My take on this is I may go and buy the guide if I think I might have trouble with a particular game but I'll only read the basic instructions on how the game works and everything. The stuff normally covered in the instruction booklet which they do a much better job of explaining in the guide. Then if I get stuck and can't figure out what to do I'll refer to the guide only to get me through that part. Once I've beaten the game I read the guide and refer to it as I play a second time through.