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BotW is the only game I can no-HUD for a better experience

Hmm, I don't know. I find myself checking the map to quickly get my bearings sometimes. Might give it a try anyways.
 
Don't really need the map for navigation since there are clear landmarks in every direction. This open world is amazingly well designed.
 
I don't normally turn off HUDs, but I could immediately tell with BOTW that I'd prefer it off. A big part of the appeal of Zelda games for me is in the exploration, and BOTW even more so. I want to experience it all organically, and only rely on the map when I really need to. It's been great. :)
 
Yeah having that all on gamepad would have been ideal like Pikmin 3, gamepad info. I would be playing the Wii u version if all the gamepad stuff was there. Anyways I'll switch it off when I go back to play. I'm already lost with it on, hopefully I can still figure out where to go with it off.
 
Have been playing with the Pro HUD since the beginning and loving the minimalism. Really don't think I'm missing out on anything...And it's very likely much better overall experience.
 
Yes after a while i kind of got annoyed looking at the mini map constantly and after turning pro mode on and playing for about 20 minutes i realized that this is the only true way to experience this game.
Not to mention make sure to also reverse the Jump and sprint buttons and turn on the camera sensitivity to max. It will drastically improve the game.
 
The minimap in BOTW doesn't even have that much information on it. You can tell the game wasn't built around it.

I still wish it (and more games) had a compass by itself.
 
I found Dark Souls' auto-HUD (or was it Bloodborne? or both?) decent, that hid the HUD when you weren't in combat, but I always found myself turning it back on for a more consistent experience. Not sure I can explain it better than that.

BotW's "pro HUD" mode, on the other hand, just gets rid of the extra trash like radar and noise meter and digital clock while retaining the health bar and food buffs at all times.

PchYbDl.jpg


This feels like a "less is more" situation because I haven't yet found any of that information useful, or certainly not useful enough that it's on screen at all times.

I've toyed around with no-HUD modes in other games and generally find them to hurt the experience somehow, but in BotW I'm absolutely enjoying the game more without the HUD. Give it a try if you haven't yet.
Goddamn this screenshot looks terrible lol
 
Orienteering in this game is fantastic! Between the traversal options, scope/pin, landmarks at a local and regional level (you can see
Calamity Ganon
and
Death Mountain?
clear across the map), and the fact that the full map comes up immediately with no transition no matter what you're doing, it's just an unecessary thing to distract your attention.

It's Tourist Mode.
 
I played Witcher 3 Blood and Wine with Friendly hud and it made a great game even better. Shockingly I've been playing Zelda with the map and stuff on but going to try it without now and see how it works.

My main problem with having no maps or marker for a quest objective is just wandering aimlessly (which is fine when you want to do that but sometimes you want to head to the quest as well) which is why Friendly hud and 3D markers was so good. I had a completely empty screen and when I wanted to see where the objective marker was I only had to hit the Witcher Sense key.
 
Felt Far Cry worked equally as well HUD less, and made me realize how pointless mini-maps were...well rather how much one loses by being so attentive to it. It wasn't until it disappeared that I appreciated the settings and design far more not being shackled to gazing at a corner of the screen for guidance.

Turned on Pro mode in Zelda about ten minutes in and will never go back. It's great.
 
After reading this thread I switched to it and after some brief niggles I haven't switched back it really does make the game that much more immersive. The few times I actually need something I consult the map which makes it like I'm consulting a real map and planning out my travels it also helps me get lost in the world so much easier.
 
I turned the HUD off straight away and I don't think I am missing anything. It helps that the world is incredibly well designed and the topographical map is fantastic. Makes it incredibly easy to see paths and potential points of interest.
 
I find its good to go no hud for quite a few games. Some mentioned in this thread.

Or make things a minimal as possible. TLoU with no button prompts and listen mode off, much more immersive.
 
After reading this thread I switched to it and after some brief niggles I haven't switched back it really does make the game that much more immersive. The few times I actually need something I consult the map which makes it like I'm consulting a real map and planning out my travels it also helps me get lost in the world so much easier.
I'm glad!
 
