Guide Dang It: Difference between revisions

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Cousin to a [[Solve the Soup Cans]] puzzle, a Guide Dang It is any part of a video game in which that correct action or set of actions is so difficult to figure out from the game's own clues that, effectively, the only way to know what to do (aside from spending countless hours of trying [[Combinatorial Explosion|every remote]] possibility [[Trial and Error Gameplay|until something happens]]) is via a [[Strategy Guide]] or an online [[Walkthrough]]. This is particularly necessary when dealing with random [[The Maze|maze sections]], determining [[Relationship Values]], or trying to achieve [[Hundred-Percent Completion]] (to avoid having anything [[Lost Forever]]).
Cousin to a [[Solve the Soup Cans]] puzzle, a Guide Dang It is any part of a video game in which that correct action or set of actions is so difficult to figure out from the game's own clues that, effectively, the only way to know what to do (aside from spending countless hours of trying [[Combinatorial Explosion|every remote]] possibility [[Trial and Error Gameplay|until something happens]]) is via a [[Strategy Guide]] or an online [[Walkthrough]]. This is particularly necessary when dealing with random [[The Maze|maze sections]], determining [[Relationship Values]], or trying to achieve [[Hundred-Percent Completion]] (to avoid having anything [[Lost Forever]]).


Do note that quite a few of these examples may have been placed as interesting finds for players that ''accidentally'' get into obscure situations or curiously muck around with the game, especially in older sandbox titles where [[Try Everything|groping around in the proverbial dark]] was an intentional part of the experience. Examples that are required to complete the game are still nasty, however.
Do note that quite a few of these examples may have been placed as interesting finds for players that ''accidentally'' get into obscure situations or curiously muck around with the game, especially in older sandbox titles where [[Try Everything|groping around in the proverbial dark]] was an intentional part of the experience. Examples that are required to complete the game are still nasty, however.


Most of these examples are basically just poor design where the manual or in-game instructions just fail to elaborate on somethings, there were often some more sinister versions where the developers ''wanted'' you to spend money by calling their hotline or buying their hintbook or [[Nintendo Power|Magazine]]. Now that [[Game FAQs]] is more common, this practice pretty much stopped.
Most of these examples are basically just poor design where the manual or in-game instructions just fail to elaborate on somethings, there were often some more sinister versions where the developers ''wanted'' you to spend money by calling their hotline or buying their hintbook or [[Nintendo Power|Magazine]]. Now that [[GameFAQs]] is more common, this practice pretty much stopped.


Contrast with [[Player Nudge]], when the Devs are aware how complicated the game might have become and try to subvert it. Compare [[Moon Logic Puzzle]], where the game does provide the information you need, but most players will still require a walkthrough to put it all together. Often overlaps with [[Metagame]], which has new rules that are not written in the official books, making the game very annoying for new players.
Contrast with [[Player Nudge]], when the Devs are aware how complicated the game might have become and try to subvert it. Compare [[Moon Logic Puzzle]], where the game does provide the information you need, but most players will still require a walkthrough to put it all together. Often overlaps with [[Metagame]], which has new rules that are not written in the official books, making the game very annoying for new players.


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