Would you say that using a guide ruins the purpose of gaming?

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

Once you've paid for a game, how you decide to play it is your own business. People with their pompous opinions about it can fuck right off as far as I'm concerned.

Well said, Gentleman Shark.

I use guides because sometimes the logic behind the puzzle is one I cannot grasp or because it relies on some arcane mathematical skill I do not possess. That said, two of my fondest gaming moments where my first two play throughs of Mass Effect 2 & 3. In ME2 I lost Miranda and Zaeed, then in ME3 (using a perfect import) I lost Miranda (again) and the Geth. I still play both games with immense enjoyment, but those two cold runs are special because my fallibility became Shepard's, making the experience more personal.

 

[votemarvel]

I'll happily use a guide if I am stuck on a part. I'll try for a while to get passed it myself but at the end of the day I play games for fun and getting frustrated at a game isn't fun.

 

[Batou667]

For some games, like fighting games, a guide (either physical or online) is almost mandatory unless you're already experienced with the game mechanics. Most fighters have tutorials that let you learn the combos, but don't teach you how to fight.

Other times, I've been known to buy a guide just because I love the game and want to wring every last bit of map knowledge, enemy info, tips, tricks, etc out of it. The Halo games, for example. I always play "blind" first because I think it's important to "discover" the game as the designers intended, but after a couple of playthroughs, why the hell not use a guide to find Easter Eggs, pull off some cool tricks, etc?

Not to mention, some of the better guides have very nice artwork and just make for a great coffee table book or look good on the shelf.

 

[go-10]

if someone buys me a game and tells me they would appreciate it if I didn't use a guide then I won't use it
if I paid for the game... I PAID FOR THE GAME SO I'LL PLAY IT HOWEVER I WANT!

that's my train of thought, although to be honest ever since the PS3-360 came out games have made guide useless save for trophy/achivement hunters

 

[A.K.B.]

You paid for it, and you have the right to play it however you please.
Use a guide... Don't use a guide...
Your own preferences is the one thing that determines whether it damages your own enjoyment with the game or not...
you like a challenge? A puzzle is just too hard and you want to progress? you want to play the game for only the story regardless of its mechanics and challenges? you have to limited of time to spend too much on a single area? A couple of secrets reveal hidden parts of the game that you're curious about?
Use a guide or don't, you paid the developer his fee to completion, and you HAVE ALL THE RIGHT TO ENJOY IT IN WHATEVER WAY
YOU LIKE.
And don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Simple as that.

 

[Gustavos]

Reading this post, I'm reminded of a friend who once said he'd prefer watching a youtube personality that he watches go through a game he owns than play through it himself. So I'm sure Let's Plays have a place in this discussion. I have a desire to 100% games that I play as I go through them a second time, and do indeed use both written and video guides rather than looking for collectibles and secrets on my own time. I'm aware of the "contradiction" of using somebody else's hardwork to further my personal quest to complete an adventure the way I want to, but I'd be surprised if any gamer looked down on me for it. When I'm aiming to beat a game, I will use whatever resources I can. If I'm expected to use exploits to get through a poorly programmed/designed NES game, then how is using a guide going over the line.

You also mention Dark Souls. As I understand that game, as part of its poor design, requires a guide or other source of information to get through. When I tried to play through it with a friend watching, I enjoyed the social interaction for a bleak experience of a game, but I constantly asked "how am I supposed to know which stat does what" and "why does the game want to punish me for exploring" and met with the answer of "it adds to the difficulty'. Yes, the precious difficulty. The lifeblood to understanding Dark Souls. I have a similar issue with the Binding of isaac. At least, the original. Super Meat Boy doesn't require a guide, but if I try out a new item in Isaac, I'll either be saved or killed if I don't look up its use.

 

[DementedSheep]

I don't like using guides on a first play-through other than class, stat and upgrade break downs if the game itself doesn't really give me as much information as I want (like Dark Souls). I will use a walk-through if I'm really stuck to the point of frustration at not being able to progress on a puzzle. I will use guides on second play-through to find secrets/ alternate paths I missed. I will use a guides if I'm planning on PVPing or doing a lot of co-op in an online game especially if there is no respec option (or it's cash only) though I try to keep it more general not follow a specific build or play-style. I'm not going to try to calculate how much increasing X effects Y by myself. I'm nowhere near dedicated enough for that.


As for guides ruining the purpose of gaming? I admit if you use walk-through for a puzzle game (not when you're stuck, for the entire thing) I will wonder why you are playing it and I do think a lot of people are too quick to jump to a guide and that it takes away some of the satisfaction of overcoming an obstacle yourself. However as other have already said you can play however you want. People get enjoyment from different things. If using a guide makes the experience better for you then use a guide.