Cheating in games

corblimey

Whether it's using actual cheat codes (infinite health, etc), a walkthrough, or whatever, what do people think of cheating in games. And I'm talking about 1-player games where the only person you're cheating is yourself.

I remember years ago trying desperately to clear GTA III and could not get into that area near the end after your girlfriend has been kidnapped (spoiler! ). I eventually got the cheat code for the tank and rolled right over them. I felt great 'cos without that code I wouldn't have seen the ending, and really that's why we buy these types of games - to clear them.

What do you think?

**Timbuk2**

I personally don't like cheating in games, but that's not saying that I don't do it

When starting games, I don't cheat. But then when I come to a hard part, and can't complete it, I use cheats. But then I sometimes keep on using cheats throughout the rest of the game because I think that every little bother in the game can be solved by cheats, generally I just get lazy

Whenever this happens to me I usually start the game over again and don't do any cheats, so I can feel better, feel like I "really" completed the game

jonnybadd

I used too use cheats for games a lot when I was younger, but not so much anymore. As a second to last resort, if I'm really stuck I'll use part of a walkthrough, then as a last resort cheat.

Retr0gamer

I'd never use cheats such as infinite health and such unless it was for messing around with the game with friends after I've beaten it, e.g. The weapon cheats in gta games with rioting pedestrians with weapons.

I used to never use walkthroughs and would complete all my games on all difficulty levels. However Now I've a huge back log of games and not much time to play them so if I'm stuck for a while I'll use a walkthrough to push me on a bit. I only ever use it when I'm lost never for a boss. I'd finish them the hard way. I remember rambling around shining force 2 for 3 weeks not knowing where to go because of a stupid illogical puzzle (like it was so obvious that I had to use the wood slate on the tree :rolleyes: )

tman

corblimey wrote:

I remember years ago trying desperately to clear GTA III and could not get into that area near the end after your girlfriend has been kidnapped (spoiler! ). I eventually got the cheat code for the tank and rolled right over them. I felt great 'cos without that code I wouldn't have seen the ending, and really that's why we buy these types of games - to clear them.

funny you should mention GTAIII, as that's the last game i used cheats on (i even went so far as to use a trainer to complete that ****ing "gripped" mission:p )

i've had an action replay disc for my gamecube for the past year and a bit and haven't felt the need to use it.
if i get desperately stuck on a game these days, i either give up on it or grab a faq for it...

Illuvatar

I normally will beat it once before I go to using cheats. But most of the time I use a walkthrough for the rest of my stuff, if I need one that is.

Slippin Jimmy

I have cheated in every other GTA game, except for LCS. When I got LCS I decided not to cheat:rolleyes: . I finished the game with a bit of difficulty. I was happy I didn't use any cheats. But the game wasn't that difficult compared o other GTA games.

Rhyme

I tend towards beating the game once or twice and then going mad with infinite ammo etc... i remember one of the first time i indulged in this was Resident Evil 2... beat it the 4 times and the decided to start with the gatling gun and the spark shot, fun.

Pugsley

Retr0gamer wrote:

I remember rambling around shining force 2 for 3 weeks not knowing where to go because of a stupid illogical puzzle (like it was so obvious that I had to use the wood slate on the tree :rolleyes: )

First time I played that game I finished it in 1 sitting (albiet a 20 one), excellent game, thought the first was better though (zylo > all)

As for cheating, the last game I cheated in was GTA3, and before that was probably a mega drive game, cant remember its been so long though. I use walkthroughs pretty often though when Im stumped

yawnstretch

Lately, I've become more aware that people I know are beating most of their games while I trudge along with my life and give my games collection a bash regularly.

However I was shocked to discover that the majority of people seem to be using walkthroughs increasingly. At first I was just surprised, but now Im annoyed and disgusted.

What the hell is the point if everyone has to use walkthroughs? I resorted to one for the first time EVER last week for Prince of Persia 2 (on psp) because it just got so damned confusing with all the time travel and revisiting the same sections of a castle over and over. Eventually, I had to go through it piece by piece again with a guide to see what I'd done wrong.

