So I turned off the minimap

[Rhaaxerus]

Best decision I've made.
Been playing without it for a few days now.
It's like I can actually "see" the gameworld.
I felt too reliant on glancing at the minimap and seeing too much info, resource nodes, monsters coming towards me, every pathway and area of the map around me.

"The hunt" feels more organic when I can't see the monster up ahead on the minimap.
I pick up tracks and actually follow them towards the monster.
The scoutflies are already a strong visual indicator and having to rely on them now makes them feel more practical, where as before they were just green glitter on my screen while I stared at the minimap to navigate.
Coming across resources and learning where materials are in the zones feels more rewarding.
But most importantly, it really adds to "muh immersions!"

Fun story:
Was hunting a Tobi with a friend, we were fighting it up in the trees at Ancient Forest.
I see the "Turf War" notification and see the Tobi look upwards.
I hear a scream from right behind me, turn the camera around and the Rathalos in the area had swooped down over my head and started going at the Tobi.
It scared the heck out of me and I loved it.
I would've seen that coming if I had the minimap on.

Just sharing, and I recommend trying it out if you haven't yet.
Good hunting!

[CookedMeat]

If I could erase my memory and experience from playing this game, I would definitely try that.
Too bad I've been playing Monster Hunter as a boss rush and not an immersive hunting sims.

[ominumi]

Try hiding the HUD. You'll start to notice the visual indicator of the game world telling you what's going to happen next. Add in headphones for 3D audio for more immersion. The birds sing a different tune when large monsters are around.

[Rhaaxerus]

Originally posted by CookedMeat:

If I could erase my memory and experience from playing this game, I would definitely try that.
Too bad I've been playing Monster Hunter as a boss rush and not an immersive hunting sims.

Maybe the real boss fight, was the hunt we had along the way?

Originally posted by ominumi:

Try hiding the HUD. You'll start to notice the visual indicator of the game world telling you what's going to happen next. Add in headphones for 3D audio for more immersion. The birds sing a different tune when large monsters are around.

That's so cool, I never noticed the bird songs changing!
I use headphones with 3D audio as well, and wide sound range, it's really nice.
I'll have to try hiding all HUD elements for a while and check it out.

[NisaNisaNii]

Yep, have turned off my map and many HUD elements like the Objectives, Button Guide, , Large Monster Indicator, Damage Numbers and Scoutfly Notifications + Installing a mod to disable Scoutfly visual and sound effects.

Game feels much more like a hunting game now, much more relaxing and engaging exploring the world and tracking down the monster by sniffing tracks instead of just going where the game tells you to go. As well as focusing more on the monster and playing around it instead of just maximising damage all the time.

World really does a good job with its environments and fauna, Omenflies changing colours, small monsters ganging up on a downed big monster, its a lot more impressive without information displays.

[makinaccion]

Like the others have said already, turning off the quite bothersome HUD is a must to get the most of the MH experience!

Originally posted by CookedMeat:

Too bad I've been playing Monster Hunter as a boss rush and not an immersive hunting sims.

You can always try a new character and play without HUD from the very beginning, or if that's too extreme then going into the grinding lands while turning off the HUD, go in blind and inverse yourself in the map! (as tiny as it is, it can still surprise you!)

[Inari]

Yep, had it off for a while now. Makes you look at the world a lot more instead of just being glued to the minimap when e.g. chasing a monster.

As well as minimising the HUD generally, yes.

[torqueblue]

I love me some Clean HUD. Shame not all elements can be hidden. I had to find a mod to remove the Notifications about Divine blessing and Challenger Proccing. Worth it, though. I can still hear the Ding, but It's out of Sight, Out of mind.