NINTENDO ROLE-PLAYING GAMES

A how-to book, designed to help players with some previous experience master eight of these popular video games. Lampton has written more than 45 nonfiction books, including the companion Nintendo Action Games (neither is endorsed by Nintendo). The games discussed here include Faxanadu, Hydlide, Shadowgate, Ultima, and Dragon Warrior; each is considered under the following categories: ``At a Glance,'' ``Quick Review,'' ``How It Works,'' and ``Tips & Tricks.'' The author also reveals some shortcuts or passwords useful to the less-experienced player. Our 13-year-old expert liked the general introductory hints on how to play, but found the descriptions of specific games skimpy and the illustrations merely decorative. Recommended reading, including periodicals; index. (Nonfiction. 9-12)