Poll: Do you use strategy guides?

[Macgyvercas]

I was just wondering how many of my fellow Escapists use strategy guides. Personally, I only use them for Tomb Raider, mainly because I like getting absolutely everything in those games. For all other games, I just consult Gamefaqs if I get stuck and can't figure it out after about 5 hours or so.

 

[walls of cetepedes]

Nowadays, most games don't need a guide.

But, the only game I've used one on was Hitman 2. And that was an online one.

Edit: Whoops, forgot about the Oblivion one I got as a gift. That one is brilliant.

 

[Robert632]

i use the internet, cause it ussually has a walkthrough and all the other thing's a strategy guide has, but isn't as exspensive.

 

[GodsOneMistake]

On very large RPG's Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Tales series... etc

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

who needs a strategy guide when you can stumble into your own answers for any situation?
bread gone off? GRENADE IT!
Tank in the road? YELL AT IT!

I think you get the point.

 

[bodyklok]

I did a while ago, I mainly just brought them on a whim or got them as gifts.

The only ones I can think of now are my Battlefront and Oblivion ones, but there may be more.

 

[ghalkhsdkssakgh]

I used to use them lots. Nowadays I don't bother much. I currently have a Fallout 3 guide, but I haven't used it, and I won't until I've finished the game once without it.
I sometimes use wikis for games like Kingdom of Loathing, where the solutions to quests are often completely obscure, and the fun comes more often from simply finding as many pop-culture references as possible.

 

[Walker100]

I've only bought four stratedgy guides in my whole life, but they were for the huge games like oblivion where you seemed to have five different routes for every quest. Now I try to play games by myself and use the inernet, but even then it's only if I get stuck at some point or if I want to find some of the hidden items that I can't find.

 

[Lekonua]

Only in one of two situations:

I am going for 100% completion for one reason or another.

OR

I am completely, utterly, and hopelessly lost in the game.

The latter mostly applies to Ace Attorney games right now. How ANYONE can get through those games without either using a guide or presenting every piece of evidence at every turn....

 

[AbsoluteVirtue18]

Only for sidequests in RPGs.

I still haven't got the PuPu card.

 

[New Troll]

It is very, very rare but sometimes I will get so stuck in a game I'll look up a walthrough or something on-line. I also don't mind using Wikis for some games like FallOut 3, but generally not so much for helping me through the game as much for research to do things better next time.

 

[Grayjack]

Only for games like Persona 4. I wouldn't know that there were three endings without it.

 

[Christemo]

ive only used a walkthrough of Titan Quest on GameBanshee and some video walkthroughs of tomb raider: anniversary (my candidate for hardest platformer ever).

oh, and some strategy for the Heroes of Might and Magic 5 campaigns on Celestialheavens

 

[Doc Theta Sigma]

Phoenix Wright was made for Gamefaqs

 

[UkibyTheMaid]

Only when I'm reeeeeeeeally stuck. Like, two months stuck. Then I go after the guide, because even my patience has a limit.

 

[dietpeachsnapple]

Only when I get stuck.

I feel a little like it is cheating but if a game designer failed to make the game sufficiently intuitive that I NEED a strategy guide, then they can deal with me slipping a peek.

 

[coldfrog]

Secret Stars in Braid anyone?

I have never used a walkthrough or guide but I am so tempted to because so far I have found one of these damn things. (two if you count the one I accidentally heard my friend talking about and now can never forget.)

The worst part to me is that I feel the need to find this secret ending but I am torn between giving it up or just reading the ending and trying to solve the stuff myself.

 

[GonzoGamer]

Yea. I usually go on line if I get stuck. If I really like the game I might pick up the strategy guide later on amazon for real cheap (last one- Warhawk $.83) just for some bathroom reading.

 

[KarumaK]

All the fucking time.

I play games to relax, if I wanted to think I'd go do something more important.

 

[Spamcar]

Only the occasional visit to Gamefaqs when i really don't know what to do. I try to complete as much as possible without any help.
It makes me feel better (;