I'd love to play it like that, but this is the most massive game I've ever played so getting rid of the map is a no-no :(

I guess I could try it again tho, since I can still consult the actual map if I need it, hmmm... We'll see. I just feel I'm already interrupting gameplay enough with all the micromanagement that's normally needed.

I really wish there was an auto HUD version like in Bloodborne, that was perfect.
 
I'd love to play it like that, but this is the most massive game I've ever played so getting rid of the map is a no-no :(

I guess I could try it again tho, since I can still consult the actual map if I need it, hmmm... We'll see. I just feel I'm already interrupting gameplay enough with all the micromanagement that's normally needed.

I really wish there was an auto HUD version like in Bloodborne, that was perfect.
I played my first few hours of the game glued to the radar and am having a measurably better experience without it. Don't sell your spacial awareness short - you don't need the radar and will be more immersed without it!
 
No hud is the only way to play! No map with a damn marker telling you where to go all the time, that's a real adventure!
 
Do you not need the Temperature gauge? I'm not very far in the game so I'm not too familiar with everything but can you just use the character animation to tell if you're going to be damaged by the cold/heat?
 
Do you not need the Temperature gauge? I'm not very far in the game so I'm not too familiar with everything but can you just use the character animation to tell if you're going to be damaged by the cold/heat?
there are visual and audio cues for temperature changes beyond links animations.
 
Do you not need the Temperature gauge? I'm not very far in the game so I'm not too familiar with everything but can you just use the character animation to tell if you're going to be damaged by the cold/heat?
I've managed so far. The game does a blizzard effect when you enter an extremely cold area which alerts me that I've taken a step too far. I assume there's something similar for hot areas.
 
Do you not need the Temperature gauge? I'm not very far in the game so I'm not too familiar with everything but can you just use the character animation to tell if you're going to be damaged by the cold/heat?

You really don't need it. Link's animations tell you quite clearly whether you're too hot or too cold, and for especially hot/cold areas a popup appears.
 
would go pro mode but my inner completionist needs the shrine indicator. Not relying on any online guides, just give me the shrine radar and I'm fine. It's like searching for dragon balls
 
I can't recommend the Pro-UI enough!

Turning off the minimap and instead relying on your sense of direction not only works, but the game meets you halfway. It feels like it was designed to work without it. The skyline usually has big, tall landmarks to navigate by (mountains, towers, buildings, etc) but npcs will also give you directions all of the time.

Extremely mild, early game adventuring spoilers:
At one point I meet a Zora chilling in the river, who asks me to meet his Prince just up the river by a bridge. I don't know what bridge he is talking about, but he makes reference to the super obvious Shikah tower up a ways, so I head that way.

After some light adventuring on and around the river I find a bridge, but its a monster bridge. When I go to get on it another Zora is like "Bro, go that way, our Prince needs you." I still cant see the bridge, but he also makes reference to the Shikah tower, where I figure I'll be able to spot the bridge. Once I climb the Shikah tower theres ANOTHER Zora who points to the bridge and asks me to see his Prince.

These not only serve to reinforce that I'm on the right path and casually point me in the right direction without a minimap, but also reinforce the fact that this Zora Prince really needed help after all, since he has sent out so many people looking for someone. Its the game serving its own and the players interests!
 
Do you not need the Temperature gauge? I'm not very far in the game so I'm not too familiar with everything but can you just use the character animation to tell if you're going to be damaged by the cold/heat?

Nah, you can see Links Breath, if it gets too cold and he starts shivering. That's as good an indication as a HUD element.

I first played with the hud and turned it off after about an hour. It's just so much better! I just look at the map where I marked stuff and the wander in the general direction I want to go. I find way more 'hidden' and cool stuff that way and my eyes aren't glued to the radar.
 
I disable mini-maps (and as much of the UI as possible) in single player games every chance I get. It started with the first Assassin's Creed and I've not looked back since. Staring at those things sucks out all the immersion of and ability to appreciate the surroundings.

