Do you use guide books to help you complete a game?

Originally Posted by Xeno

Never.

The reason you'll see me with a guide book is because:

A) The game was so great I wanted to get the artwork for it.

B) I got it for free.

They ruin the gaming experience.

I assumed by 'guide book' he meant any outside resource which would assist you in completing the game.

And again, I'd like to see anyone who can complete NetHack without the NetHack Wiki. It's considered 'cheating' to use, but it feels necessary. If you don't use it you'll spend hours doing the stupidest things.

I get guides for free on almost a constant basis but I only use them after I've done a full playthrough of the game and I want to find stuff I didn't previously or if I get really stuck. I never buy them myself so if I don't have a guide for the game.. yeah, GameFAQs.

Only for RPGs like Final Fantasy on a second playthrough, or Mass Effect when I want to find out where all the sidequests are. It's generally pointless to use strategy guides for games that lack any side content.

Originally Posted by mandym287

I don't because I enjoy discovering the secrets packed in every game for myself.

oops i said sometimes then i saw guide book not instruction manual i thought you meant the one that comes in the game box