5. Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 is often considered to be the game that updated the classic horror series, but there is one aspect of the game that is still designed to accept deliberate limitations – the inventory system.
Although the game allows players to carry a reasonable amount of equipment compared to the previous three main games, inventory management is still a challenge. In fact, this system has become a little game in itself, with fans over the years calling it “Counting Tetris.”
In order to make the most of the bag, players must arrange the items with maximum efficiency, because at a critical moment you may desperately need that green herb you spent so long trying to find put the bag in.
And although it could be difficult at times, it was a smart tweak on the more difficult system in previous games, so much so that it managed to do unexpected fun things.
Also, it was really fun to update the bag. It is unfortunate that this system was abandoned in future Resident Evil games, as it remains one of the best systems in the gaming world.
4. Personality 5
Regardless of your thoughts on Persona 5, there is no doubt that its graphical interface (UI) is one of the most creative and beautiful user interfaces in gaming history. Is there another user interface in the gaming world that fans have copied in cosplay?
A quick look at the game might suggest that it has a cluttered and confusing interface designed to confuse players, but this design is completely intentional by load -Atlus development.
The transitions between menus, full of very smooth and elegant animations, show a beauty as complex as the story of the game itself, and they are less complex than the problematic characters that the statement addresses.
Of course, players may need some time to get used to navigating the interface, but even with a heavy emphasis on aesthetics, the interface is still fast and intuitive once you get used to it.
Persona 5 is a strong argument that user interfaces can aspire to be works of art in their own right. More designs like this, please.
3. The Last One
Although the user interface (UI) in The Last of Us is the opposite of what was presented in Persona 5 in that it is simple and only appears when needed, it is completely depending on the narrative and general feel of the game.
Naughty Dog’s masterpiece in the survival horror genre puts a lot of emphasis on immersing players in a post-apocalyptic world, so it was imperative that the UI and menus be as stunning as possible .
The user interface was changed several times during the development process, as Naughty Dog tried to make it as clean and uncluttered as possible. In the final design, crafting and inventory options have been pushed to the background so that they are only visible when the player needs them.
After a short period of play, navigating these menus becomes natural, and this continues nicely in the newly released series as well. If the game had been filled with overlapping menus or too many images on the screen, the experience would have felt completely contrary to the immersion that was intended to be achieved through cinematic images. the game.
2. Dead Space
We can’t talk about user interfaces in games without mentioning Dead Space, which is still considered the gold standard for third-person tabletop design.
The classic sci-fi horror game ingeniously ditched the traditional user interface, replacing it with information embedded within the game’s own world, to become the perfect example of a user interface. rooted.
One of the most notable innovations is that Isaac’s health and energy meters are displayed on the back of his shield, ensuring players don’t have to look away from in-game focal points to keep track of their vitals .
Better yet, all other aspects of the UI such as inventory management and maps are rendered in 3D via in-game holographic projections, which don’t stop playing even as you move between them.
Not only does this design choice provide a strong and relevant definition for the menus, but it also increases tension as the player remains vulnerable to attack while on the move. navigation on the menus, which would normally have given up safety in traditional games. Over a decade later, it’s surprising that more developers haven’t emulated this inspiring aspect of game design.
1. Into The Breach
While it’s completely understandable that casual players might be frustrated by Into the Breach’s high level of difficulty, this challenge is greatly mitigated thanks to the game’s advanced user interface.
Developer Subset Games reportedly spent about half of the game’s four-year development cycle working on the UI, striking a balance between making sure players knew exactly what was going on without to feel overwhelmed.
Many elements were removed from the game’s interface after testers were upset, but the end result was a deep and intelligently designed game. Co-designer Justin Ma summed it up beautifully when he said, “We sacrificed interesting ideas for clarity every time.”
However, Into the Breach doesn’t lack for good ideas at all, managing to be challenging yet accessible without overwhelming players with complex systems and ambiguous visual cues.
