Halo 2 Forum
This topic has moved here: Subject: "No Health Bar" Explanation by Bungie!
  • Subject: "No Health Bar" Explanation by Bungie!
Subject: "No Health Bar" Explanation by Bungie!
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

The e3 HUD was a filler, and is not a representation of the final HUD. There is no reason to not display your health, it doesn't streamline anything, regardless of what that tool says. Not displaying your health would be incredibly stupid, and I think people are simply overanalysing a HUD that was purely a seat-filler for the final HUD.

  • 06.11.2004 4:18 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

What I'm concerned about is the balance in the game. It seems to me that there are many very powerful weapons available, and if your shields don't recharge, I'm worried about the balance. Hopefully, Bungie will sort that out though. But I wonder how...

  • 06.11.2004 4:37 AM PDT

On Waypoint I'm rocketFox;
http://halo.xbox.com/forums/members/rocketfox/default.aspx

Old GTs; RebelRobot, Flamedude

i am still hoping that this mode is either a) a work in progress or b) a multiplayer mode.

this has been bugging me for ages.

from a gameplay point of view it will mean that good players will not be rewarded for fighting well, and will mean scrappy fighting will increase. as people will see two possible outcomes; beat the enemies and recharge, or die then try again. having damaged health made the game much more interesting as it meant that some tactics would be too risky depending on your state of health. but who knows..

from a "its real" point of view he's wearing titanium armour, thats tough stuff, plus hes a double hard bastard. and if his suit shows his health in halo1 then why wouldnt his newer suit do the same?

sorry about this, but this whole subject is the only doubt in my mind about halo2. i know a lot of people who have played it have liked the new system, but perhaps thats because they were playing halo2, i wouldnt give a monkeys if the shield system was represented by christmas lights if i was playing halo2. my giddy happiness would overrule any criticisms.

GAH (again).

  • 06.11.2004 4:47 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

I highly dout they will change the game play too much for fear that we wont like it. Even if the health bar is gone im sure you will take the same amount of hits to die as in the first one.As for game tactics........will change if you survive a battle and your shields recharge you wont know how much health you have.realisticly as a spartan you would know if your hurt. They might make it where if your armor took damage we will be able to feel it and hear it .Vibration and heartbeat.

  • 06.11.2004 5:38 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Amen Tiny
Posted by: Tiny
Posted by: Doom Sticks

think of something before you say it. Of course it'll take some sort of acknowledgment of what your health status is. I just don't say to myself

"oh my shields are down that means I only got seconds to live"

maybe if I'm in the red (health wise) and my shields deplete AND I'm in the middle of someone's line of fire then I'd say it but not otherwise. Now how would I know if I'm in the red or not? Why by an indicator of some sort or by taking note, of course.


Play a no shield game. See, this is why you need to play the different gametypes, so you could get an idea of why the health bars are useless.. At least in Halo. And since you're defending the importance of the health bars, then you obviously think they were useful in Halo.

So, I say to you - Play a no shield game.

Pistol - One shot to the head, and you die. (health bars useless in that sense)

Need I go on? And remember, you can dual wield in Halo 2.
Amen Tiny

[Edited on 6/11/2004 5:43:21 AM]

  • 06.11.2004 5:42 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

I hope the health bar is back in Halo 2, other wise it will be a little less complex (which is always a bad thing unles it has to do with conotrls) and all you will have is a recharging health bar with a few shots left at the end. Just like Red Faction 2. Also, who the hell thinks that it's unrealistic to know your health? I'm sure there are vital monitors and scanners all over the inside of the MJOLNIR!

Besides, you have to admit that the Chief would never survive a single plasma shot from any weapon to the chest. He would have to have armor there, and they he bleeds anyways. That makes no sense, his armor should simple spark, otherwise he'd be dead for sure if he actually bled from being shot. That's why I think the HP bar should be back in Halo 2, only modified extensively to show locational damage and renamed to armor integrity.

  • 06.11.2004 7:01 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

THEY HAVE NO HEALTH BAR. ITS A THING AT THE END OF UR SHEILD READER THING THAT KIND OF WRAPS AROUND THE END OF UR SHEILD. IT DECREASES ITS AMOUNT OF BLUENESS UNTIL IT HITS ZERO.

  • 06.11.2004 7:23 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

The removal of a health bar would likely change the entire way my friend and I play. We're a two man team covering each other. One of us will often take the brunt of an assault to give the other the tactical advantage and I can't tell you how many times one of us has arrived just in time to rescue the other who was about to go down hard, giving each other the time they needed to get behind cover so that we could regenerate shields.

