While I haven't used a guide yet, I have used this forum several times. So far, I am LOVING Dark Souls. I am not usually a person that enjoys a struggle to get through a game. I am impatient, dying and being forced to replay a section several times over generally drives me up a wall. Once again ... I am absolutely loving this game. I don't know what it is about it, but its just fantastic. That being said however, I have a full time job, am a full time student, and have a wife and children. While I enjoy exploring and taking my licks when they come, I have a very finite amount of time. If I come to a point where I no longer have any idea what I should be doing, I turn to the Giant Bomb community. So far I don't feel that it has detracted from my experience at all. There is not much of a story to be ruined, everything I play through and beat was done by me. I just need a little guidance from players with more gameplay time, and more often than not, more experience with games like this ... and specifically this game. Is there anyone else out there that was strangely drawn to this game even though it is out of your norm? What are your thoughts so far? Do you think asking the GB community is "cheapening" my experience?

Well not to this game, but I was rather strangely drawn to Demon's Souls.  The trailers looked interesting, and everything I heard compelled me to play it.  It's been arguably my favourite game this generation, so buying Dark Soul's was no question.

To be completely honest I feel dark souls (and demon souls) was designed in a way that almost wants you to visit some sort of wiki when you are really lost. I did it now and then in demon souls and have in dark souls as well.