4
MechWarrior 1:
Okay, I guess. It doesn't look like an actual cockpit, and I don't know whether the readout is for your own 'mech or the targeted 'mech. Keep in mind I haven't played this game in extent, so I don't know how to read it..
MechWarrior 2:
Bonus points for being the cockpit I grew up with, so it's the most nostalgic one for me. I love the wireframe 'mech in the targeting display, and those window frames are just beautiful. Another neat thing I like is how the schematic for your own 'mech is unique to the chassis you're piloting, and not a generic image like the modern games use. It's a shame you can't see the actual control panel in the cockpit but I guess that was simply the technical limitation of the time that came with using a 3D cockpit. But otherwise, it's a nice HUD, giving all the info one needs without being too complex. The only real downside I see to this HUD is that the uninitiated might not necessarily know that "dH/dT" means JumpJets.
MechWarrior 3:
I love the cockpit, with all it's little buttons and lights. It might just be my favorite cockpit from all the MechWarrior games. It's just beautiful It's not visible in this screenshot, but the default damage indicators for this game are animated, like MechWarrior 2's, only they're textured as well. Once again, the damage on a targeted 'Mech is color coded, but without a wireframe model, it's kind of hard to read. I really love the way the HUD fuzzes up with damage and heat. I also like the way only the targeting reticule zooms in instead of the entire screen- I find it easier to pilot a 'Mech this way.
MechWarrior 4:
This HUD is just ugly. I can hardly see the cockpit, which as mentioned before, is something I love about older simulation games. Still, the weapons indicator I think looks better than previous games and there's a rear damage indicator, which is pretty nice. I think the best improvement this HUD made is the zoom reticule, which is no longer tiny like in MechWarrior 3.
MechWarrior: Living Legends
It's an okay cockpit, satisfactory on the lights and displays (although it depends on the 'Mech- some have very empty cockpits with no displays or anything) while skimping out on more detailed stuff, like flips and switches. Of course, it's a 3D cockpit and would make this already demanding mod even more taxing on the hardware. I like having two radar screens and the little tabs that tell you which radar mode you have activated. There's a lot more detail here, like specific numbers for heat buildup and other things whose meanings I haven't figured out yet. But my favorite improvement is that the damage indicators now display both schematics and damage bars side by side (or rather, one on top of the other). Haven't figured out what the BT thing is, though.
MechWarrior Online:
I'm liking what I'm seeing here so far, like the information displayed right next to the target indicator and how the damage schematics display internals as well as the name of the 'Mech being targeted. The map and radar are now also combined, which is an improvement from Living Legends. Lots of nice detail in the cockpit, although it's not all visible. I also saw the side of the cockpit in one of the gameplay videos when an Atlas made a sharp turn. The side is pretty empty, but I guess you guys simply haven't gotten to putting detail there yet, especially since it's not something the player would normally see. I like the cooldown bar next to the weapons, which I don't believe is something we've had since MechWarrior 3. All in all, I love the cosmetics the most. It's going to be perfect with a little hula girl to top it off.
Edited by RL Nice, 16 May 2012 - 01:31 PM.
). Not the titanium trilogy one, but the original one. It's very elegant and clean while still being functional and immersive. I like the MW4 hud the least, but I hate just about everything about that game so I'm slightly biased. The MWO hud did a great job of capturing what I loved about the MW2/MW3 huds and I am very pleased with it.