After many engagements one of us is severely injured and we'd covered each other on our way to one of the nearby healthpacks.

Now, all that tactical work is just gone.

  • 06.11.2004 9:18 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

HOW CAN YOU GUYS STILL NOT UNDERSTAND THAT SHIELD BAR WHAS JUST TEMPORARELY!!!!!!! IF YOU READ THE LAST UPDATE FRANKIE SAYS IT HAS BEEN FIXED AND THAT THEY HAVE THE NEW HUD UP NOW!!!!
I HOPE YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND NOW!!!

  • 06.11.2004 9:23 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Uhm, idiot with the loud voice. Frankie only said that they had implemented the new HUD design and were at that point making it for each of the different weapons. He also pointed out that they were working on how to do the dual wields in the HUD.

Never once did he talk about HUD's and health bars.

  • 06.11.2004 9:56 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

NOOOOOOOOO how could u get rid of the health bar!!!!!
this is abserd u cant do it i wont alow u!!!!(angry mother vioce)

i love putting health 400% then no shields it makes the game so much more fun coz ppl dont hide for thier shieilds(on pc) instead they must fight or die

i repeat u cant get rid of the health this is the worst thing bunjie could do!!!

  • 06.11.2004 10:03 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Posted by: Ckrpoint1
Posted by: Brute Killer
I think that the no health bar thing is strange, yet if it plays like Halo 1 then i'm happy. But what about a plasma pistol charge? Does it still take your whole shield? In that case you could dual wield a plasma pistol and SMG, fully charge pistol, let go and then put two bullets in them with the SMG. Sounds over-powering.


Bungie wants to make H2 more realistic. You dont know how much health you have in REal LIFE, but you could check how powered your shield is through your battle armor. When your shield is gone, you are not supposed to get hit! Like in REAL LIFE. I think its an awesome idea by Bungie!


Don't forget, that in real life, you feel pain. You know if you feel great, or if you are about to die due to pain. Therefore, health bars are somewhat realistic, to replace the feel of pain

  • 06.11.2004 10:20 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Nah, let's do away with the health bar and instead add electrodes on the control pads! Replace the health bar with actual PAIN!!! *lol*

  • 06.11.2004 10:23 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

The health bar will probably still be there. It is a visible display on the inside of the visor of what the MJOLNIR's internal sensors are detecting; the Chief doesn't just have some magic ability to know when he's going to die....That's like knowing the future....

...but it's OK, because my ax is dull...

  • 06.11.2004 10:26 AM PDT

My thumbsticks will be your Doom.... sorry 'bout that.
My Stats

Some questions for Bungie for sure:

1) if in Halo(2) there isn't a Health indicator, and only one for the shields, will we still have a "no shields" option in MP? If so, what then will our indicator for our Health be?

2)If there is no Health indicator, can we still adjust the Health % in MP?

3)How will you know how many shots you can take from a particular weapon once your Shields are down?....(trial and error would suck)

... i hope Bungie's got some revolutionary new Health indicator in store with the new HUD... that would be sweet. If they decide to do without it -it's probably because it really works (gameplay/strategy wise) and they have other strategic factors in the game to keep us busy (i.e.the dual wielding). It just seems like the Health Bar WAS such an integral part to the first game and so therefore it's hard to imagine playing without it.

  • 06.11.2004 11:25 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Posted by: Doom Sticks
Some questions for Bungie for sure:

1) if in Halo(2) there isn't a Health indicator, and only one for the shields, will we still have a "no shields" option in MP? If so, what then will our indicator for our Health be?

2)If there is no Health indicator, can we still adjust the Health % in MP?

3)How will you know how many shots you can take from a particular weapon once your Shields are down?....(trial and error would suck)

... i hope Bungie's got some revolutionary new Health indicator in store with the new HUD... that would be sweet. If they decide to do without it -it's probably because it really works (gameplay/strategy wise) and they have other strategic factors in the game to keep us busy (i.e.the dual wielding). It just seems like the Health Bar WAS such an integral part to the first game and so therefore it's hard to imagine playing without it.


Its not like health is completely gone in Halo 2, go watch some gameplay movies. You will notice and as is stated in the opa-ages hands on that you can take a 2-3 more shots. Is this as much health in Halo 1? No its not (save for if you're using the pistol/sniper rifle), but its still there. For questions 1 and 2 they could work exactly the same as in Halo 1. If you make a no shields game then you can only take 2-3 more shots, would be a little more Rainbow Six like, or you could as you said turn the health up. As for question 3, it seems Bungie took it out because they *don't* want you to know how many shots you can take.

