inglorious

So, here’s a salute to EA Redwood Shores’ for the UI work on their title Dead Space. The whole interface is extremely well done and is built to drawn the user into the experience. Instead of the typical action shooter HUD we are instead given a holographic projection that appear before the protagonist Isaac, viewed over his shoulder.

While that alone is enough to make me smile, the inclusion of the health meter into Isaac’s armor caused me to get practically giddy. A blue light runs up Isaac’s back changing and shrinking from blue to yellow and to red when things are looking grim. Instead of glancing away from the action to check health stats (GTA IV, Assassin’s Creed, etc.) the user is presented information in the center of the action. This draws them in more, and gives the players one of the best game play experiences they can have: immersion.