Enjoy this comparison of the Mass Effect remaster to the 2007 original game.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition brings a whole lot of improvements to the original Mass Effect, especially in the graphics department. Nearly 14 years have passed since the game’s release on the Xbox 360, and that means a whole lot of technical advancement has been applied to the game. With that in mind, we’re taking a look at Mass Effect Legendary Edition and the original Mass Effect’s PC release to see just how much the new remaster has improved on the original.
The video above lets you check out both versions of Mass Effect, sticking to the early portions of the game. We’ve got some direct comparisons of Mass Effect characters to show how lighting and textures have been improved. The comparison also extends to Eden Prime, the game’s first combat mission, and the Citadel, where you’ll spend some time talking with humans and aliens and advancing the story.
While Mass Effect has seen a lot of technological improvements in the Legendary Edition, it’s important to note that the story remains the same. You’ll be playing through a smoother, better-looking version of the 2007 sci-fi RPG classic, but for all intents and purposes, this is the same game. As Jordan Ramée noted in his review in progress, the Legendary Edition brings an enhanced version of the original game that’s a lot easier to play and looks a lot better, but it’s not without its visual and gameplay quirks.
00:00 – Intro
00:47 – Tile Screen & Opening
02:17 – Characters
07:26 – Eden Prime
10:53 – The Citadel
30 Comments
Killing with mako now gives full xp, max lvl 30, tou it gives double the learning points, adrenaling rush now restores all skills unlike in original slows time down, skills and abbilities now have way less duration time. Guns sound way different (worse). Mako controls are awfull(but can be changed in options). So far original way better!!!
Not a grafics junky here.
Other than some of the high quality textures, the original looks better and has way more visual character.
The current devs at bioware butchered a classic.
They clearly don't have the skill to design a competent game, and andromeda and anthem clearly showed that.
So what did they do here?
A few gameplay tweaks. Camera adjustments to appease their own fragile "modern day" sensibilities. Stripped the original lighting which was an artistic choice and NOT a limitation of the time. Stretched a few upscaled textures over the same low poly characters. And slapped a ton lens flares on everything.
Good job. I'd expect nothing more from current bioware.
I'm playing this on a 4k OLED and I can already see a massive improvement in everything. You're all blind or are still watching from a 720p screen lol.
Og was better
Is there a mod to restore the original lighting but keep the QOL improvements yet?
I get that the new lights look 'pretty', but they totally miss the design logic entirely.
Is it me, or it looks just like someone slapped ENB and High resolution textures on top of Mass Effect?
I have original ME with shit ton of mods on top of it and it looks EXACT THE SAME. xD
(not counting ME1 HUD)
there are A LOT of things I like more in the original version… it's like the shadows are completely gone in the legendary edition, and the unique ambience is lost.. especially faces, they look just flat.
Did they not turn the lights on or something?
WHAT THE HELL IT LOOKS MUCH WORSE. SO SCARED FOR ME4 TBH LMAO.
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS ANDROMEDA ANIMATION SHIT
I think they went a bit too far with the lighting at times. It feels like the style of the original games are kinda lost. The red fog on Eden Prime actually looked cool but it's toned down too much in the Legendary edition.
Is it me or Is Keith David speaking out of Tony Todds mouth
I feel like most remasters increase the graphical fidelity but lose part of the original art style, color grading and lighting.
7:04 I can't put my finger on it but something is more appealing about Liara in the Legendary Edition.
tl;dw? Legendary Edition white washes all the black folk. The dude at 3:48 for example and also Captain Anderson earlier in the clip.
I only got this cause I heard the elevator rides were shorter in the original Mass Effect. I loved the original series and I'm glad to be playing through it again.
Is the insane mode less difficult with legendary edition?
They made it look worse!
I'm just playing, and I can say that a youtube video gives not enough merit to the good looking changes. but still, I think some enviromental lightings look better in original.
Odd, the remaster looks more detailed, but more cartoony at the same time, like, well, a computer graphic. The original actually looks more realistic, like you're looking at something real while squinting. The people look worse, though, but that's not a deal breaker for me. I don't think I'll spend a lot of money on something I already have. Thanks for this vid.
The new textures are nice, but I almost prefer the old lighting… and I feel like the remodels are less detailed (i.e. Ash’s helmet at 3:32). I like the new clean edges, but it feels like some of the Mass Effect charm was stripped out
Why the original look better color wise
Huh. Why do I like the way humans, look in the original?
Many of the scenes are more or less ruined compared to the original. I kept confusing which side was the ”improved” one. New one looks sterile.
I wonder if they removed the 80s sci-fi film filter that was an option in the original that you could turn off, before making their comparison.
The lighting can be quite precarious. I like that the Citadel and Presidium have better lighting now, as fitting fhe pinnacle of civilization, but places like Novaria and the Normandy benefited from the darker lighting matching the espionage and gritty tone
so just a reshade? lol got this game for free. Bored after 30+ mins. in it
3:00 & 7:07 Legendary has weird eye contact
8:52 Red sky gives the feeling of being in a different planet, Legendary feels like earth
9:22 OG way better coloring despite lower textures just look at the ground
15:36 OG colors 16:01
When a 14 year old game does a better job of atmosphere…
Its the same like Crysis remastered. The textures etc are better for sure but the atmosphere was way better in the originals.
The Best part is on the ps5 it plays at 4k at 60fps .
What this video does best is highlight just how great the original looked! Especially for the time.