This is BAD people. Bad, Bad!

At first I felt ok about my use of a guide as it instantly got me on to more interesting bits in the game, but thinking about it - its quite unlikely I would have been able to find my way out of this particular game design loop without a guide or at least returning to a much earlier point in the game so I could play through the stage in one sitting.

What we'll end up with is pre-requisite reading for games and scripted, shallow, single-solution narratives.:mad:

Jimi-Spandex

I've used walkthrough's on few occassions. I don't really have the patience or the time to sit down for a few hours and figure out a single puzzle/bit where I'm lost. I never use them on bosses though.

As for cheats, I used them in GTA for mucking around and stuff, not really on missions. Or in sonic 2 for that weird level maker mode.

Retr0gamer

A walkthrough can help you enjoy a game that would otherwise be marred by a small bit of stupid game design. Two prime examples would be Silent Hill 1 and 3. I almost gave up on the piano puzzle in SH1 and when I figured out what it was I was infuriated to find that I had got the puzzle right but in reverse order. In SH3 there is a puzzle near the start that needs a knowledge of Shakespeare's plays to be solved (only on Hard puzzles). Loved the games and all but these puzzles would have killed the game for me without a walkthrough.

December Son

Retr0gamer wrote:

I used to never use walkthroughs and would complete all my games on all difficulty levels. However Now I've a huge back log of games and not much time to play them so if I'm stuck for a while I'll use a walkthrough to push me on a bit. I only ever use it when I'm lost never for a boss. I'd finish them the hard way. I remember rambling around shining force 2 for 3 weeks not knowing where to go because of a stupid illogical puzzle (like it was so obvious that I had to use the wood slate on the tree :rolleyes: )

You think thats bad? i had last ninja 2 on the atari st. Theres a part in the first level where you have to use a key in a gate. I got they key alright, never figured out what to do next. Fast forward 2 years later and i finally copped it :rolleyes:
I partially blame the manual tho as it never actually taught you how to use objects

Lemlin

I use FAQs if I'm really stuck. Never use cheats though, why pay €60 and ruin a game by having infinite bullets or lives from level 1.

eyerer

December Son wrote:

You think thats bad? i had last ninja 2 on the atari st. Theres a part in the first level where you have to use a key in a gate. I got they key alright, never figured out what to do next. Fast forward 2 years later and i finally copped it :rolleyes:
I partially blame the manual tho as it never actually taught you how to use objects

lol
how often did you play it in those 2 years?


i use walkthroughs when im stuck, i dont use cheat codes...couldn't be bothered
i last used them in the early PS1 days, final doom and die hard trilogy god modes

i last used a walkthrough on mario sunshine for that level in the hotel where you get the star in the room with the pool (annoying because i had tried to go the right route previously but didn't make it through)
before that it was OoT as i recall, found out how to get into the second level....again annoying because i had tried it and mistimed it, then didn't persist cus i didn't know it was the right thing
still annoys me when i think of it tbh...makes me feel like i couldn't defeat the challenge

Jazzy

down, R, Up, L, Y, B, X, A

eyerer

Jazzy wrote:

down, R, Up, L, Y, B, X, A

i'm not sure why, that was the code i read, but the chime went off after pressing B...the X and A weren't needed

i also remember people used to come up with these wild codes claiming they could unlock the bosses...which was a load of crap

Retr0gamer

up, down, left, right, hold A and press start.
C+up, C+down, C+left, C+right
up, up, down, down, up, up, up, up hold, A and press start.

And the orignal, the Konami Code: up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A and 30 lifes in Contra, thank you very much. (don't try this in Gradius III)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konami_Code

BLITZ_Molloy

I'll generally beat the core of a game without cheating. But if there are reams of unlockables that require you to complete tons of incredibly dull and mindless tasks then I'm all for cheating.

I mean, what are the hidden packages in GTA for? They're there to sell guide books and create extra revenue.

