So called "realistic" games have done away with the health bar in favor of the get shot, regenerate form of gameplay.
To call this realistic is moronic. I'm not saying that the mechanics of a health bar are any better, but the concept is much closer to realism.
For example, a Health bar can represent how much a soldier knows they've been hit. Looking at it from an in-universe example, the soldier knows they've been hit, and should move with more caution until they can find a way to patch themselves up.
With the regeneration, it doesn't matter how badly you're hit, all you need to do is duck into cover until you grow your limbs back. You don't need to know how bad it was, you don't need to think over how to change your survival strategy, you just get back up and do it again until they die.
The health pack pickup method of healing is about as close an approximation of real world first aid this side of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. It forces you to take time out of combat to find a way to heal yourself, just like medical aid in the real world.
The health bar is much closer to a real world method of combat in games than regenerating will ever be, while still being a true game mechanic.
EDIT
I leave for a few hours and the thread gets away from me. Allow me to clarify my stance above. I am not trying to imply that either system is inherently better than the other. A lot of my favorite games use the regeneration system.
What I am commenting on is the ridiculous notion that game developers have towards realism. Many games that tout realism as a selling point are misleading their buyers. (Looking at you COD and Medal of Honor)
If a gamer wants realism, they should play Arma 2 or Stalker. Then they can bleed out to their hearts content.
This rant just came off as an annoyance I have with the big time game developers. Sorry if my main message was a bit jumbled.
To call this realistic is moronic. I'm not saying that the mechanics of a health bar are any better, but the concept is much closer to realism.
For example, a Health bar can represent how much a soldier knows they've been hit. Looking at it from an in-universe example, the soldier knows they've been hit, and should move with more caution until they can find a way to patch themselves up.
With the regeneration, it doesn't matter how badly you're hit, all you need to do is duck into cover until you grow your limbs back. You don't need to know how bad it was, you don't need to think over how to change your survival strategy, you just get back up and do it again until they die.
The health pack pickup method of healing is about as close an approximation of real world first aid this side of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. It forces you to take time out of combat to find a way to heal yourself, just like medical aid in the real world.
The health bar is much closer to a real world method of combat in games than regenerating will ever be, while still being a true game mechanic.
EDIT
I leave for a few hours and the thread gets away from me. Allow me to clarify my stance above. I am not trying to imply that either system is inherently better than the other. A lot of my favorite games use the regeneration system.
What I am commenting on is the ridiculous notion that game developers have towards realism. Many games that tout realism as a selling point are misleading their buyers. (Looking at you COD and Medal of Honor)
If a gamer wants realism, they should play Arma 2 or Stalker. Then they can bleed out to their hearts content.
This rant just came off as an annoyance I have with the big time game developers. Sorry if my main message was a bit jumbled.
