How many of you buy and use strategy guides with your games?

Re: Do You Consider Using "Strategy Guides" Cheating?

I believe the use of a strat' guide being cheating depends on what game and how far you get into it.

For example: using a guide for a racing game to survey tracks is not cheating at all. Wouldn't YOU survey a track and all it's details if you were a professional racer?
However, I think that if you're using it for the soul purpose of knowing exactly what to do next in a game, is cheating and denies the point of playing a game. If you've beat it once already, then yes. it's fine, because you may have missed something and want to locate it, (like getting skulls in halo). Or, if you've been running around a level for ages, but can't get through it, sing a guide to 'assist' in you progression through THAT level, isn't necessarily cheating, though, in a sense it is because you used outside help to find your way.

there's my two cents.
 
Re: Do You Consider Using "Strategy Guides" Cheating?

Hell Scyth said:
I believe the use of a strat' guide being cheating depends on what game and how far you get into it.

For example: using a guide for a racing game to survey tracks is not cheating at all. Wouldn't YOU survey a track and all it's details if you were a professional racer?
However, I think that if you're using it for the soul purpose of knowing exactly what to do next in a game, is cheating and denies the point of playing a game. If you've beat it once already, then yes. it's fine, because you may have missed something and want to locate it, (like getting skulls in halo). Or, if you've been running around a level for ages, but can't get through it, sing a guide to 'assist' in you progression through THAT level, isn't necessarily cheating, though, in a sense it is because you used outside help to find your way.

there's my two cents.
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I agree with that.

Strubes said:
I just won't use them. If something's too tough to figure out, I keep trying. I'll eventually get it. I would feel like someone was holding my hand through a game if I used a strategy guide.
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Also agreed. For some games, using a strategy guide ruins the experience. Shadow of the Colossus is a great example. One of the fondest memories I have of playing any game came in this game when I faced the twelfth colossus. I spent a solid hour just watching him move around, trying to figure out what it was I was supposed to do. I very nearly quit and succumbed to the temptation of using a guide, but I hadn't used one yet in the game and I really didn't want to rely on something other than my own observation and know how to beat this guy. After another half hour of playing I began to notice that... well, I'll let you guys figure it out for yourselves. :lol

Needless to say, it took me a good 2-3 hours to finally defeat him, but it was well worth it. I rarely feel "accomplished' when I play a video game, more often then I feel cheated or inept when I get stumped or lose, but delivering the death blow to that colossus finishing off what was a truly epic battle... its something I'd really have missed out on if I'd have used a guide, and I wouldn't have the fond memory of that game that I do now.

That's not the only time that's ever happened either. I won't bore you guys with details, but when I first played Ocarina of Time I was stuck in Kokiri village for the better part of a week... I couldn't find the shield. It never even occurred to me to go buy one at the shop. It was frustrating, yes, and a little daunting, for sure, but it really added to the expansive feel of the game. After knowing every nook and cranny of that village, it really did feel like moving from humble beginnings to something fantastic. Again, never would have happened with a guide available.
 
Re: Do You Consider Using "Strategy Guides" Cheating?

stealth toilet said:
I agree with that.

Also agreed. For some games, using a strategy guide ruins the experience. Shadow of the Colossus is a great example. One of the fondest memories I have of playing any game came in this game when I faced the twelfth colossus. I spent a solid hour just watching him move around, trying to figure out what it was I was supposed to do. I very nearly quit and succumbed to the temptation of using a guide, but I hadn't used one yet in the game and I really didn't want to rely on something other than my own observation and know how to beat this guy. After another half hour of playing I began to notice that... well, I'll let you guys figure it out for yourselves. :lol

Needless to say, it took me a good 2-3 hours to finally defeat him, but it was well worth it. I rarely feel "accomplished' when I play a video game, more often then I feel cheated or inept when I get stumped or lose, but delivering the death blow to that colossus finishing off what was a truly epic battle... its something I'd really have missed out on if I'd have used a guide, and I wouldn't have the fond memory of that game that I do now.

That's not the only time that's ever happened either. I won't bore you guys with details, but when I first played Ocarina of Time I was stuck in Kokiri village for the better part of a week... I couldn't find the shield. It never even occurred to me to go buy one at the shop. It was frustrating, yes, and a little daunting, for sure, but it really added to the expansive feel of the game. After knowing every nook and cranny of that village, it really did feel like moving from humble beginnings to something fantastic. Again, never would have happened with a guide available.
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12th one...Hmmm...Was that the little one where you had to jump from pillar to pillar? Took me quite a while to figure that one out if so.
 
Re: Do You Consider Using "Strategy Guides" Cheating?

