Video Game Strategy Guides

Video gaming is growing as a cultural phenomenon. While casual gaming is on the rise, many of today's modern games are longer and far more complex than their counterparts of the past. Whether a casual player or a hardcore gamer, players may find themselves in need of a strategy guide for their favorite game. This article is designed to help new users of strategy guides navigate what is sometimes a difficult world to traverse.

Why use a strategy guide?

Strategy guides are sometimes criticized by some gamers, because they are seen as 'cheating' or 'spoiling' the game. Obviously, strategy guides are not for these gamers. For everyone else, strategy guides are often used to enhance the gameplay experience. Gamers use strategy guides to help navigate difficult maps within the game, find hidden treasures and secrets, gain new abilities and weapons or achieve 100 percent completion awards. Types of games which often require strategy guides include role-playing games (such as the Final Fantasy series), adventure games (such as the Legend of Zelda series) and first-person shooters (such as the Call of Duty series). Some gamers use strategy guides as a helpful tool or tool of last-resort while playing, while others open their strategy guide the moment they start the game and follow along to the end. Usage of a strategy guide depends on the need for it, and the desire to not 'spoil' plot twists within the game.

Typical strategy guides

The most common type of strategy guide is produced professionally in tandem with the game developer, published by companies such as Prima or BradyGames. These guides are typically in-depth overviews of the game. In the case of a role-playing game, the guide would likely include a list of character biographies, a 'walkthrough' (a step-by-step description of the plot of the game as it unfolds, including what the player should do and where to go), a list of all weapons, armor and items available within the game and a bestiary (a listing of all enemies within the game and a breakdown of those enemies' statistics). By contrast, a strategy guide for a first-person shooter would likely lessen or eliminate the walkthrough element and focus more heavily on weapon and armor statistics and information, because story is less of an important factor in those types of games.

Specialty guides

In the case of complex games, such as those which include a large number of mini-games or side-quests, a gamer may need a specialty guide. These guides are often not made available through professional means. For example, if a game features a farming simulation as a mini-game, the professional guide may mention the simulation and give a broad overview, but not go into the specifics of how to make the perfect farm. A specialty guide, on the other hand, would give extensive detail about the farming mini-game, to the exclusion of other aspects of the game. Specialty guides are often written by gamers themselves and housed on websites such as gamefaqs.com or similar sites. Many gamers use specialty guides in addition to standard strategy guides to get the most out of their gaming experience.

Using a strategy guide is a personal choice. Each gamer must decide when a guide is necessary, and use it accordingly. While some find strategy guides subtract from their experience, many gamers find that proper use of strategy guides enhance their enjoyment of the game immensely.