Reku

With me if it's an RPG I'll usually try play them through, maybe occasionally referencing a guide if I'm stuck, but if it's just some sort of shoot'em-up I'll probably cheat and just enjoy senseless blasting (I buy RPGs for story and content, these I just buy for venting!). Racing, puzzle and platform games I'd usually just play normally.

Kristok

I dont use cheats unless its a game im not bothered playing enough and just want to unlock that charactor to fight with or a track to race on. Cheats generally kill a game for me, once I use them the game looses all its charm. Last time I used one was on san andreas to see what the tank was like but I didnt save anything too my memory card just played around with it then left the game.

Walkthroughs are another story. I dont even consider it cheating to use them if you are really stuck, whats the point in spending a week walking all round the place when you just had to pick up a key you missed somewhere.

Illuvatar

Right on with your deffinition of a walkthrough Kristok.
I like to complete a game 100% most of the time and I'll use a walkthrough to help me with it a bit.

BlitzKrieg

up, down, left, right, hold A and press start

ahh the classic sonic cheat...its how i learned left from right when i was a child (I would mimic holding a controller and input the cheat...)





I'm not fond of cheats...but there have been cases where i have been absolutly stuck and have resorted to walkthroughs (most recent example would be...JUMP SUPERSTARS...but thats in japanese so i'm excused)

But i would sometimes use walkthrough's to entice me to play on. Esp. In Games which i found dull or extremely difficult where i feel like WHATS THE POINT! But a quick peak at a walkthrough indicating whats up ahead...sometimes entices me to play on. OR if nothing interesting (ALA Far Cry) makes me put the game on the backburner.

For Example: I found the early levels of Call of Duty 2 to be tedious and dull, and i was about to abandon it but took a peak at a walkthrough of some later levels, decided to play on for some of the later British levels...very happy i did.

Also Doom 3, boring boring stuff, but played on when a walkthrough mentioned HELL. That was entertaining, pity the rest was'nt.

Pity Final Fantasy 6 is too damn painful (difficult+tedious) at the moment that even with snippets of glory in walkthroughs do not help.

But cheats i rarely if ever use. EXCEPT.

When i have completed a game and use em for fun. ALA Sonic the hedgehog debug modes. Or best of all...The original Half Life. (pulling out a rocket launcher at the first helicopter dropping in marines leaves a wonderful surprise.)

OR

If its a game like the the original GTA where the single player has hit a point where i need to blow of some steam...

Wertz

The end mission in GTA3 was easy IMO it was just a matter of

having kept the bullet proof patriot, and clever use of the scoped rifle to take out sentrys before making a full run....I cleared it on my second try and was highly disappointed when the credits rolled.

The only cheats I use in GTA games are for flying cars, rioting pedestrians etc...adds to the hilarity.



The only thing that I've cheated on was one particularly infuriating part of ICO where

you had to jump on the spring vault thing to get out the little window near the water wheel....turned out I was hitting jump at completely the wrong time, which I'd have never figured out

Cheats for infinite speedboosts in the wipeout games I don't really consider cheats unless you save the laptimes as records...

eyerer

oh yeah, i remember that mission in gta....took me a decent number of tries to finish it...i no longer had the 'spoiler' from above though

if you're talking easy though, the end of VC was weak....with the weapon you had....no contest at all, did it first time iirc

Bubba

anyone who can say they honestly cleared Resident Evil zero, one, two or three without using a walkthrough is pretty impressive!

Retr0gamer

I did and apart from a few hiccups in Resi 1 which took about 2 hours to solve they weren't all that difficult.

jonnybadd

Yup I beat all the resi's without a walkthough. The book/medallion puzzle in the first one took me a good week to solve.

_Ganondorf_

Cheats are fun for some games, like GTA. But gameshark ruined my zelda64 experience cause I just got lazy and used stupid cheats like Fly Mode which just ruin the game, Cause zeldas all about making the most amount of gameplay out of the smallest area, and being able to fly kinda pisses on that..

