Lol, yep Ocarina_player is right markasscop, some of the puzzles were a little hard probably for eight year olds, sure the gossip stone shone pretty colors but it wasn't out in the open it was tucked in the corn or of the knight acadamy the only other time you see it some were else is during the middle of the game when your getting the parts of the song of the hero, it appears near eldin volcano, I don't call that sticking it in your face.
I think the point is being missed of what markasscop is saying. We all pretty much get the gist that Gossip Stones are optional and not really in the players face. I feel that most don't think that matters, so continually bringing it up isn't going to register. Until you can convince one that hints like the gossip stones being in the game do not diminish the value of winning, this will just keep going full circle. I can tell you that I, Personally, look back on games I've beaten and I feel proud, but not with SS because if I wanted to, there was a Gossip Stone just waiting to tell me the answer. Despite the fact that I didn't use it, I could've, and that alone makes winning less valuable. In most "challenging" games, there aren't easily accessible tools that do so much for the player.
Convince people who feel this way that a hint that gives you an answer does not diminish a game's victory, and maybe this conversation can move forward. Again, do not mention that it is optional unless your goal is to simply state your side, not to convince. That argument, no matter how valid it is to your point, does not matter to people who feel this way.
