Save BEFORE the regenerator fight, this save is SUPER punishing if you die. Dont save after, youll regret it, this guide isnt the best

@Agarillobob That is exactly why cheating only exists in video games. People can't cheat on tests or in sports because there are no cheat codes or console commands. Cheating is using dishonest/unfair methods to achieve a goal you couldn't otherwise. It is 100% fine to cheat in single player games. Cope harder tho about how you're not cheating

aflamk

wow bad taste
cheating is the use of cheatcodes
the 2 eggs for slazar are neither a cheat code nor an exploit or glitch they are the use of an intended game mechanic
door skipping the mendez fight is not cheating either, its glitching you use an OoB thats consistently reproducable ergo a glitch or exploit but its not a cheat.
and no, glitches are gltches, cheating is the use of cheatcodes or console commands.

Mine cart is fairly easy i don't think you need to wasted a save there.
first Krauser fight is depends, if you invest in your knife by the point you get here a combat knife with speed upgrade should make the fight piece of cake.
and before saddler fight is also pretty waste since you can literally skip by selling all other gun ,keep sniper + buy rocket launcher. phase 2 can be easily beat with sniper alone anw.

Throwing golden eggs and using mines are certainly not cheating. I'm uncertain why you would even consider them so. Scope door skipping or other actual glitches are cheating. The egg is an in-game intended method and you can do it with 1 egg followed by a high powered / DPS weapon > knife to extend Ramon stun > finish shooting. Mines don't involve any exploit, either. You can do the same on the chain saw sisters in particular with a simple grenade or two and some shotgun rounds to their head.

Those methods including killing Salazar throwing 2 golden eggs are considered cheating

Mendez save should be updated He can be killed in like 10 seconds with the mine bolts method and then your shotgun/rifle. Same question for Chainsaw Sisters except they die in literally 1 second. That should boost flexibility of saves some.

All fights before Chapter 4 can easily be skipped, you don't have to fight Ganados along the way as you need to meet the deadline of 5:30 hours, so getting to Chapter 4 should take about 40 minutes. El Gigante ain't too hard to kill considering dog's help. Save before cabin fight can be used in Save #3

This list is mostly good, however I respectfully disagree with your early game save locations. IMO, I think your first save should be after the Valley fight in chapter 2 to avoid needing to replay the village fight if you die, your second one should be before Del Lago in chapter 3 because the RNG can be very annoying with the waves, your third one should be before El Gigante in chapter 4 because he is incredibly quick to get back up after staggering him and you may die because of it, and your fourth should be just before the cabin fight in chapter 5 because that's one of the hardest sections in the entire game and dying there is to be expected.