Using Game Guides/Walkthroughs...

[The Devil Man]

I was just curious. How many of you guys use a Game Guide when playing a game? For example... do you use a Guide anyway, or do you only use it when you are seriously, seriously stuck? Do you prefer to explore a game on your own at all times or will you use the help of a guide you got from somewhere like GameFAQS?

Me, personally... I love using guides and do so for every game I play. In my opinion, using a guide enhances some games. Some of the guides on gameFAQS are so in-depth and often tell you about areas of a game you would never think existed at all.

Or if I don't use a guide the first time I play through a game, I sure as heck will the second time through so that I don't miss anything out. Paper Mario 2 springs to mind when I think of using a game guide. It had so many star pieces scattered through various levels which I would never, ever have found without the help of a guide.

Also... I dont see the point of being in a room in a game and being completely stuck and frustrated now knowing where to go next. I'll just open up a guide and use that to get to the next stage of a game.

But what about you? Do you always use a guide, or only when you need to, or do you completely avoid using a guide altogether?

[RiseToFall]

I only use them for RPG's, and only the second time I play. (since that's when I get all the extra's.)

[Dreddz]

I only use a walkthrough in extreme circumstances. When Ive been pushed to my limits in a certain puzzle. I will only use it for that though, walkthroughs can be addicting.

[Vincent, Thunder God]

I only use a walkthrough from Gamefaqs when it's absolutely necessary. For example, to get the secret ending in Warrior Within, I needed to know the locations of the special fountains, so I used a FAQ for that. Or when I've tried something again and again and again without success, I consult a FAQ. Just as a last resource or for a secret.

Also, I never use cheats. Ever. It ruins a game IMO.

[Zeromus_X]

Usually on the second time I play a game, so I don't miss anything. But I have no qualms about using them for puzzles.

[Slothy]

I'll use them on second playthroughs or when I'm really stuck. If I really can't figure something out I try not to let it cross the line of being challenging to utterly frustrating. If things get too frustrating it just takes all the fun out of it.

[Jowy]

I only really use them for Suikoden games so that I can get all 108 characters on my first playthrough.

[XandrewX]

Hardly...

[KH-Cloudy]

only when it seems hard

[Markus. D]

I oddly only buy them for MMO games o_o...


but I then regret buying them because most of the time they are outdated and inaccurate. ... I still buy em though.

[Roto13]

One game that comes to mind is Legend of Mystical Ninja for the N64. It wouldn't necissarily tell you where to go next, so I had no problem with using a guide.

[Levian]

Yeah, that game could be frustrating. I ended up paying that fortune teller many a Ryo.

[Araciel]

i used to buy them cause EB would give you a deal if you bought it with the game....now i never do because of online services. i only use them if i'm SUPER stuck, and then on the second playthrough i will use it as a bible unless i found my methods worked better.

[Yuffie514]

uses:

1) long games, most certainly RPG/adventure genre
2) if i am stuck, i'd look it up online, but i rarely buy the guides

[Markus. D]

One game that comes to mind is Legend of Mystical Ninja for the N64. It wouldn't necissarily tell you where to go next, so I had no problem with using a guide.

!!! I remember being lost for about 2 days in that game!

then I figured out that I was meant to go to a tree of somesort.