standards for cheating/code abuse?

[NeverGoBak]

Apart from debug styled stuff the only cheats I use are in most RPGs Ill throw on an 2x or 4x EXP modifier since I would rather not have to grind as much - 2x still keeps the game difficult, just cuts the grinding in half. I recently played through Pokemon Heart Gold that way and had a blast.

Playing Chrono Trigger without a modifier right now is so much longer than if I turned on one of those nice 4x or 8x I see in the cheat menu...granted I love Chorno Triggers battle system so I havent done that yet (Ill do it to get to star levels). You can bet when I play through the Dragon Warriors on the DS I will have a 2x enabled.

I almost never have to grind in the Pokemon series .

I don't like games that require grinding, that's stupid. I'm usually really underleveld compared to what's recommended, but a combination of Strategy and Luck always saves the day.

EDIT: I beat the LG, Emerald and Pearl without grinding anyway. HG is actually really, really hard if you don't grind, couldn't beat E4 without tading, got to them though. Don't know about B/W.

[fastbilly1]

Grinding in Pokemon is not that big of a deal, it is however in games like Soma Bringer. However Pokemon is far more well known than a Japanese only Action RPG.

[NeverGoBak]

Grinding in Pokemon is not that big of a deal, it is however in games like Soma Bringer. However Pokemon is far more well known than a Japanese only Action RPG.

Don't know about that game, but grinding is the reason I never liked the 8-Bit Final Fantasy series. It really turns me off to a game.

EDIT: some other games I've gone through without grinding, are Pokemom Mystery Dungeon, Golden Sun, Mario&Luigi series and Kingdom Hearts 2. Trying to think of some others.

[fastbilly1]

Grinding in Pokemon is not that big of a deal, it is however in games like Soma Bringer. However Pokemon is far more well known than a Japanese only Action RPG.

Don't know about that game, but grinding is the reason I never liked the 8-Bit Final Fantasy series. It really turns me off to a game.

I highly suggest trying them with an EXP modifier then (for NES FFs Id say a 4x would be perfect). It is better to play the game and enjoy it then not play the game at all.

Though if those are the only ones you are interested in, play the GBA and DS versions. Dawn of Souls has an easy mode of FF1&2 that is like having an exp modifier on at all times.

[eskil]

I love RPGs because I'm a big fan of games with intricate plots and epic storylines. BUT, I have a lot of games to play and not much freetime, so I cheat the hell out of those. Mostly just level MAX and no random encounters, but I think savestates should be considered cheating as well.
Personally, I see no ethical problem whatsoever with this. How much of the game I enjoy and how much I endure doesn't concern anyone but me. Of course, if others are involved, cheats are off limits. But I can't imagine anyone having a different opinion.