The one time the hint system seemed to do anything for me was the first time I looked at the Map leading me to the buried treasure. I looked at the map for 5 seconds and Guybrush ruined it for me. I would have liked to do it myself.
I should have turned it off.
I voted for that option, because even after turning it all the way down I was still getting hints. If that is the "low" option, I would like an "off" option.
For example:
Looking at the map, you get the noisy comment
or
After turning the totems a few times to see all the faces, Guybrush blurted out how it looked like the weathervane
I played with the hints off. Adventure games should have an option to have (or not have) hints, because it helps newer players from becoming frustrated and hating the game. There is no good reason that I have heard to completely remove hints from the game.
It would be better if you had to ask for a hint, rather than him just volunteering one. That way the option is always there if you want it but it doesn't automatically presume you haven't figured it out.
I think the reason for using the system that they do is because, for some people, if they ask for a hint, they feel guilty about it or they feel like they cheated. By developing a system that tries to predict when you need help and makes a suggestion, it feels like a natural part of the game. This removes the possibility of shame or defeat that people might feel for getting the hint. (to be clear: I'm not suggesting people should feel this way, I'm just saying that some people do.)
I would prefer to have the Hints turned off by default. So that people can play the game without hints and only turn them on if really needed.
This is a bad idea because the people that need the hints the most are usually people that don't know that there is a setting to change the hint level. If you put hints to zero by default, they could get frustrated and stop playing adventure games before they even realise they can turn the feature on.
This is a bad idea because the people that need the hints the most are usually people that don't know that there is a setting to change the hint level. If you put hints to zero by default, they could get frustrated and stop playing adventure games before they even realise they can turn the feature on.
I'd say they should turn the hints on by default, but make one of the very first hints give people a hint that they can disable hints if they don't want them...
Comments
I should have turned it off.
same thing happened to me
I think the reason for using the system that they do is because, for some people, if they ask for a hint, they feel guilty about it or they feel like they cheated. By developing a system that tries to predict when you need help and makes a suggestion, it feels like a natural part of the game. This removes the possibility of shame or defeat that people might feel for getting the hint. (to be clear: I'm not suggesting people should feel this way, I'm just saying that some people do.)
This is a bad idea because the people that need the hints the most are usually people that don't know that there is a setting to change the hint level. If you put hints to zero by default, they could get frustrated and stop playing adventure games before they even realise they can turn the feature on.