Health Packs vs Health regeneration

[SIMON ADEBISI]

Which do you prefer?

The regeneration route makes even the hardest games playable and maybe even a bit too easy - MW2 on veteran for example.

The only recent game ive played that requires you to find health was GOW3 and it adds a nice bit of tension to a game.

[Jaime]

Depends how the game is structured in terms of checkpoints and saves. Nothing's more frustrating than a health pick-up system that allows you to progress further into the game with low health, save, and then half an hour later come to a boss fight that you stand no chance against.

[fivebyfive]

Depends how the game is structured in terms of checkpoints and saves. Nothing's more frustrating than a health pick-up system that allows you to progress further into the game with low health, save, and then half an hour later come to a boss fight that you stand no chance against.

this

COD4 was frustrating on veteran due to the re-spawning enemies despite the Health regeneration. In hack and slash games like god of war, health orbs (in this case) are very common, you don't get health regeneration as standard

[TheCookieMonster]

Health regeneration for me. With health packs I find that if I do bad at a particular section I often reload my last save until I get it right,stinks when you get to a tough section with little health.With regeneration if I complete a section, no matter how badly, I know I'm not at any disadvantage health wise for the next, with this mode i'll usually start on the hard setting because of this.

[Anthony.S]

I like the choice you get in RPSs like Borderlands where you can have one or the other or both. Generally though I'm not a fan of oldschool health paks.

[JohnMac]

I think health regeneration is now the norm. But there is something to be said for using the limited resources health packs provide. I was playing through Velvet Assassin recently which uses health packs, but if your health is really low it does increase a little bit, some dead enemies can be searched for health packs and getting silent kills fills your health a little bit each time as well. So I think it depends on the game but I'm glad leaning against a wall to get your health back never caught on.

[daboy3000]

ODST was a real pain, searching for invisible heath packs!!

[Royle]

Regen all the way for me, I now dislike health pack games with a passion. In GTA4 I insisted on driving back to flat, sleeping and saving after every mission (plus the chore of buying armour) just because starting a new mission without them wasn't worth it. This also spoilt the chance to go on massive cop fights when free roaming because you died too easily. Saints Row 2 got it right. Glad to see Red Dead Redemption is going the regen route.

[Wooglie]

I liked the way Batman did it with the better you chained attacks the more health you recovered.

[the_daddy]

I think I prefer health packs tbh.

[Jimmyboy]

Which do you prefer?

The regeneration route makes even the hardest games playable and maybe even a bit too easy - MW2 on veteran for example.

The only recent game ive played that requires you to find health was GOW3 and it adds a nice bit of tension to a game.

Funny thing is, I remember when The Getaway was released and it was universally slated for having health regeneration which was a new thing at the time. All the reviews said that it makes the game totally pointless as you can survive any situation just by walking around a wall. Its strange how we've become accustomed to something that was panned when first implemented.

Personally I'm not a huge fan and I think its probably a reflection of lazy programming as regeneration means you don't have to spend as much time working out the difficulty spikes, but there are some games which just aren't necessary enough to be worth playing without it.

[BigDavie2000]

I like the idea of using both at same time. If you take a hit you can choose to continue with reduced health which will return to full, wait a bit until you are back to full health or use a limited health pack to instantly get back into the action at full health.
What I don't like is instant regeneration after a fight (i.e. Final Fantasy XIII).

[lentini]

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/8813/six.png

[TonyG]

Depends on the game but not that bothered what type they use. Health-packs definitely adds tension to a game when your health dips. Regen on the whole makes things easier.

[hannay]

I think Borderlands has it spot on with its blend of both

[slh]

Health packs add an extra element of strategy to a game but they ate not suited to games aimed at non/armchair gamers. I agree it wAs frustrating when u found yourself in a difficult section and uve saved the game at a point where u have almost no health. But, hey, who said u had to finish the game on your first go? And as for boss fight, almost all games gave u a **** load of ammo and health prior.

[Steve Jackson]

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/8813/six.png
Great strip from Recalibrated (http://www.recalibratedcomics.com/) by David Turner (co-host of the excellent Joypod (http://www.thedvdforums.com/affiliatelink.php?localaffiliateid=55&url=http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/joypod/id264454455)) and Mathew Walkden.

[SIMON ADEBISI]

Health packs add an extra element of strategy to a game but they ate not suited to games aimed at non/armchair gamers. I agree it wAs frustrating when u found yourself in a difficult section and uve saved the game at a point where u have almost no health. But, hey, who said u had to finish the game on your first go? And as for boss fight, almost all games gave u a **** load of ammo and health prior.

I love proper grammar.

[slh]

I love proper grammar.

hey man, that's cheap shot :| and considering i was typing on my iphone it came out rather well.