Health; Which one do you prefer?

[Altimus]

The health that automatically replenishes in games like COD, Gears, Uncharted or health that you have set bar and have to pick up power ups to replenish like in Mass Effect or Resistance.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Health; Which one do you prefer?

It really depends on the type of gameplay and how the health system is implemented. I think both can be good, but they can also be pretty damn poor if not used right. I like the automatic replenishment in CoD and Halo because it keeps the pace of the game at a high speed, but then with games like KotOR with health you have to find and use it factors more into the strategy of the game.

[bkfount]

Re: Health; Which one do you prefer?

it doesn't really matter, as health is seemingly pointless now. Every game already allows you to get shot to hell before you actually die. Games have been moving away from the chore of hunting for health packs when you're about to die, since it ruins the action. There's actually three ways games deal with this.

refills automatically (halo, CoD)
health packs scattered everywhere (Half Life 2)
magical reincarnation (Bioshock, Prey)

Bioshock and Prey used health, a little, but it's really unimportant as you just reappear pretty close to where you died without having to do anything over. Prey even had a little mini game for it. Half Life 2 had medical packs scattered in random boxes around a level, also making health kind of pointless.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Health; Which one do you prefer?

I actually liked the way RE4 did their health packs, allowing you to either use it up or combine it with another one to make it extra potent.

[Cyros]

Re: Health; Which one do you prefer?

Haven't the Herbs always been like in the Resident Evil games and not just four?

[Cebby]

Re: Health; Which one do you prefer?

Haven't the Herbs always been like in the Resident Evil games and not just four?

Yes.

I personally am fine with either, but if they're "powerups" I like to keep them in an inventory. I hate having to backtrack to find some health pack. If I can carry a rocket launcher, I can carry a health pack.

[Cyros]

Re: Health; Which one do you prefer?

Yes.

I personally am fine with either, but if they're "powerups" I like to keep them in an inventory. I hate having to backtrack to find some health pack. If I can carry a rocket launcher, I can carry a health pack.

I think in F.E.A.R. you could hold like 5 health packs and just press a button to use one.

[bkfount]

Re: Health; Which one do you prefer?

I think in F.E.A.R. you could hold like 5 health packs and just press a button to use one.

well bioshock does that too, but even if you die, you revive not far away with the same progress. Enemies you were fighting will still have the same amount of damage you gave them before they killed you.

[Bornindamecca]

Re: Health; Which one do you prefer?

Depends on the game. I don't think one method is flat out better than the other. In most of the games mentioned, I think their respective health systems work just fine.

[Cyros]

Re: Health; Which one do you prefer?

well bioshock does that too, but even if you die, you revive not far away with the same progress. Enemies you were fighting will still have the same amount of damage you gave them before they killed you.

Bioshock released a patch that allowed you to play without the chambers right?