Video games look actually great these days. While games may look better than ever previously, we lost cool looking “heads-up displays”, HUDs, in the procedure.
Screenshot: Ubisoft
Now heres a screenshot of the very first Assassins Creed via WSGF.com.
Ive been playing a great deal of Assassins Creed: Odyssey recently. A lot. And it got me interested in the previous games, the majority of which I played long ago when they first launched. In returning and taking a look at these games, I right away noticed something. Their HUDs were so much cooler than whats in Odyssey.
Heres a screenshot of Odyssey via Stephens terrific post about a frustrating bow that he kept finding.
Screenshot: Kotaku
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Take a look at the unusual map! And the cool looking DNA-inspired life bar. I also like how high contrast it feels. Odysseys HUD is effective and tidy. It does the job, for sure, however it does not have character. And if we return even further, to the PS2 period of video gaming, we can discover much more wild HUDs, as pointed about by Twitter user @BlacWeird a few months back.
Heres what the HUD looked like in SkyGunner. Its got a steampunk vibe to it.
Or how about Project Snowblind. What is occurring because mini-map in the leading right? I have no idea.
Screenshot: Edios/ Square Enix
It does not look like a console from a JJ Abrams Star Trek film. It looks amazing however also I can plainly understand what info the video game is sharing with me, which is constantly crucial.
Screenshot: Capcom
Compared that last screen to this screenshot from the most recent entry in the God of War series, confusingly named God of War, released on PS4 back in 2018.
Again, like Odyssey, it works excellent. It likewise has almost no character. Its boring. And yet, for the most part, this is what all computer game HUDs have actually become. Clean, a little transparent boxes and white lines that often vanish when not required. I comprehend, and even concur, that these new HUDS are more efficient at translating details and data to gamers. There has to be a middle ground?
An example of a game that has HUD graphics that arent uninteresting, however not too unusual or big is last years Devil May Cry 5.
While video games may look better than ever before, we lost cool looking “heads-up screens”, HUDs, in the procedure. In going back and looking at these video games, I instantly noticed something. And yet, for the most part, this is what all video game HUDs have become. It looks amazing but likewise I can plainly understand what details the game is sharing with me, which is constantly important.
So lots of games having the very same looking HUDs feels like a step backwards after having years and years of cool and wild menus and life bars.
I understand which one I would select.
Screenshot: Sony
Screenshot: Sony
And even a less odd PS2 game, the initial God of War, had a huge sword for its health meter.
As TV screens grow and resolutions increase, folks wish to see more of their beautiful video games. They dont desire big skulls or stars concealing the action. I get it. However a lot of video games having the very same looking HUDs seems like a step backwards after having years and years of cool and wild menus and life bars. I comprehend a great deal of work enters into making these tidy and sharp huds and menus, however the end-user simply sees a simple box and some white text.
I d like a function to turn on more complex and odd HUD art work and styles in video games next generation. If they want something efficient and clean or big and dumb, let gamers pick.