BLITZ_Molloy

Yeah, that book/medallion one really wasn't clear at all. Finished Resi 1 and 2 without a walkthrough. Haven't played the rest of them.

MrPinK

Iddqd

Retr0gamer

idkfa
idclev(1-32)

Dooom

Impulse 255.

Ah the times.

eyerer

"fly mode" lol
you can't blame gameshark, you chose to enable the cheat

anonymous_joe

I think some games require a walkthrough, plain and simple. I'd rarely cheat per se, but while stuck, a walkthrough can be a real lifesaver. Especially when you consider the sometimes unnecessarily bizarre actions required to advance games.

Wickla in Blaa

yawnstretch wrote:

I resorted to one for the first time EVER last week for Prince of Persia 2 (on psp) because it just got so damned confusing with all the time travel and revisiting the same sections of a castle over and over. Eventually, I had to go through it piece by piece again with a guide to see what I'd done wrong.

This is BAD people. Bad, Bad!

At first I felt ok about my use of a guide as it instantly got me on to more interesting bits in the game, but thinking about it - its quite unlikely I would have been able to find my way out of this particular game design loop without a guide or at least returning to a much earlier point in the game so I could play through the stage in one sitting.

What we'll end up with is pre-requisite reading for games and scripted, shallow, single-solution narratives.:mad:

Prince of Persia 2 was also the only game I've ever cheated on!! and for the exact same reason. once you've put the thing down for 5 seconds you forget or it isn't anyway clear where you are going/have been. I needed a walkthrough to remind me where i was from time to time. before i used the walkthrough i also found that i had to go back to previous saves so i knew what i was doing again. (this isn't good for you health when you haven't saved in awhile)

I hate this 'I've the new GTA lets go on the net and get the cheats, grab a tank' kinda childish attitude!!, Why spend 60 euros on the thing if you aren't really going to play it!

Play the game first!!!!

BlitzKrieg

Bubba wrote:

anyone who can say they honestly cleared Resident Evil zero, one, two or three without using a walkthrough is pretty impressive!

first time i played through code veronica i dint use a walkthrough...and oh was i angry...

There's a part early in the game where you use a fire extingisher to get pass a fire. After i used it a left it in this metal detection box cause i needed room for some herbs.....MUCH MUCH MUCH later in the game when in antartica with a *DIFFERENT* character...it tells you that you need the fire exthingisher again.......OOPS...its all the way back in the first world and i cannot reach it from here...****! had to start over.

Borat_Sagdiyev

I rarely cheat. Can't put my finger on why exactly.

I'm addicted to GTA. My usual way of doing things is to go through the game first unaided. Then, start the game again with a walkthrough and get 100%. I've done this for GTA3, VC, and SA.

As for that final mission in GTA3, there is just enough ammo available to you so that you can eliminate everyone in your way without having to go collecting ammo or cheating.

The special packages are a good feature in the game - they are actually more rewarding that using cheats. If you input the ammo cheat in GTA3, you get something like 5 rockets for the rocket launcher. If you collect the 100 packages (with a faq obviously) you have all the weapons bar the flamethrower constantly outside your hideout. When you pick up the rocket launcher, it gives you 20 rockets. As for getting more, collect the icon, go across the street, come back, and the icon will have regenerated, 20 more easily.

Just on a side note, I've recently started playing GTA3 again for the first time in years because I found a FAQ that tells you how to fly the dodo properly. It has brought a whole new dimension to the game which I would have never investigated because the dodo is infuriatingly difficult to fly without that FAQ.

thelordofcheese

BlitzKrieg wrote:

first time i played through code veronica i dint use a walkthrough...and oh was i angry...

There's a part early in the game where you use a fire extingisher to get pass a fire. After i used it a left it in this metal detection box cause i needed room for some herbs.....MUCH MUCH MUCH later in the game when in antartica with a *DIFFERENT* character...it tells you that you need the fire exthingisher again.......OOPS...its all the way back in the first world and i cannot reach it from here...****! had to start over.

