Walkthroughs: Yes or No?

[Ziggy]

It's funny, I actually wanted to discuss this topic recently.

I reluctantly use strategy guides for some types of games. I actually hate using them, I'd much prefer to sit there and aimlessly wander a game for hours on end, but gone are the days where I had the time to do that. When I do use a guide though, I try to only use it when I get stuck.

[Rokogu]

I cant play an RPG without using a guide lol. I suck at them in general, I can never beat one on my own, so i use guides so that i can get every item, beset equipment and all that, I find it more enjoyable that way

[Zing]

When I was young in the NES era, I barely hesitated to use Nintendo Power or a FAQ downloaded from a BBS.

But now, I won't touch them while playing the game. I try to read as little about the game as possible. I don't use any FAQs, walkthroughs, hints, tips, anything. However, I will often go back and casually read a FAQ once I have completed a game, just for the entertainment value.

[Dylan]

Missables and the like are one of the bigger reasons to use a walkthrough for me, like Gamerforlife said. I remember the first time I played through Shin Megami Tensei and I got to the end and killed both people that let you into the final area, without realizing that I had just made the game unbeatable.

I definitely like to use them for expedience as well, though. The one thing that I refuse to use them for is the actual battles, I like figuring out strategies to defeat tough enemies and bosses by myself.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Depends. If I get stuck and can't figure it out within 20 minutes, I'll use one.

[ninjainspandex]

side note did you know they make guides for the call of duty games, do people actually buy them O.o?

[KDub]

Ever get that feeling that the answer is right in front of you and you just don't see it? When I get to that point and I keep walking back to the last puzzle and then back to where I'm stuck and just not seeing the obvious (I mean even a clue was written on something or told to me)...that is when I get the answer from a guide of some sort.

I hate to do it but I also hate wandering around aimlessly when I really need to get to the next save point before I have to go to work. Oh the troubles of adulthood....

[Ziggy]

side note did you know they make guides for the call of duty games, do people actually buy them O.o?

I wonder what the guide says... "Walk straight. Stop. Shoot. Turn right, walk straight. Stop. Shoot."

I hate to do it but I also hate wandering around aimlessly when I really need to get to the next save point before I have to go to work. Oh the troubles of adulthood....

Yeah, I hear ya man. I'm right there with you. Only for me, it's more like I have to find the next save point before I have to go to bed because I have work early.

[BoneSnapDeez]

side note did you know they make guides for the call of duty games, do people actually buy them O.o?

Haha yes. I always have a good laugh when I see those at Best Buy. I guess people could get them as collectors items? Who knows...

I have a bunch of old Nintendo Strategy Guides. The ones for Zelda and Metroid were extremely helpful in the pre-internet days. I never would have got anywhere in those games without help. But the Mario guides were kinda amusing, they seemed to exist for the sole purpose of pointing out warp zone locations. You don't really need a guide to tell you "walk from left to right and try not to get killed".

Probably the most perplexing guide I have is the one for The Lost World: Jurassic Park (PS1). It's a very linear game and most of the hints are things like "eat dragonflies for health" and "press this button to evade". Stuff you could find in the instruction booklet. The level maps are nice though, I suppose.

[jfrost]

I considered using one for the last puzzle in the coop Portal 2 campaign. It was 3 AM, my friend and I had been playing for almost three hours and we were exhausted. We were stuck there for like 40 minutes. Also I had to work early the next day (which was a Saturday).

We agreed it would be best to go to sleep and look up the solution in a Youtube video later.

Then I went to sleep, woke up four hours later, dressed up and got thinking about the damn puzzle. When I got into the bus for the commute, I had an a-ha moment and was so damn happy.

I called my friend up, explained the solution, he barely understood it because it was early morning in a Saturday, got mad and hung up on me.

Later that day we didn't look at a walkthrough and beat the coop campaign.

Don't get me wrong, I would totally have used a walkthrough if that's what it would take. But it wasn't necessary and I felt totally awesome. Though my Portal partner was really pissed.