I just got back from my local GameStop after picking up a copy of today’s hot new release, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood. As I was presenting my receipt to the clerk, he asked if I would like to purchase a strategy guide (for 20% off, no less). I was prepared to offer him a snarky reply, but since the guy is just doing his job, I resorted to a simple “no thanks”.
The reply I had prepared was “who needs guides when I have the Internet?”. Honestly, I haven’t purchased a strategy guide since Halo 2. Yes, I know, a guide for an FPS. I bought it because I was at my first midnight release and wanted to get as many pieces of memorabilia as possible. That, and for the tips and tricks for dominating online.
That was four years ago, and even before that I was looking stuff up online. While strategy guides used to be the go-to solution for those tricky puzzles and hidden collectibles, it’s just easier to boot up GameFaqs and do a quick search. How about you guys? When’s the last time you used a printed guide? Are you too hardcore for that? Let us know!
The last one I bought was Starcraft 2, which was extremely helpful. Before that was Mass Effect 2, which was absolute non-helpful garbage. And before that, I can’t even remember.
The internet made guides obsolete. That’s just it. I will always hold the colorful descriptions, beautiful maps, and snarky pro tips close to my heart, but nowadays I’d rather get some help for free than shell out however many dollars it requires for a guide.
I’ll miss the days of getting a new RPG that would last tens-of-hours and have the wonderful guide spread across my lap in case I wanted some tips, though I’d usually play through once without help, and then again with the guide to find all the secrets. Oh, a bitter farewell to the days of olde, when time was abundant and the pleasures of gaming were so innocent and fulfilling in their simplicity and rewards. In particular, Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door stands out as an RPG that I absolutely loved playing, and the guide book made it so fun to find all the secrets when I played a second time through. Ahhhh…
I bought the FF XIII guide for collecting purposes, but thats the only series I would do that for.
MW2 strategy guide, although that was bought as a present at Xmas. It was really nicely done and gave me a few handy tips for the online mode.
I also have a Metroid Prime 2 guide which was invaluable at certain points in that game. Also the cover was shiny.
Only for games like Fallout New Vegas where there are hundreds if not thousands of conversations that a guide can tell you the results for. Sure the internet has it eventually but for convenience (I liked to quickly check if the area I was going into had any good loot or free quests before I went in either whilst loading or talking to someone) and information on release nothing is better. Cant beat the big ass map either, for route planning and enemy faction avoiding.
Collectors edition had some lovely bonus art and lore timelines too.
I’ve never purchased a guide, I’ll admit I’ve used a Walkthrough on a few tougher games when I’ve gotten stuck. But when it comes to collectibles and easter-eggs and alternate missions, I really like to find those on my own.
I think the last one I had was for Super Smash Bros Melee. I dont know how expensive it make and distribute one of these guides but Im surprised its still profitable