As for the person who said its not as rewarding for good players, you got that backwards, now its better for skilled players. Before if you playing a one on one against a newb the newb may only knock when health bar off, then you kill him. Now your shields recharge and you fight him again. This time he only gets one more health bar off in the time it takes you to kill him. This repeates until eventually you have a lot less health going in then he does and he gets a kill. With Halo 2 health isn't as important or as much so you kill him and in the time it takes you to kill him your shileds may have just popped or have a silver left. Now they recharge and you go fight him again. Well this sucks for him because now he doesn't have any advantage over you, you have just as much health as him and he will never get a kill.

  • 06.11.2004 11:41 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Posted by: Draerden
Uhm, idiot with the loud voice. Frankie only said that they had implemented the new HUD design and were at that point making it for each of the different weapons. He also pointed out that they were working on how to do the dual wields in the HUD.

Never once did he talk about HUD's and health bars.


1st im getting sick of guys always calling names if they think that somebody makes a mistake.
2nd i think frankie really mentioned it somewhere about the hud for health!!! or somebody else did, it was just for the moment.
3rd bungie will make it give exactly the same feeling as halo2, like some gamers (who played at E3) that you can still take some shots after his armor was depleted! so not much difference!!!

So now stop calling names, and act up, and give a normal response (not that i do that always -> shame on me!)

  • 06.11.2004 2:22 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Reclaimer, it has nothing to do with anyone making a mistake. It happens to deal with being rude and shouting in one's ear.

  • 06.11.2004 2:32 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

but there is one problem because the suit would be able to moniter your vitals so in REAL LIFE you would have a health bar you dumb-asses

  • 06.11.2004 2:35 PM PDT
  • gamertag: sum0ne
  • user homepage:

Thanks for Team Snipers Bungie.
Mythic Member, Legendary Member and back and forth. i just can't make up my mind!
Campaign - Halo C.E.>Halo 2>Halo 3
Multiplayer - Halo 2>Halo 3>Halo C.E.
Just about every thing I post is my opinion and nothing more. Be subjective. Respect other's opinions. Try to understand other's point of view.

First of all, realism is nice but don't get to caught up in it. It's a futuristic "game". It's nto real life. Real life is much more boring. Second, Bungie said the HUD was not final. As far as power ups and stuff goes why is everyone assuming that what they saw in E3 was the finished product? I doubt very seriously there will be no power ups. It's too large of a part of the first game. My only question about all this is if damage is cumulative.

  • 06.11.2004 2:37 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

i wouldn't like to be caught up in halo 2, owh my god mc he is real and he is standing in my living room, how cool!!!! oh -blam!- its just the garbadge guy with his green jacket!

[Edited on 6/12/2004 2:54:33 PM]

  • 06.12.2004 2:50 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Posted by: Draerden
Reclaimer, it has nothing to do with anyone making a mistake. It happens to deal with being rude and shouting in one's ear.


you hear voices in your head, go see a docter

and me being rude, well refaise that line, go the hospital

  • 06.12.2004 2:52 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

I always enjoyed *sarcasm* how in Halo: Combat Evolved when a Jackal hit you with a fully charged plasma pistol you would see your own blood behind you when you still have full health, your shield was just completely down.

  • 06.12.2004 4:43 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

NO HEALTH BAR??? i dun like that at all cuz like in mp u would never kno when
to make a run for a medpack or when u knew u could charge that newb around
the corner without ur shields up or when u knew to run like bloody hell away or
stay and chuck a few more grenades at that machinegun happy tank.

Also in halo fall of reach when mc is gettin his armour on Dr. Halsey Says
something about monitoring his lifesigns so y couldnt the mc see his own
life signs on his hud????

  • 06.12.2004 8:27 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Posted by: axever
NO HEALTH BAR??? i dun like that at all cuz like in mp u would never kno when
to make a run for a medpack or when u knew u could charge that newb around
the corner without ur shields up or when u knew to run like bloody hell away or
stay and chuck a few more grenades at that machinegun happy tank.

Also in halo fall of reach when mc is gettin his armour on Dr. Halsey Says
something about monitoring his lifesigns so y couldnt the mc see his own
life signs on his hud????



dont worry they are making new hud and if still there is no healt in it then bungie will find something out so it works the same! the guys at the E3 said that it stilll felt the same without health (you can still take a few shuts when your shield is depleted, just like in halo)

  • 06.14.2004 1:14 AM PDT