Gamers Used Printed BradyGames Guides for JRPGs Before YouTube
Replies describe using printed guides, GameFAQs, and note-taking in bookstores.
TLDR
Users on X responded to a post about strategy guides by sharing their own experiences from the 90s and early 2000s. Several described buying or browsing BradyGames books, visiting GameFAQs forums that launched in 1995, and exchanging tips through friends or word of mouth. One user recalled carrying a notepad into Walden Books to copy solutions while stuck in a game. Others noted that printed guides and online bulletin boards were common before video platforms became widespread. The replies focus on personal habits rather than any single event.
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12 Sources, first seen ago
Sources
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🎀(っ◔◡◔)っ 𝒯𝓌𝒾𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇?¿? 🎀@Valestrider@gol_mia I'll even say - written guides are SO MUCH BETTER for finding info than this barren hellscape of guide videos for everything. And endless sea of 5 min videos where a guy relays a sentence's worth of text and asks you to subscribe for more hot gamer tips is actual hell.
CJ Citizen Journalist@ajmarquis@gol_mia The joy of showing up at middle school and comparing what we all had going on in final fantasy 3(6) is something I miss!
WE Weevil-kun@Weevil2077@MugenLord I remember when Prima took over publishing the official guides for Nintendo. That was a sad time. 😔
KN Kid Nemesis@Dstnd4Gr3atness@MugenLord I miss strategy guides like this. Loved that Soul Calibur II guide that came at launch
DR Drew3189@Drew31891612432@GamerFaceGaming @Lowedeltaa Game FAQs got me through Mystical Ninja 64 back in the day!
AN Ant@GameWithAnt@TheDavidVinc This is something that needs to come back!