the next morning thinking that they came up with exactly 22 minutes' worth of original ideas.
43
This manual has the worst kerning I've ever seen in my life. Borders on illegible.
Cute character artwork though.
Cute character artwork though.
44
This thing is WEIRD. The instant I opened the page I started to sweat. I can feel tears welling in my eyes. I've got a lump in my throat like I'm about to cry. These Marios are not real. These Marios are not real.
I have gazed upon that which is not to be seen.
I have gazed upon that which is not to be seen.
45
4 Comments
the sonic heroes manual rules because it truly feels like they're just making shit up about the characters. yeah sure, big the cat is 18 and eggman is a feminist, why not.
Sly 1 and 2 have manuals that have the characters bantering and talking throughout
I also recall Bubsy having a comic for one of his games
I also recall Bubsy having a comic for one of his games
adding on the Sly manuals, I wanna point out that each trilogy has the manual be modeled after an important in-game book called Thievius Raccoonus, and as you go along in each game the 'look' of it becomes more old and tattered, and I always thought that was the sickest shit as a kid
CDX
1 year ago
Btw, would also put MGS2 and 3 manuals up there. They explained the plot and mechanics using a pretty rad comics story of Snake in action and talking to the supporters by radio.