Walkthroughs

          Ever since the dawn of internet access, walkthroughs for playing games have become widely available and heavily relied on so that players of all skills levels can complete the games they want to finish. Maybe before then there were people who wrote these walkthroughs and distributed them as printed copies, but I haven’t really looked into it. As for right now, the moment a new game launches, you can bet someone will have a walkthrough ready by the end of the day. But looking at a guide on how to play and beat the game is surely cheating… right?

          Cheating is looked down upon in the gaming community. Whether it’s buying gold in games that ban gold farmers or using an aimbot to net you free headshots, gamers tend to dislike cheating. With online multiplayer, cheaters are definitely banned from play, but what about offline cheats? Fun stuff that makes the game feel very different. I’m fine with those kinds of cheats. As for walkthroughs, they don’t bother me at all. I think it’s perfectly viable for any player to look up a guide if there’s a game they are having trouble with.

          Most people might compare walkthroughs to cheating as these guides tell the player where everything is, how to most efficiently pass levels, and strategies for those particularly difficult boss fights. However, we should ask why people bother to look up a walkthrough in the first place. Biggest reason: they’re stuck on something. Maybe there’s this one puzzle that seems impossible. A walkthrough could provide the solution. But why consult a guide? Because the player is invested heavily enough in the game that even though an obstacle is preventing progress, they still want to go on. And getting help is nothing to be ashamed of.

          Several games are quite difficult and having a walkthrough handy is essential in some cases. Look at Minecraft, Terraria, Stardew Valley, any game with a huge crafting system and a bunch of items to use. Would you have ever guessed that in order to build a shovel you need to gather some sticks, some cobblestone, and then arrange them in a specific order in a 3x3 grid? I wouldn’t have figured out the crafting system at all if not for a guide! What about what this one NPC likes as gifts? I would be investing so much time giving random items to one person to see how they react, then jotting down their favorite gifts. I don’t have that kind of time!

          And yet, most of the time I don’t look at walkthroughs. I always give the game a chance. I play by its rules and seek as little outside help as possible. If I ever get stumped with a difficult boss or a puzzle, I’ll check a walkthrough. I always give it a few tries before seeing if I’m doing something wrong. And I would encourage you as players to do the same. It may be easier to look at a walkthrough to every single game you own and play like that, but going back and forth from the game to the strategy guide really slows the game down. Take the time to figure things out for yourself. And if you’ve exhausted all of your resources, then check a walkthrough.

          It’s a little different for online games. You don’t check walkthroughs; you check guides to building your character to become competitive enough to play with everyone else. I probably wouldn’t have guessed that playing as E.T.C. in Heroes of the Storm was different than playing any other warrior hero. He isn’t meant to tank and he doesn’t hit very hard, but he can really mess with opponents. After learning that from a guide, I played him a lot better and now he’s one of my favorite heroes to play in that game.

          To those who beat most of their games without any help: good on you. You found ways to conquer the game using only your wits and knowledge of the games you played. That’s great! To you players who struggle to complete a game because a puzzle is too hard, it’s ok. You stopped playing because you needed help and you looked up a walkthrough because you wanted to keep playing some more. Nothing wrong with that.

          This doesn’t just apply to games, but to every aspect of life. If you really want something, it’s ok to ask for help.