Guides, FAQs, Cheats, Walkthroughs

I was wondering how many of you used aids to get through games. I’ve known people who won’t play through games unless they have a guide right next to them. And others who never play without every cheat on. So do you use aids, or do you play 100% honestly.

I never use cheats, that instantly makes games unenjoyable for me. However I find that I am using walkthroughs more and more. Largely when I’m faced with some obtuse puzzle that I’m sure the developer thought was very clever. A good example was the lights on the floor puzzle in kotor, I didn’t even try. Just hopped online and looked up the movements, that kind of stuff just isn’t fun to me at all. And I don’t feel like wasting an hour trying to figure it out.

Sometimes I will look at walkthroughs if I’m fighting an impossibly difficult boss. But these are rarely helpful, and even if they are I don’t really enjoy using them. Kind of sucks the enjoyment out of it.
So do you use them at all?

Generally I'll do them when i'm stuck and have no idea where to go next. FFIII DS and Phoenix Wright 2 were especially bad at this at times.

I find that anytime a game absolutely REQUIRES you to check an FAQ in order to do some kind of completely obscure shit, it's generally a sign of broken design. Point and click adventure games are really bad about this.

With 3.5% left on Bully the other night, yes. Some of the things required for 100%, while very easy, I'd never have thought of. Buy 500 cans of soda? I think I bought 10 throughout the course of the game, maybe.

James

If you're really, frustratingly stuck and walking away and coming back won't help, walkthroughs are nice for a little boost. Just gotta be careful not to look ahead or glimpse spoilers, that is, if you care.

From time to time (like, um years apart usually) I'll buy guides with pretty books or useful info. I liked the Versus Books Tekken 3 guide so much I bought two copies, and I think they did the SF3NG guide I loved so much. Don't know where my copy is now. The guide that was released alongside SFAC for PS2 is great too. I would like a KOF XI one but I don't think anyone else in the US cares.

I bought the Persona 3 and Disgaea 2 DoubleJump guides, but I haven't actually looked through either. The Persona 3 one is mostly for not missing stuff on the next playthrough. The Disgaea 2 one is for, uh, we'll talk about that when I actually open the game.

DoubleJump also did a PDF guide for Generation of Chaos that actually made the game playable. This was useful too.

I use them all the time when I get stuck in an RPG. I have very little patience for wandering around lost in a large dungeon or not knowing what town to visit next. As a rule I don't use them off the bat, because that takes all the fun out of it, and I do explore a bit before resorting to one. But if I'm going to get frustrated, yeah, I'll peak at one to get to the next point.

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Originally Posted by Nomi

I use them all the time when I get stuck in an RPG. I have very little patience for wandering around lost in a large dungeon or not knowing what town to visit next. As a rule I don't use them off the bat, because that takes all the fun out of it, and I do explore a bit before resorting to one. But if I'm going to get frustrated, yeah, I'll peak at one to get to the next point.

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Sounds like what I do too, or those ridiculous achievements only an insane genius had figured out a way to do much faster than brute force.

I do what I need to get the fun out of the game. If I'm stuck, I'm off to Gamefaqs without a second thought.



But most of what I play can't be helped with a FAQ in any meaningful way. Like Rock Band or Magical Drop III.

I normally only look at faqs if I'm stuck in a game. In the olden days, I would just play and play until I figure it out, but I really don't have time to sit for an hour figuring out a puzzle. So, I get a little help.

I pretty much nver resort to a cheat or glitch though, unless it's just for some temorary mindless fun (like running through Doom in God mode with a chainsaw.)

*edit*
I still use the 30 lives code in NES Contra. I'll never be good at that game.

I generally use them for strategies in multiplayer games.
All other games these days are pretty easy to beat. There hasnt been that many "challenging" games out there. Except maybe Devil May Cry 3 of course. (The original non-wussy edition)

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Originally Posted by MarsKitten

Generally I'll do them when i'm stuck and have no idea where to go next. FFIII DS and Phoenix Wright 2 were especially bad at this at times.

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i generally never use walkthroughs, but i was in need when it came to pheonix wright 2 as well.

cheats. never. i tried the genie when i was a kid and hated it since then.

I'll use walkthroughs to unlock secret areas, items, options, etc. Rarely will I ever use them in the main game. As for cheats, the only cheats I use are money cheats, item duplication cheats, and any anything else along those lines.

