Using game guides / walkthroughs

I use a FAQ for King's Field II and I still can't get anywhere. It's pretty much a combination of that game being hellishly hard and that game scaring me out of my mind at the same time.

I use them in two instances: when I'm really stuck, or want to complete some annoying sidequest/extra task that I'm not going to take hours upon hours to figure out.

I only use them for mainly RPGs and mainly japanese RPGs. I think im gonna need a FAQ for Radiata Stories cuz i dont think ill be able to get all 100 something characters on my own.

Depends. If I'm in a good mood, and I like the game, I'll avoid using a guide at all costs. But if I'm annoyed/desperate/just want to get past this part I'll use it and not feel bad about it. I really don't see a problem with it, because, as people have said, there are some things you really cannot do without one.

i only start using a walkthru when i get stuck. i'll try to play through though. some of them games, i don't need it much b/c i've watched my bro or cousins play before me.

Yea that's true about secrets, and stuff. But I should have mentioned I was only talking about just getting to the ending (or an ending), not about finding every single side quest or secret.

As far as impossible puzzles. In my opinion, they are never that hard in quality games (esp. in modern games). And they belong to the experience of playing the game. Which is why I think it's a bad idea to use any guides when you are stuck, if you are looking for the full experience. But I can't relate to just playing every game that comes out anymore. I can't do that anymore, so I usually stick through everything if I'm playing a game. This is why it takes me so long to finish stuff. On this respect, I agree that, like I said, if you just want to finish a game that you're not too wild about already, why struggle. Although I can't agree with the reason that "it takes too long and I have better things to do". Then why spend time with it in the first place? That's what saves are for, you can spend an alotted time, save, then come back. no? That's my feeling.

Only use them when I really get stuck in a game and then I end up finding some switch that was supposed to be obvious, but I couldn't see it the first 366 time I walked through the area.

The last thing I used a guide the whole way through a game was to find all of the Kerotan frogs on Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater. I hate those little bastards.

Hot damn, crash, that is by far the coolest post I've ever seen.

I only use guides if I'm absolutely stumped.

I almost never use guides to get through the main parts of a game. The exceptions would be when I've been stuck at a puzzle for an hour without making any progress. That happens maybe once every two games I play.

Quite rarely, but I used to use guides for every game I played. (Back when all the games I played were RPG's.)

Now I usually use them for Glitches and Secrets.

I collect guides :)

Only if I get stuck for an extended period of time on a problem. Unless you're talking about something like an adventure game, whereby the game revolves around problem solving, then it's really just pushing in the right direction. FPS's and the like you still need skill to complete, even if you do know the way.