Do you like strategy guides?

[gear02]

I went to EB yesterday (not premeditated) and ended up buying a strategy guide for Zelda: Wind Waker. So my question is the following: Do you like those strategy guides?

I'm going to interject my opinion here. I used to think they ruined the game and stuff. However, I've recently bought guides for FFX, Xenosaga, Mario Sunshine (came with the bundle), and now Zelda. I think they good to the extent that they help you find all the secrets. One of the things that piss me off is that I hate going through a game and not getting the max out of it. When I miss an item, such as the emails in Xenosaga, I feel like I'm missing part of the game and that I should restart just to get that one thing.

In addition, these guides are very beautiful. They have some great artwork and I'm almost treating them as collectibles. It's pretty neat to have them.

What do you think?

[Memo]

I'm like you, I hate going through a game and not getting the most out of it. All those long 80+ hour games are more of a story than really a game so I like to get the fully story. I usually play them for a while and then go back and read the guide to make sure I didn't miss anything and do that every once in a while so I don't spoil the game for me. I sure as hell don't buy them though...
gamefaqs.com :)

[apmiller]

I have no issues with guides at all. If I'm stuck and getting mad at the game then that's the right time to get a helpful tip. I only use them to keep me from throwing a game out the window and in the dumpster! I don't want the game spoiled but I don't want to be competely stuck forever either so sometimes you just got to in my book.

[mcs328]

If I had the time I would do everything on my own. It was easier when I was younger and the games weren't as complex as the ones they have out now.

[Bires]

Originally posted by UT Memo
...I like to get the fully story. I usually play them for a while and then go back and read the guide to make sure I didn't miss anything...

Me too. But I prefer fan sites to the "official" faq's and strategy guides, as the fan sites tend to mark spoilers better.