Poll: Do you use strategy guides?

[Planlixix]

Personally I only use them to get 'extras' in the game... a good example is psychonauts... when I was trying to get my brain power all the way up in prep for the final boss fight I didn't feel like spending days delving through looking for all the hidden brains and treasure hunting quest.

 

[MarsProbe]

I very rarely invest in the guidebooks you can find in the game shops, but I will check up online guides if I'm really stuck.

If it wasn't for gamefaqs, I probably wouldn't have found the collectables in Gears of War 2 or the Keller family tapes in Fallout 3.

I tend to avoid them for actual main story guides, have had a few spoilers that way.

 

[doomngloom]

Last time I used one was in Infamous, to help me find the last missing blast shard after the 349 I'd already found.

God, that was a lonely week.

 

[Jedoro]

I've used them on Fallout 3 and Oblivion to help find the tiny things I'd miss even if I was looking for the, but I try to avoid it when I can.

 

[suhlEap]

i sometimes use gamefaqs when i'm stuck. i don't think i've ever bought a strategy guide.

 

[Nannernade]

Oblivion is the guide I've used the most, not to look stuff up but to read the guides. (Yes I like to read gaming related content not necessarly walkthroughs but anything gaming related)
Usually I do it when I am bored lol. =P

 

[sgtshock]

Only in huge games, or when I get stuck at a difficult or confusing area. As a kid, though, I'd use them all the time. In fact, if not for online guides, I'd probably never have beaten Half-Life 1 at the age of 11.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

Usually just for the thought of having it as part of the series, to get the bonus storylines, further explanations of something, things like that. Boss stats, even though they're arbitrary and useless most of the time. Point of interest, though--I have all three of the Paper Mario guides. Because their maps are so amazingly helpful.

 

[Swaki]

nah, if i get stuck i google it, but its rare, the last game i used a guide for was for fallout to obtain the last weapons and that a year ago.

 

[clicketycrack]

I only use them for puzzles that I have already tryed a million times.

 

[Emphraim]

Most RTS and TBS games don't have official strategy guides(that don't get outdated quickly) so I read the guides on gamereplay.org and other fansites. If it's an rpg or something then I use gamefaqs( helped me a lot in The World Ends With You)

 

[this_was_a_mistake]

I used to. Not any more. Games are getting easier.

 

[delet]

The only game that I have ever felt was in need of a physical strat. guide, and still do, is Star Ocean 3. Star Ocean 4 I got a start guide for too, but it was much more needed with 3.

Other than that, really, the internet is all you'll ever need.