I use a strategy guide religiously. They are so helpfyl in finding out where to go or what you need to do. The Prima ones will always be superior because their authors tend to cover everything in depth immediately. I also prefer using FAQs as well because they ensure that you get every item as well on your quest and even have special speed run guides too if you want to race through an RPG in record time.
 
Re: Do You Consider Using "Strategy Guides" Cheating?

@Stealth
You made me recall when I was but a mere nOOb at video games and couldn't beat Soul Edge while playing Soul Edge. Didn't know about Strat Guides in those days though, so I worked up a strategy tolet him charge in, then to dodge and attempt to kick him off the field... of course, these days I pummle him into the ground, but, after years things tend to change.
 
Re: Do You Consider Using "Strategy Guides" Cheating?

The anwser I think really is use as you see fit because at the end of the day it doesn't really matter what someone else thinks about your gaming methods it's about you enjoying the game for some that will mean spending stuck on spot for days at a time, for other people that's going to mean using a strategy guide on every game.
 
Re: Do You Consider Using "Strategy Guides" Cheating?

I would have to agree with you on that. Too often my roommates criticize my overusage of FAQS and guides for beating a game. They feel that because I am using them, that I am not getting the full experience from the game and that it is beating the game for me.

I like to tell them that that is not the case for in an RPG, knowing where to go is only half the battle, actually being strong enough and skilled enough to beat the bosses is the most important. Often they have strategies and such, but I always have a team that is way more diverse than what a FAQ writer has and often I can win in about 25 tries with either my over powered, but great in magic team or something. Plus I rarely play a game twice after beating it, so getting about 90% Completion of the game on the first go round is most important to me.
 
Re: Do You Consider Using "Strategy Guides" Cheating?

Starrynite I have know several people like that they really need see a therapist. I'm sorry if this offends but there just VIDEO GAMES it's something I do to have fun and to relax not to have my life revovle around and define me as a person.
 
Re: Do You Consider Using "Strategy Guides" Cheating?

redneckgamer 213 said:
Starrynite I have know several people like that they really need see a therapist. I'm sorry if this offends but there just VIDEO GAMES it's something I do to have fun and to relax not to have my life revovle around and define me as a person.
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While I agree with you that video games are VERY unimportant in the grand scheme of things, I don't really see anything in staryy's post that would warrant a therapist visit. I mean, there's nothing wrong with wanting to get your moneys worth, right? :)
 
Re: Do You Consider Using "Strategy Guides" Cheating?

x2 said:
While I agree with you that video games are VERY unimportant in the grand scheme of things, I don't really see anything in staryy's post that would warrant a therapist visit. I mean, there's nothing wrong with wanting to get your moneys worth, right? :)
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Never said there was anything wrong with getting your moneys from a game.But the people that I have know that are critical of how others play video games are the same ones who are obessesed with video games themselves. :)
 
Re: Do You Consider Using "Strategy Guides" Cheating?

redneckgamer 213 said:
Never said there was anything wrong with getting your moneys from a game.But the people that I have know that are critical of how others play video games are the same ones who are obessesed with video games themselves. :)
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Ah ok, gotcha!
 
Re: Do You Consider Using "Strategy Guides" Cheating?

Obsession in six-tenths the way to insanity... or something like that.

I reckon if Starrynite plays games once or twice, using a guide to do it is probably not a bad thing at all... though, I'm one of those gamers that prefers the challenge. not in an obsessive sense, I just like to be put through my runs before I attempt to seek assistance.
I see maybe why you'd use FAQ's in RPG games. I used one in Fable to because there were a few things I'd missed, and I wanted to know how separate story lines played through if I'd chosen them... I reckon Srat Guides would be handy in RTS games. A good commander oversees the battlefield before charging in, but you can always do that in most games no-a-days by oversseeing the battlefield prior to battle (if the game is set to do that)
 
Re: Do You Consider Using "Strategy Guides" Cheating?

I also use very few official strategy guides mostly faqs it's a why pay for the cow when the milk is free kind of situation. Most of the ones that I do have bought at acouple used video game store I have been to and they were all $5 or less. Actauly most of those were guides I didn't really need I just really liked the game and wanted to see if I missed anything.
 
Are You A "Strategy Guide" Kind Of Gamer?

When it comes to "RPG'S",yes.

Peace.
Kaz
 
Re: Are You A "Strategy Guide" Kind Of Gamer?

Yes, for games that have items with low drop rates, it is key to trying to get and see every attack specialty. I usually use a FAQ, but for rereleases faq's are rarely made so I buy e-strategy guides, for example one for Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days since I want a team of lvl 9999 characters :)
 
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