Upon a recent playthrough of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege, something wildly took me out of the immersion. While 90% of the games attempts at true military realism are well executed, it’s health system is a bit shoddy. Blood splatters look like red paint, and it’s almost a crapshoot to see if a single bullet will lead you to a revive-state, even if you were shot in the same location which let you into it before. I hope this gets patched or updated, but till then here are three ways in which not just Siege, but any realistic shooter can improve it’s health mechanics.

A proper filter

Games that do this right: Metal Gear Solid 5:The Phantom Pain, Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes

In addition to displaying overwhelming blood effects on the player, Metal Gear Solid 5’s filter system is an absolute masterpiece for providing accurate fear in intense sections. The film filter is washed over and pops out, but isn’t annoying. With games like Uncharted however, the black and white filter distracts so much from the gameplay, that it stops players from taking accurate risks so they can get the game to look normal again. Hell, I’m really disappointed that Naughty Dog isn’t taking it away, as we saw it in the PSX 2014 demo. If you want your game to provide the visceral emphasis of a real fire-fight, MGS 5’s glossy film filter is the way to go. At the end, it just makes pulling off a crazy encounter all the more incredible.

Repulsive Healing Animations

Games that do this right: Far Cry series (specifically 2,3, and 4)

Just looking at this picture makes me sick. In a lot of ways, Far Cry 4’s healing animation never gets old in terms of gruesomeness , and always makes the player use cover or an extra bullet wisely, so they don’t have to see the outcome. While it’s gross, it would be helpful if more games did this but fit them into the different scenarios in which they take place. The stick only adds to the grisliness, but can be easily amplified in a series like Battlefield, with a scalpel or a pair of scissors. It’s one of those things where, if used with the right amount of ferocity and detail, can make a near death encounter in a game all the more frightening instead of frustrating.

Realistic Injuries

Games that do this right: Fallout 4, 3, and New Vegas

There will never be a playthrough where I don’t respect Fallout’s injury settings. Not only is it realistic, but it offers a nice offset to a game like Call of Duty, in which a shot on the knee gives you blood on your face. The only complaint I have is how short-lasting it can be, but this is a miracle in some spots where it becomes truly disorienting. I wish more games tried to follow Bethesda’s suit in this regard, because it equals a more satisfying experience in the long run. Simply telling a friend how you defeated a Deathclaw while your camera shook violently under the pain, is always a story for the ages.

Conclusion

While a game does not need to adapt all of these elements into consideration, these all make it a more incredible package. At this point in time, the classic hide behind cover system to take away the blood is still being placed into more and more AAA games which is a true shame. Not every game should have it’s own health components, but anything new is what makes these stand out.