I totally agree on a minimal/mostly hidden HUD. Here’s what I said about the topic previously (in a combined post of HUD, Cutscenes and Character Customisation):
HUD:
I really hope that we’ll be able to fully configure the HUD in the final version. I like to play with as minimal a HUD as possible as I find it far more immersive. I cringe at the sight of the very large compass indicator in the recent videos for e.g. To me their inclusion in this way goes against the ‘first person = maximum immersion’ mentality. Whilst some HUD elements are essential, it’s amazing what you can get away with turning off (try archery in Skyrim without a crosshair for a MUCH more rewarding and realistic experience for e.g. - give it a bit of time and you’ll see what I mean). I hope we’ll have a lot of options here in the final game, particularly regarding scale, translucency and contextual activation. Again, Skyrim has many great mods which I’d hate to play the game without.
Also, I don’t feel that the HUD itself needs to have a fitting medieval theme. Though I like this in the inventory screen, I think simplicity and subtlety should be of primary importance here - The more you can forget the HUD is there at all the better and sometimes it’s actually more fun/better for gameplay without it anyway (see Skyrim archery - Think of it in the same way as the ‘racing line’ in racing games, i.e. a training hint you’ll eventually want to turn off).
A few simple dots, lines, numbers and clean text when needed to convey info on a contextual basis are to me far more immersive than an encrusted, though ‘in style,’ large, opaque box floating in front of my face. Having no HUD at all ever (for a game designed with HUD in mind) isn’t a good option either though, for there are some elements that you do need to know, so just having a ‘play with no HUD’ option doesn’t cut it either.
One final note about the HUD graphics - Please master them in high resolution. Mafia 2’s were a little on the blurry side when playing on a big high def. screen and as I say this will only get worse in the future.
In addition I’d like to see the map as an equip-able item as in the old game Vietcong (but better ;)).
For anyone interested, my original post is here - Cutscenes, Character Customisation and the HUD
