For trophies... and i've used it once or twice when I got stuck at Ace Attorney.

sometimes it makes some games less stress full

Sometimes

It depends but if i have no intention of playing the game a 2nd time then i refer to walkthroughs so i dont miss anything. Thats about the only time ill use it. Oh and i only use walkthroughs for RPGs other genres dont require walkthroughs in my eyes.

Never for the first play through, but after, sometimes i have to be able to get certain things or do certain things that i'd never know about otherwise.

Zodiac Spear indeed, dang you FF12 and your randomness.

Sometimes... i have used them.

occasionally...i dont always have time to wander around trying to figure out what to do or how exactly i am supposed to be doing things

Lol, Absolutely! How about the rare games? Oh you just have to make a chain of 50 of this random enemy, stand on this spot for 5 seconds and then it will appear on this completely different area. Ridiculous.

I mean , the Chocobo Sage explained all you had to do to get the Golden Chocobo if you bother to look for him. You didn't need any guides.

Anyway, back on topic: Almost never. I rather go on for days being stuck than give up. Is that more rewarding when I do find the answer.

I never use walkthroughs. I will never rob myself of that incredibly rewarding feeling of figuring something out on my own.

I remember being stuck in the Forest Temple's basement in Ocarina of Time back and 1998 for three days. I also remember not being able to find that 4th carpenter in the Gerudo Fortress. When I finally figured out what to do/where to go, the endorphins flowed... I love that feeling!

Now, I will use guides after I've beaten the game, but I find myself not even doing that anymore. Now, I play through a game again and discover more than I did the first time through. It's fun that way.

I like what Miyamoto suggested back in 1998 too, when OoT released - he said not to use a guide, but instead, trade hints with friends. That works a lot better I think. Instead of having a guide spell it out for you, have a friend who has played through it give you a small, cryptic hint. That helps a lot and you still get the satisfaction of solving the puzzle or making your way through on your own.

I only use them if it's a really old game that I've already played and I forgot where some stuff was, or if I'm absolutely convinced that it's horrible game design keeping me from doing something.

So not too much.