BotW is the easiest game to play without a HUD. Everything is unique; there are no copied geographical repetitions. Pressing R3 to zoom in with the telescope allows you to mark any location with a vertical beacon than can be seen across the entire game, as well as leaves a mark on the map. Bringing up the map is instantaneous, so checking it is no hassle.

If you want to feel like a hero exploring a huge continent, turn off the mini-map, use R3 to scout ahead and mark locations, and check a map when you reach high points (like any adventurer would).
 
Every player should enable the pro HUD as soon as gaining control of Link.

Why? I like having the mini map there and I like the weather feature as it tells me in advance what weather will be soon so I can prepare in advance.

I keep the shrine radar on because my current objective to locate 40 shrine, got 28 shrine left before I head to my next objective.
 
would go pro mode but my inner completionist needs the shrine indicator. Not relying on any online guides, just give me the shrine radar and I'm fine. It's like searching for dragon balls

You can have the shrine radar with Pro HUD. The only difference is that it only comes on when there's a shrine nearby.
 
Just turned it off last night after thinking the way missions develop, you really don't need the HUD cluttering up a beautiful game. And it certainly makes it more engaging. The way the game's built, it just feels the right way to play.
 
I turned the HUD off to take some screenshots and forgot to renable it afterwards. Hours later I was in the menus and only then did I realise the UI was missing. I kept it off and I now realise that may in part be why I'm enjoying just exploring so much - my eyes aren't glued to the minimap. I think I'd have been far more inclined to beeline my main objectives with the yellow marker constantly reminding I'm going off track.

This is probably the one game I've enjoyed with minimal UI too OP. I don't even care if I get a bit lost because I end up stumbling across other cool stuff on the way. For whatever reason, I've never cared in other games but there's just something about BOTW that makes me want to explore.

Maybe it's because a lot of other games are all or nothing. I too feel like the relevant information is kept with pro mode, and the stuff that isn't there - time, temperature - you can still figure out by looking at the environment or at Links reactions. You really don't lose anything.

I definitely think this is how I'm going to play it. I want to learn the map organically and I think there's enough visual attention to detail to allow the player to obtain the relevant information that the normal UI would tell you otherwise.
 
OP, I'm with you! I turned on the Pro HUD a few times to take screenshots just for a cleaner look. A few hours later I realized that I never turned it back on!

Honestly, it feels like I can get the exact same information from being aware of my surroundings. That and I'm not longer covering up part of such a beautiful game. I can't go back to the default HUD now.
 
Why? I like having the mini map there and I like the weather feature as it tells me in advance what weather will be soon so I can prepare in advance.

I keep the shrine radar on because my current objective to locate 40 shrine, got 28 shrine left before I head to my next objective.
There are visual indicators for everything without the need of the UI.

The shrine locator still works with the Pro mode.

Mini-maps take so much out of the experience. At least try it (for a good hour to get accustomed to it, though it should only take 10 minutes), and I sincerely think you will appreciate it.
 
Damn I shouldn't have opened the thread, that OP pic looks gorgeous. It's the only game I feel I want to know nothing about. Not blaming the op or anything just saying.
 
I definitely think this is how I'm going to play it. I want to learn the map organically and I think there's enough visual attention to detail to allow the player to obtain the relevant information that the normal UI would tell you otherwise.
There absolutely is, more so than any other hand I can think of. Not just geographically, this game communicates weather, temperature, elevation, and more through its lighting, sounds, effects, and animations of the wildlife, NPC, and player.
 
Turned Pro Mode on thanks to this thread and an article on Kotaku. Normally I avoid HUD-lessness but in this case it's so amazing! I don't think I'll ever go back to HUD in BotW.
 
Damn I shouldn't have opened the thread, that OP pic looks gorgeous. It's the only game I feel I want to know nothing about. Not blaming the op or anything just saying.

I thought the sams thing, an earlier picture would be more appreciated.

I really don't want to know anything about this game.

Even though it's not spoiling anything, if you could change it OP, that would be very nice of you, thank you.
 
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