Enough with the red screen.

[Soviet Heavy]

This is one of the more annoying aspects of a lot of new games. With the health bar near nonexistent anymore, the red screen has replaced it as the death indicator.

The problem I have with the red screen is how it impairs vision. You might argue that this adds to realism, except that I don't think people often get a liter of blood splashed in their face every time they get shot in the chest.

So realism is debunked. The red screen is distracting. One of the points of the health bar was that it was indicative of how carefully you should proceed. A health bar that was near empty meant "get the hell outta there". While the red screen may try to use this concept, it shoots itself in the foot by being so impairing.

Yeah, you're getting shot at and you need to grab cover, but that's a lot harder when you can't see where you're going. So it basically means that if you are hit, you're pretty much dead, with no saving throw.

So, yeah, I don't like the red screen of bloody death. Comment if you will, agree or disagree.

 

[Scarecrow]

I miss health meters, those guys had style.

 

[Sacman]

It seems that we agree, I try to argue the same point but the only thing anyone ever says is, "Health bars aren't realistic.."

 

[Lazarus Long]

I don't mind it, perhaps because with an unobtrusive little health bar, I'm prone to not noticing that I'm almost dead. Then again, I don't play a lot of modern shooters, which is where I think this is most prevalent.

 

[Canid117]

I kind of like the Halo method where it was a health bar esqe shield meter on the top instead of the red screen. It kept the Hud fairly clean in comparison to say MW2. That said MW2's raspberry jam in the center of the screen is pretty poor implementation compared to CoD 4's red screen.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

While health bars do lean closer to what I would like, I concede that they aren't perfect either. As Lazarus Long pointed out, they can be missed on the screen by merit of being so unobtrusive.

A system I would like would be a diagram of your body, with injuries being properly mapped on it according to where you were shot. So, for example, you would not be killed by getting repeated gunshots to your hand, but it would impair your aiming skills.

 

[lacktheknack]

It seems that we agree, I try to argue the same point but the only thing anyone ever says is, "Health bars aren't realistic.."

You say "Neither is my being shot in the foot splashing my face in blood."

 

[Arcticflame]

I like the black and white effect from left 4 dead, and the heartbeats. It impairs slightly but damn it makes you nervous.

 

[adam5396]

A system I would like would be a diagram of your body, with injuries being properly mapped on it according to where you were shot. So, for example, you would not be killed by getting repeated gunshots to your hand, but it would impair your aiming skills.

Swat 4 has something like that. Only not as specific and you can die with shots to the arm, or at least lose the Level

OT: I actually really like the Regenerating Health Bar. It doesn't impair and you don't get those moments where you have 10 health and a room filled with baddies ahead.

 

[Infinatex]

I'm a fan of both as they work well in their respective environments. A health meter is great in a single player or RPG style shooter experience. It helps you choose how best to proceed, as your health is vital. (see Fallout 3, Half Life) In a frantic online FPS, health bars are all but gone, and for good reason. The regenerating health systems that shooters such as Halo and MW2 have adopted add to the intensity of the game. It's not so much about realism as it is about pacing and balancing.

 

[Sacman]

It seems that we agree, I try to argue the same point but the only thing anyone ever says is, "Health bars aren't realistic.."

You say "Neither is my being shot in the foot splashing my face in blood."

That's what I say but they have yet to get there head around any game that doesn't involve slaughtering America's enemies in mass... which reminds me when they complain about a game where they have to talk to people to advance the story there is definitely something wrong...

 

[Wintermoot]

I,m not realy impaired/botherd by them but the concept is STUPID! also you cant see how much health you have left and you,re prety much unkillable if you head to cover

 

[theSovietConnection]

It seems that we agree, I try to argue the same point but the only thing anyone ever says is, "Health bars aren't realistic.."

You say "Neither is my being shot in the foot splashing my face in blood."

Or magically recovering to full health after getting blown up or shot several times, within the span of mere seconds.

But neither is every grevious bodily injury being instantly treated by running over a health kit.

I'd prefer a style similar to the original Halo or from Resistance: Fall of Man, either a regenerating shield and static health, or health that only regenerates up to 25-50%.

Off-topic, I thought this would be a thread about how Escapist seems to be setting off the malware alert in Chrome.

EDIT: Forgot to add a point.

I always find the realism argument to be bullshit from either side, as a realistic health system would consist of going to the hospital depending on wound severity, sometimes spending several in-game weeks undergoing surgery and treatment.

 

[Saulkar]

It needs to go, one might argue that one is distracted while in pain and that the red screen simulates this but hells bells. An injured soldier sure as hell can see where he needs to run to get into cover while my vision impared ass is taking cover behind an enemy tank.

 

[coldshadow]

I miss health bars and charecters that didn't grow back their limbs by hiding behind cover, but rather useing a health pack.

 

[Infinatex]

I'm a fan of both as they work well in their respective environments. A health meter is great in a single player or RPG style shooter experience. It helps you choose how best to provoked next as you health is vital. (see Fallout 3, Half Life) In a frantic online FPS, health bars are all but gone, and for good reason. The regenerating health systems that shooters such as Halo and MW2 have adopted add to the intensity of the game. It's not so much about realism as it is about pacing and balancing.

But you can use a health bar with regenerating health. You can use any sort of indicator for your health really. There's seriously no reason for that annoying red screen.

Yeah I guess I can see your point. The way it's done in the new Medal of Honor is way better then how it is in other shooters, but yeah, I guess it's still annoying.