Yeah i fell victim to that too. Drove me mental trying to solve it, then when it dawned on me what i'd done, i just calmly powered down my dreamcast, walked outside and thumped the nearest small child.
i felt kinda better. but not much.
Havn't played it since, but since clearing RE 4 over the weekend, i feel the urge to go back and clear it.

Borat_Sagdiyev

That is shocking that a game would let you get to a situation that you can't get out of. Pathetic level management IMO. Whats the point of letting a user get a good bit through the game only to find that they need something insignificant early on, which they can't get to now??

thelordofcheese

yeah it's pretty shocking. To be fair to the game it did bellow "please remove your items from the safe deposit box" whenever you passed by the thing, but it didn't stop you from just abandoning said things there.
And because the points are so far apart [you get the extinguisher at the start of the game, and need it again pretty near the end] you can easilly forget about it.

Sand

Provides good replay potential though, doesnt it?

I use walkthroughs for CRPGs and stuff - generally I blather in first, get in a few hours, then go back and restart the game and do it "right", taking the advice thats there. My first characters in any game are based on the advice given by manuals which is usually woeful. A lot of the walkthroughs give good advice on what characters offer the most potential for exploring the game/interacting with other characters or plain out getting medieval on people. I cant be arsed spending 200 hours playing a game when 80% of it is wandering about wondering what I need to do next, or getting my ass handed to me because I specialised in a crappy line of weapons/spells. Im replaying Baldurs Gate 1 (so I can replay BG2 with the same character, as my old games are gone). Its been years since I played BG so I could treat it as the first time through, but Im using a walkthrough to tick off against so I know Ive done everything important without wasting time. The guide has saved me time already by warning me Ill need a particular ring to progress in the game, so Ive kept one I looted instead of selling it as I would have done otherwise.

The walkthrough also offered other challenges I wouldnt have considered without it explaining opportunities to min/max. Soon as I got past the tutorial section I was off to take on a 5th-7th level area with my 1st level character so I could maximise my character later. Challenging as hell to beat that area, but it was done. Id never have attempted it without it being explained why I should.

Ive also cheated in BG - maxed my characters attributes to the max you could *roll* for them - not the max you could ever have, but the max you could start with. My walkthrough sensei talked how he spent two hours rolling decent stats for the character he used....thats two hours of his life hell never get back. Theoretically I could have spent two years until I rolled "perfect" stats but I preferred not to and pretend I had. It was cheating, but it didnt make the impossible possible.

I dont see why the use of walkthroughs or cheats is frowned upon in terms of single player games. Its not like doping at the olympics. If it makes the game more enjoyable then fire away in my opinion. Wildly unbalancing cheats like God Mode in FPS arent fun to me, but who knows maybe someone else likes it. Whose to tell them how to enjoy their 50 odd euro game when theyre not hurting anyone else? Who cares whether person x,y,or z completed a game using cheats/walkthroughs or did it completely unassisted?

ShiverinEskimo

Thats a coincidence - I acquired BG1 and BG2 SoA today. Started playing BG1 and picked mage and got murdered and kept losing companions left right and centre. I retried it as an out and out warrior so I could wear armour and use swords from the off but then still found I was doing something wrong as I lost a companion is nearly every fight.

I then decided to try BG2 given its better graphics and (dodgy) support for higher resolutions. And I'm enjoying it much more that I was BG1 but am on the lines of thinking now that its because I've given thought to the magic side of being a mage and realised that hack and slash is the wrong option for mages. Also got down with the whole memorise spells thing now too.

So now i'm wondering whether to go back and play BG1 or carry on enjoying BG2. (Even though the start of BG2 completely spoils the story of BG1 - how pissed off was I when I realised the opening scene spills the beans. :rolleyes:)

But on topic - I used to cheat alot when I was younger right up until I played half-life. Half-Life taught me the true meaning of gaming in so far as its the sense of accomplishment when you finish a game. I've not cheated since and maybe referenced a walkthrough 3 times overall in total. Much better off without - makes the 40 odd quid you paid go alot further.