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*edit*
I still use the 30 lives code in NES Contra. I'll never be good at that game.

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This and the unlimited shurikens in Revenge of shinobi are cheats that might as well just be part of the normal game.

I have used faqs to play thru alot of Japansese rpgs.

I was gonna do some Pc Engine Faqs myself but I'm too damn
lazy.

I use guides to find the hidden secrets in games. Its gotten to the point where all this stuff is purposely left vague so you have to consult a faq or game guide to even have a clue to find it.

I'll only check out a FAQ if I'm stuck for hours and can't progress in a game. If possible I ask someone that's already beaten the game for a hint instead.

ElCapitan uses the Game Genie on Gears of War all the time.

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Originally Posted by YellerDog

I find that anytime a game absolutely REQUIRES you to check an FAQ in order to do some kind of completely obscure shit, it's generally a sign of broken design. Point and click adventure games are really bad about this.

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GOOD point and clicks don't require them, though. There's a big difference between Secret of Monkey Island and, say, Weebl's Prawn to be Wild series.

I hate it when games require guides. Final Fantasy IX's gaggle of key items (that I later realized were pointless) fell victim to this. Also, Steiner's final weapon. Yikes. I'm sure if there WERE hints to the key items from and NPC, they'd sound like this: "So, you should leave the card tournament during the SECOND round and go talk to the guy that makes toys on the other side of the planet. He totally has an item for you. Well, it's not really an item. It's more like a few words in that list of useless shit that you already have. I suddenly felt like I needed to tell you this, don't ask me why. Go buy some potions or something."

I'll use GameFAQs for gameplay-related unlockables, though. Typically this means hidden characters in fighting games and Smash Bros.

I usually scan them for some sort of missable items section whenever I'm starting a new game. I use them especially for games like the Suikoden series where if you don't get character A at obscure point B you'll screw up your whole ending.

FUCKING TELL ME ABOUT IT!






After screwing up Suiko V AGAIN, I've started playing the series over beginning with Suiko 1. I'm using faqs this time.

when I need them (eg; when I can't figure out a puzzle/boss or miss some kind of valuable loot)

I try not to use them, but for a couple games I found them needed (knowing how to unlock all the characters in Brawl, figuring out something stupid in a level of DMC4 I couldn't figure out, CAN I PLAY AS GENERAL LEO?!?!?!).
Sometimes they are helpful, but I really try not to look unless I can't figure it out after a couple trys.

Without looking, does anyone remember the Eyedol code for the SNES version of KI?

KI sucks but I will never forget the "pick the same guy" code for SF2 :(

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Originally Posted by Grave

KI sucks...

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I die a little inside anytime someone says that.

maybe you can use a walkthrough to find someone who cares

I care.

KI was awesome.

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Originally Posted by Grave

maybe you can use a walkthrough to find someone who cares

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I'll take an Ultra Combo over a jab-kick combo anyday.
And what the hell kinda boss is M. Bison anyhow?

Lol one of my first posts had my praising Chux for a KI inspired av, which garnered the disapproval of Yoshi quite quickly. I'd link it but I suck at this shit, one of the first few things if you type "Fulgore" into the search of the posts.

Edit: second one, actually.

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Originally Posted by Rem

This and the unlimited shurikens in Revenge of shinobi are cheats that might as well just be part of the normal game.

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As far as I'm concerned, Shinobi games should be played with unlimited shurikens. Just don't spam the double jump/shuriken attack.

I grew up on arcade Shinobi, having limited shuriken never made sense.

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Originally Posted by Lordmrw

I use guides to find the hidden secrets in games. Its gotten to the point where all this stuff is purposely left vague so you have to consult a faq or game guide to even have a clue to find it.

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This. Finding anybody's ultimate weapon in Dynasty/Samurai Warriors would be impossible without a guide - there's literally nothing in-game hinting at what you have to do.

I like collecting guides for games Im crazy about. I got the Crackdown one especialy cause It had a great map that I could use to see the streets. The in game map was horrid and I would use the most convoluted ways to get around "La Mulgre" and "The Den"

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ElCapitan uses the Game Genie on Gears of War all the time.

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Game shark imo

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of DMC4 I couldn't figure out

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I beat that puzzle with shadows and light by pure luck, couldn't figure out how it worked at all.

Suddenly it all makes sense

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GOWVSBRI                Always shoot first

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