I never read manuals for games before playing them. A controller only has so many buttons and pressing them all usually reveals enough to get going. Some level of perseverance is needed for this, however. There were times when I got stuck in games and tried for months or years to advance. Sometimes I eventually managed it. Other times, I didn't. But if you lack the perseverance to keep trying for years, then maybe you're just suited better for another hobby.

Personally, I think it's the wrong answer to hold the hands of players even more than they do nowadays. It just waters down the experience, when there's zero skill required to beat a given game.