We've all hit a point in a game where we just wanted to smash the tv/portable we were playing with into tiny bits to take vengeance on the ridiculously unfair/impossible scenario that the game we were playing has forced us to endure. One thing I've used in the past is a walkthrough. Lately, I've begun to wonder whether it's worth it to give up thinking for a period of time and to simply read how to beat something. What do you think?

I have had no problem with them. For Persona 3, I used them alittle, as they asked questions completely out of context. Annoyed the hell out of me

I use them as a last resort, though I usually prefer to finish a game by myself. Sometimes I just need to use them though. Example - the flags in Assassin's Creed. I'm such an achievement whore that I went back and looked through the entire Kingdom for a single flag that I'd missed, using a walkthrough to check each and every flag location. Took me hours...

But yeah, I use it as a last resort, though if I can figure out a solution by myself then I will.

Secret packages in GTA, otherwise you spend ages looking for the 3 you missed out.

I don't tend to use them now.
But I will if I get completely and totally stuck on something.

15 minutes.

If it takes 15 minutes to work out a simple puzzle, use a walkthrough and read books more.
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My dad was tempted to use a walkthough in Prey, because he couldn't get through that puzzle where you're in that cube, and if you hsoot tiles the cube makes the spot you turned, the floor. He was at that for 20 minutes, I come in ask what's wrong, I take controls make observations, and solve the puzzle in 20 seconds. BUT This is superior to a walkthrough, as this way I showed, and pointed out things that he wasn't paying attention to.

So walkthroughs IF you're desperate, but stick with it as long as you can.

Aby_Z:
You need another option. "Last resort use only"

The only game I have ever gotten an official walkthrough for (and by that, I mean that I bought myself) was Star Ocean. Damn, I believe that game just about requires one because of everything in it. I used it more for the items, random quests, and that whole relationship thing, though.

Done.

I try and beat the game without them, but on more complicated games, I use them. Examples of games that I used them on are mostly games with deep character customization/creation where you're stuck with your choices for a long time after you make them, to the extent that a bad choice can make the game harder.

Ex- Dragon Age and Morrowind

If you use them to get past one little annoying bit, it's fine.

Also pokemon walkthroughs are a must (not for completion, I mean stuff like Serebii.net's indispensible pokedex section).

I generally like watching ''Lets Play''s, i guess they count as walkthroughs.

I use them when I can't figure out a puzzle or to find hidden collectables. Or when a boss is giving me a hard time. fucking armored spider in demon's souls!

Depends on the type of game really.

For most RPG's, they are useful once you have beaten the game for finding all the specials without wasting the time to find out how to get them yourself (Some of these things really are impossible or next to it without help).

They also can help with tough challenges or bad/confusing design. So they have their uses and I have no issue with them.

For most adventure games and RPGs yea. I couldn't get through a zelda game without a walkthrough :|

They're absolutely indispensable to have on-hand, because you never know when you'll get stuck. I've had a lot of games where I got stuck so hard I put the game away and forgot about it. However, I find that following a walkthrough from the get-go kind of spoils a game for me.

There are two exceptions to this:

1. Let's Plays - It kind of feels like you have a companion by your side as you go through the game's challenges. Someone to sympathize with you when you get frustrated and celebrate with you when you finally win through. Some of the commentaries are fun to listen to as well.

2. King's Quest - I don't see how anyone could play these games WITHOUT following a walkthrough, which is a shame because most of them have very interesting characters and compelling plotlines.

Using walkthroughs to keep progressing through a game feels like a gaming sin to me, so I try my hardest to get through a game without ever looking up help online.

However I also use it as a lsat resort when I just cannot keep proceeding because of an impossible riddle (every single one in Silent Hill 2!!!!!!!!), puzzle, etc.

I'll use a walkthrough when I need one. The exception would be a let's play since I enjoy the commentary as I play.

I get a game and fire up the action replay.

j/k

I don't use walkthroughs unless I'm stuck (unlikely) or if I am replaying a game, and the key piece of information was on a sign I missed a town back.

I tend to get so involved in a game that I can play for quite some time without wanting a break.

I mean, with a 6 hours of gameplay in most games, I don't have time to look stuff up.

Only as a last resort, after hours of thwarted gamepay stuck in one section, or one level, or one boss. Also, when I eventually get bored enough to start trying for 100% completion I start using walkthroughs to find the obscure shit.

I only use them when I'm very frustrated, though the feeling of solving a very hard puzzle is very elating!

I've used a walkthrough for Zelda: Twilight Princess and the first Splinter Cell. I'll only really look if I'm well and truly stumpped.

Although I did have a sneaky look at a Fallout 3 guide to see where the start of a couple of side-quests were...otherwise I'd still be here today crawiling through the wastes...

I prefer to figure out things myself, but when I've been stuck in the same spot for twenty minutes, it's time to get some help. Toughing it out any longer just feel masachistic.

I try to use them as little as possible. Usually only as a last resort.

I used a walkthroughs to find those damn items for weapons in FF8.

Usually only for rare item finds and the like, or puzzles that refuse to be solved within a given time.

During a regular playthrough, I usually only use it as a last resort or when I really don't want to do thinking at the time.

After a regular playthrough, I go through and try to find the collectibles and all that with a walkthrough so I won't miss anything. I also use them for RPGs at times as I usually feel that I'm not exactly playing the game right, know what I mean? Like I'm not getting all the items/weapons/XP that I should be getting.

I only use a walkthrough when I need one. And typically I only look up the section I'm stuck on online. My exceptions are Let's Plays as I don't mind spoilers and if it has a funny commentary I'm getting some great entertainment. I like to watch Let's Plays for games I would like to play, but don't have time or money too or games that I missed out entirely (like some PS1 games). As a shameless plug, my favorites are the How To Successfully Fail walkthroughs my OverTheGun on YouTube. This is where I first experienced Silent Hill 2.

I only look at a guide either if a) I am absolutely stuck in a game, or b) if I've beaten a Final Fantasy game and want to know how to get the random special crap at the end. Chocobo breeding is impossible without a guide.

Anyway, I think using a walkthrough for an entire game just cheapens the experience, which is an insult to the developers and a disservice to you as the player.

i dont mind them at all, i try and complete games by myself, but one thing that always bugs me is that in some games, you have to do a certain thing or talk to or start a certain event for something awesome to happen later, such as a great weapon or item, so ill tend to look at boards or walkthroughs real quick just in case before i start a game (example FFXII, with that golden spear thing where you can't touch certain treasures).

also with collecting certain items or certain puzzles will just make no sense sometimes depending on how you think..(left brain or right brain person or just depending on how you evaluate a situation)

so they are a must to have on hand, but i tend to want to beat the game by myself first

I'd respond with an answer but pretty well everyone in the thread has the same opinion, so just add mine to that.

I've only used one as a last resort which was for Assassin's Creed when you had to kill all the Templars. I still never found that guy so there was no point in looking.

playing the pokemon games i used them a bit

I never used guides, I started gaming before the internet was available to me so I learned to work through things myself