Ultimately, I think the answer to your question depends on what you're looking to get out of a game. Some people prefer to play games for the challenge, others for the story. There's no "wrong" or "right" way, it's up to you. Personally, I don't like using strategy guides the first time I go through a game, so I can find stuff for myself. However, if I'm playing a game purely for the story, I use strategy guides to take care of the gameplay so I don't have to worry about it. If you feel like you're not connecting with the stories as much as you used to, maybe you could ease up on side quests for a bit. That's my two cents, anyhow.
