History Main / HintsAreForLosers

* The SNES version of ''VideoGame/HomeImprovement'' infamously didn't come with a proper manual, but instead a joke "manual" which just opens up to a huge fake sticker stuck over everything with the sentence "real men don't need manuals" on it.

* Splapp-Me-Do has posted a rich text walkthrough of ''TheImpossibleQuiz'' available for download. Be prepared to be called a cheater if you open it, though.

Contrast StopHelpingMe, when you're sick of the game giving you hints all the time. See also EasyModeMockery.

* Claimed to be the case by the manual in ''VideoGame/TheSeventhGuest'', but ultimately averted: in spite of a warning that using the in-game hint book (which, will, if consulted enough, automatically solve a given puzzle) will lead to dire consequences, such as having vital doors in the house locked and making the game {{Unwinnable}}, no actual penalty is incurred.

* In ''{{Runescape}}'', using guide mode in dungeoneering skill will yield you less experience per floor completed.

* The hint books for ''SpaceQuest'' series contain several fake hints; if the player looks them up, he is berated for spoiling the game for himself by reading ahead. The hint books can be read at [[http://www.spacequest.net SpaceQuest.Net]].

* The SNES version of ''VideoGame/HomeImprovement'' infamously didn't come with a manual, with a message before the title screen that read, "Real men don't need instructions." While this certainly counts as an example of the trope, it should be noted that it is a lighthearted riff on the hypermasculine ethos of the main character which is a running joke in the television series the game is based on.

* ''Blazblue'' has a segment called 'Help Me, Professor Kokonoe!' intended to take the piss out of itself and provide a hint for the players who got the bad ending of their story. Professor Kokonoe starts off the intro by [[TakeThat telling the people who will look for flowcharts online to piss off]].

* The SNES version of ''VideoGame/HomeImprovement'' infamously didn't come with a manual, with a message before the title screen that read, "Real men don't need instructions."

** Within the game itself, the last hint you can buy from Wrinkly Kong is "All but one of my hints are useful to you." Though this isn't strictly true as there's also her hint for the final boss battle; "Make sure you have plenty of lives!"
*** Technically, because that makes that hint inaccurate, [[PuffOfLogic she is, um, correct.]]

* Played with in ''[[VideoGame/BanjoKazooie Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts]]'', where one of the hints shown on loading screens tells you that if you haven't gotten any better from reading the hints, you should just stop being so rubbish.

* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry2DiddysKongQuest'' has a section in the manual called "Cranky's Hint", but there, Cranky just laughs at you and tell you to [[BribingYourWayToVictory buy the]] Magazine/NintendoPower [[BribingYourWayToVictory guide instead]]. ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong64'''s manual is equally unhelpful.

* Played with in ''[[BanjoKazooie Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts]]'', where one of the hints shown on loading screens tells you that if you haven't gotten any better from reading the hints, you should just stop being so rubbish.

* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry 2'' has a section in the manual called "Cranky's Hint", but there, Cranky just laughs at you and tell you to [[BribingYourWayToVictory buy the]] Magazine/NintendoPower [[BribingYourWayToVictory guide instead]]. ''Donkey Kong 64'''s manual is equally unhelpful.

* The SNES version of ''HomeImprovement'' infamously didn't come with a manual, with a message before the title screen that read, "Real men don't need instructions."

* The tutorial for the ''Spider-Man 2'' video game has [[Creator/BruceCampbell a voiceover]] that tells you to do Spider-Man-like things (like jump off buildings) and then mocks you for jumping off a building just because someone suggested it.

* In ''{{killer7}}'', a remnant psyche named Yoon-Hyun offers cryptic hints for some of the game's puzzles. You can also shoot his mask and give him an offering of blood, after which he'll give you a much clearer hint...and becomes much more rude, calling the player a loser and flipping them off with both hands.

* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry 2'' has a section in the manual called "Cranky's Hint", but there, Cranky just laughs at you and tell you to [[BribingYourWayToVictory buy the]] NintendoPower [[BribingYourWayToVictory guide instead]]. ''Donkey Kong 64'''s manual is equally unhelpful.

* An old Freeware game called Maze Maker had a hint option, but using it too often would cause Maze Maker to warn you. If you used it again too soon, it would disable hints altogether.

* In the puzzle game ''PushOver'' for the SNES, you get hints if you stay on a level for too long. The hint for level 19 is "Figure it out yourself".
* Early on in ''{{Crystalis}}'', you learned the [[PsychicLink Telepathy]] spell, which could be used to contact one of the four Sages for a hint, though every now and then the "hint" you got would be along the lines of "Leave me alone, {{figure it out yourself}}!" (especially if you chose to contact [[GrumpyBear Kensu]]).

* The SNES version of ''HomeImprovement'' infamously didn't come with a manual, with a message before the title screen that read, "Real men don't need instructions.", as the Trope Picture.

* One of the hints on the [[LoadsAndLoadsOfLoading extremely long loading screen]] of ''VideoGame/DukeNukemForever'' is the oh so helpful; if you're having trouble avoid bullets (paraphrased).

* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry 2'' has a section in the manual called "Cranky's Hint", but there, Cranky just laughs at you and tell you to buy the NintendoPower guide instead. Donkey Kong 64's manual is equally unhelpful.

-->-- '''Cranky''', ''Donkey Kong 64's manual''

* Sierra's ''DoctorBrain'' series has the ability to get hints for the puzzles, but it'll count against your end of game score if you use them. In the case of the third game, it'll reduce the value of that puzzle if the hint is specific enough, meaning you'll need to solve an extra puzzle to complete the region.

* One of the hints on the [[LoadsAndLoadsOfLoading extremely long loading screen]] of ''DukeNukemForever'' is the oh so helpful; if you're having trouble avoid bullets (paraphrased).

* The tutorial for the ''Spider-Man 2'' video game has [[BruceCampbell a voiceover]] that tells you to do Spider-Man-like things (like jump off buildings) and then mocks you for jumping off a building just because someone suggested it.

[[quoteright:350:[[Series/HomeImprovement http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/BinfordTropes_1266.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"[[WebVideo/TheIrateGamer Well, apparently I do, if I'm]] ''[[WebVideo/TheIrateGamer looking for them!]]''"]]

* Claimed to be the case by the manual in TheSeventhGuest, but ultimately averted: in spite of a warning that using the in-game hint book (which, will, if consulted enough, automatically solve a given puzzle) will lead to dire consequences, such as having vital doors in the house locked and making the game {{Unwinnable}}, no actual penalty is incurred.

* ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies'' has a hint screen written by the zombies. Of course, the game has a proper tutorial.

* Borderline example: In ''BatmanArkhamAsylum'', progress far enough in the Riddler's fetch quest, and he'll start accusing you of looking up the locations on the internet.

* The SNES version of ''HomeImprovement'' infamously didn't come with a manual, with a message before the title screen that read, "Real men don't need instructions."