With the new release barrage over, I’ve been spending a bit of time revisiting some of the games I didn’t get to spend nearly enough time with. One such game is Resident Evil 5, which I am quickly discovering has a lot of post-endgame content and stuff to unlock. As much fun as it is grinding out levels to get new treasures and battle points to exchange for weapon upgrades and unlockables (I love my L. Hawk with unlimited ammo), I found myself turning to a play guide to find a better way.

This week, The Warp Pipe takes a look at the progression and usage of video game play guides.

Read full article by Matt Keller

exactly, I only use guides when i've spent 5+ frustrating minutes getting past a section and I don't have a clue of what to do, just yesterday I was playing Psi-Ops (love the Psi powers) and i'd go through a door and a minigun would keep killing me, got very frustrating as I tried looking for a switch to turn it off, ended up checking gamefaq and you're suppose to pick up a crate to hide behind :S almost checked it again later before remembering you can walk through doors with one of the powers

I have to admit that when I first started gaming I cheated and used guides a lot to the point where I wanna go back to some of those games now and replay em without the guide, Majora's Mask was done almost exclusively with a guide, letting the guide direct almost my every step it started when I couldn't get past these turtles, I couldn't for the life in me figure out how to kill them and the fairies help didn't help, the guide ended up telling me I had to use bombs/bomb mask to flip them on their backs, sheesh, I don't think I would have figured that out especially since I didn't have any bombs at the time to experiment with,

I think the games themselves definately need to give sufficient hints as what to do as these days i'm strictly non-cheating and whenever I do look up guides it's because there's no hints (or insufficient hints) as what to do and i've been stuck somewhere doing all sorts of crazy things trying to figure out what the heck happens next

I used to use gameguides when i was a younger gamer (i.e. i used them for goldeneye and zelda - as I was too young to know wtf I was doing). But now that I have a more experience in games, I refuse to use gameguides as I feel like I am cheating.

In my opinion, half the accomplishment in finishing a game is figuring out the weak spot in bosses and figuring out puzzles on your own. Otherwise what is the point in playing if you are told what to do?

For high-level items in JRPGs I can understand though. I dont know how you would figure out certain quests unless you spent 100+ hours on them.

It also comes down to the game-designers as well. As some designers are good at dropping hints in what you are supposed to do (without giving the puzzle away). But some designers make you figure out for yourself what you are supposed to do with no hints at all (I am looking at you Golden Sun!).

games shouldn't need instructions or tutorials if they're designed in a way that makes sense and is intuitive to use, its what we call the "Learning Curve" and you can actually use that to educate the user by letting them experience the game and by letting them see their actions work in the games environment- if it doesn't seem right, it probably isn't.. or its a bug

I think once we start experimenting more with off-screen keyboards we might see an end to the classic version of a "Tutorial" and rather a micro version of the game as a reference showing the user how to execute the correct means before they apply it in-game. I'd prefer for it to work that way as it means you can always go back to the tutorial without leaving the game- just to check up on things.. I'd like to instantly simulate how a battle would go before I actually did it.. just to avoid an F7 F8 (ie. Quick Save Quick Load)

It would also mean On-screen Cheat Codes and Walkthroughs too.. But I mean it'd be even better if the strategy guide would come with the game anyway, digital or hardcover. Except they do tend to be expensive. On screen would kick ass though.

I think game guides have their place and it's up to the gamer to decide if he/she wants to use it.

I personally try to tackle a game myself until it become too frustrating. I'm not a serious gamer by far and put enough mental energy into my studies, work and investments to want to exhaust my brain even further when I'm trying to relax. I used guides for the later halves of C&C3 and NFS: Most Wanted when some prior knowledge of what's ahead can save me having to restart.

My brother and I recently finished Army of Two without the use of guides. It wasn't a mentally taxing game by far - bright orange arrows guide us where to go and the rest of the time it's aim, shoot and dodge.

IMHO, game guides are there for helping the gamer adjust their gaming experience by finding a balance between self achievement and frustration.