In modern day gaming, extending the experience with things like achievements and special secret tasks or uber difficulties is common place. Sometimes these tasks seem to monumental for us mortals to conquer. It is in these dark hours that many of us will resort to the fabled strategy guide. Whether it be to beat a game on super hard mode, or to find all the hidden tresures.

But how much guide is too much. Is it too far to use a complete walkthrough of a game first time round. Personally I tend to say yes to this. But many situations seem to require a guide. finding the halo 3 skulls would literally be nigh on impossible without an internet guide. It's rediculous how Bungie hid those things. 

I believe cheats do not have a place in gaming though. Beating the game with no thought whatso ever seems to me a silly thing to do. Why would some1 buy a game just to beat it and not enjoy it.

So what do you guys do when it comes to a hard game that has you stuck, do you have any set rules about guides or something similar. I think a bit of guide should only be used if the gaming situation stops being challenging and frustrating and becomes boring, games in my opinion, should never really bore you, its these times i whip out the old guides.

For a first play through, no guide, not unless you're really stuck. After that though, full walkthroughs are perfectly fine to accomplish everything the game has to offer.

I never use walkthroughs for the main section of the game.

However, I occasionally do for the bestiary, side quests, bonus items, star coins, pieces of heart, energy containers, mini medallions etc

I like big games and I normally play them once, so I try to play without walkthrough, then I check the walkthrough up to the point I've already arrived to see if I have screwed anything, or if I am stuck, and in case there are points of no return, to check if I have explored and done everything before leaving a zone or getting past a given phase of the game.

I try not to use a guide unless I'm really really stuck.

no guide on the first playthrough.

If there are collector achievements and no mission/chapter select I usually skip them.

I usually use a guide when

A) I'm really REALLY stuck on where to go next (old games like Zelda, Metroid)

B) I cannot beat a boss with my strategy (Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy)

C) To get bonuses or achievements (DKC, Rogue Squadron)

Games today are really linear and hold your hand constantly so there isn't really a need

It's cheating. I feel like a criminal when I've had to check out a guide (happened a few times even with Oblivion).