No HUD

[Mother]

One of the reports I've read is that this game will not feature a HUD (head-up display). What are the opinions on this? It was done in Dead Space and the effect is intended to draw the player into the action due to having nothing between the player and the action.

Personally I think it sounds great as a concept but I worry about how the 4 player co-op is going to work without it, or even the single player control 4 guys gameplay.

Your thoughts?

[Neverfate]

Personally, I don't care if it makes the game more difficult or simply more annoying. The immersion, the feel you get from unloading your Pulse Rifle into a Xenomorph, the story are all too good for me to actually get distracted by minor things such as having trouble ordering a marine to weld the doors shut or just having to try harder to survive.

[SH0DAN]

I agree, I have played quite a few HUD-less games previously, BIA: Hells Highway (optional), PJ’s King Kong, Dead Space, Call of Cthulha etc, and the extra immersion you feel is worth it.

Also if you look at the Jace Hall thread on GBX forums Takhen captured a .Gif *click here* of the Marine IR sight flipping up out of the way. Its conceivable that the sight could display other information to the player, along with its primary IR capabilities. Also there is an onscreen model for the motion tracker, and many of the weapons have ammo counters on them like the PR and Smart Gun. Things like objectives and squad commands could pop-up onscreen briefly like with BIA when the player gives an order, then disappear a few seconds later. Health regenerates I believe, so that will likely be handled with some sort of onscreen visual effect like the screen changing red, or losing colour perhaps.

[Mother]

The one thing I really want to see is when you're using the motion tracker, you're looking down at it and are not able to see what's ahead. If you want frights, that's the way to do it.

[zivs]

For me it sounds kind of intriguing, since in the AvP first game I was more looking on my health and ammo status (and radar, of course) than on anything else.

But this somehow scares me with the console'ish auto-healing, which means that after some hard fight you just have to stand quiet somewhere and health in matter of seconds regenerates back. Or there won't be such thing in game? Haven't really read much of the game lately, but still it's one of my most awaited games so far.

[SH0DAN]

There was also mention in the March 08 Game Informer preview that a Medkit will be carried by one of the squad members for reviving downed buddies, and treating acid burns.

Maybe health does regenerate, but first your injuries need treating?

Also, bare in mind the game was said to have an iterative design at the time of those old previews, so things could very well have changed quite a bit since then.

[Mother]

Let's hope you have to do something before healing, because just standing still ain't gonna cut it (for me).

[Ripley]

Immersion is important in any game, so if the HUD gets in the way, ditch it.

[Neverfate]

Originally Posted by Mother

Let's hope you have to do something before healing, because just standing still ain't gonna cut it (for me).

I agree. I'd rather have no health regeneration at all, in exchange for a Medic class of sorts.

[Mother]

Same here, totally. But I guess it's a realism trade off.