Three uncompressed Mass Effect review code screens

From Gamer.tm: "Those of you left wondering just how detrimental the compression was to the quality of our 149 exclusive Mass Effect screenshots, might be interested to check out these three raw 2MB uncompressed direct screen dumps.

Basically, these shots are the completely untouched images that the debug Xbox 360 throws out when running the Microsoft-supplied screen capture software – this is direct a screenshot as you're ever going to see."

[ngg12345]

If they fix the grainyness this is a very good looking game.

[Violater]

Best grafix evar
lol

[SmokeyMcBear]

im gonna save these images, and when pog starts uploaded some pics of this game.. just throw these right back in his face.. actual gameplay.. wow.. just simply wow.. i saw some amazing pics of this game.. was it a lie? or cutscenes where you get to push a button? cmon now

[_insane_cobra]

It's a grain filter, kind of like what Battlestar Galactica and Silent Hill games use. You will probably be able to turn it off if it bothers you much.

[RudeSole Devil]

Very disappointed was expecting better. COD4 looks way better.

[DG]

I dont know about single player but MP looks like ish. If it wasent for the beta and amazing gameplay I would write COD4 off in the graphics department plus it was a beta. But game play comes first. As for this game its the opposite grfx are great but ill have to play it first.

[InMyOpinion]

You can switch the filter off, Bioware has said it themselves.

[wil4hire]

And no one said peep.

Wonder if they will respond to his today.

The cinematic -conversation sequences look great, but they are way different than the game play.. clearly.

The 360 has reached the end of its graphical run. Mass Effect is proof of why no one is releasing IN GAME shots or Demo.

Find IN GAME shots with the interface and the third person view on ign, gamespot,gamepro.

You cant.

Maybe people will stop hyping the graphics now.

[Marceles]

but but....this game is absolutely epic!

[TheSadTruth]

hmm I'm skeptical.. these shots are worse than halo 2 imo.. so something just isn't right.. the game is right around the corner anyways, so we will find out then

[SmokeyMcBear]

oh good lord.. look at all the jaggies., the chair, the arms, the face.. this must be because of compression

ohhhh myyy gooddd.. look at 140-53.. that is the most hideous thing i have ever seen.. jesus.. is that what everyone was going crazy about.. this can't be... maybe those are cutscene with extreme closeups, because, damn.. that is just freaking aweful

[ichimaru]

you two need a hobby

[Bonsai1214]

wow. i actually thought this game looked good from what i've seen before.

140-53 is just a shame. i've seen better graphics come out of guild wars on a 64mb graphics card. i really hope there was something wrong with the rendering when they took these ss

[highps3]

Everything i see of this game just reeks boredom. Talking to NPC characters.. BORING... There combat System... BORING...

And I thought the 360 could run 4xAA, havent seen many games running that.. Matter of fact the almighty Gears of War even has jaggies.

360 is tanking.. So many people who just bought are probably just like WTF.. Just like I am.. 360 was over hyped and people were full of crap.

All the games are buggy, boring, and horribly made. Gears of War is STILL the best game on this console. Mabe Halo 3 could rival just cause of theatre and forge. Certainly not graphically.

Bottom line reviewers lied. People will relize. Microsoft is screwed.

Add this holiday with breaking 360's.. Lots of pist kids and parents..

Oh not to mention the DVD9 issue that supposively WASNT an issue. Just like RROD, 1080p, all the other things Microsoft has lied about.

[GIJeff]

I really hope people wernt basing their interest on this game by graphics alone, because theyre not that good. I mean, theyre not bad or anything, but their not THAT good. Not good enough to impress the PS3/PC people.

I hope its fun for people though.

[toughNAME]

calm down Sony boys!

[SmokeyMcBear]

ha its all in good nature, everyone takes their licks and gets back up, but seriously, comment on the game man, what is your impression of these screenshots, is the fact that the awesome graphics of this game are relegated to the times you sit back and watch extreme closups of the characters and get to choose what they say? Thats some awesome gameplay there.

[toughNAME]

meh im not really sure what to think about the screenshots

it actually looks good...just really fuzzy

im still on the fence about this game

this is prob. gunna be a january/february buy for me

[ichimaru]

I really hope people wernt basing their interest on this game by graphics alone, because theyre not that good. I mean, theyre not bad or anything, but their not THAT good. Not good enough to impress the PS3/PC people.

who said anything about impressing the "ps3/pc people"?. are you thier official spokesman?

[GIJeff]

hell yea i am!

[WilliamRLBaker]

All sony fanboys on alert! all sony fanboys on alert, Mass effect looks better then any ps3 game, COMMENSE DAMAGE CONTROL!
WOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPP WOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPP

[SmokeyMcBear]

aw cmon baker... i know you to be quite sensible in forums.. and how this, seriously man, take a look at those pics, and tell me what you thing, honestly, if you still say that it looks better than anything on the ps3.. well.. just wow then, all hope is lost

[OpiZA]

But if you've been following the game and you've viewed all media... you'll notice that this game is quite spectacular.

[ichimaru]

i've seen gameplay; in hd at that. i know the game is georgous, and the fact that some horrible scrren are on the internet, and aren't going to change it.

[Captain Tuttle]

Those are terrible. Looks like a PS2 game.

[Violater]

its the Wii version

[Captain Tuttle]

HaHa!

[wangdiddy82]

I mean halo 3.. Mass Boring looks horrid.. I never thought it looked good to begin with.. The characters are lifeless in the cutscenes and the facial animations is weak.. The in game graphics speak for themselves..

Look at pic number 2.. Its the huge crab from Genji days of the blade.. lol..

[gnothe1]

why is it that this 360 exclusive game is getting so much attention from the sony crowd!! any chance they get to try an cut down a 360 they try an take it!! the funny thing is, this game is still gonna sell more than your best PS3 game!!

[BloodySinner]

Hahaha...

[Violater]

neither u nor I will get a penny

[ParaDise_LosT]

Those screens are wacky xD
The lady looks like a leper LOL
But I think those are just terrible shots...
I've seen HD Vids of gameplay and conversation.......
These screens are nothing and wont effect my purchase at all xD

[ichimaru]

i here you,ParaDise_LosT, i here ya

[x440Magnumx]

I don't know...so far there's nothing to prove the "360 is tanking hard".

You can cite technological issues all you want, but if no dev is going to put out a game that's really irresistible before this holiday season it's not good news for the PS3.

Still looking like the 360 is going to win out this holiday season..

Remember, software is where the money is in this business, and week after week the 360 sells twice as many games as the PS3 does.

No matter what issues the 360 or it's game has had to this point, the bottom line is the PS3 isn't topping it.

Now when the heavy hitters like MGS4 and GT5 come up to bat against Halo 3, Gears, Mass Effect, etc.,
hopefully it'll be able to prove itself....it just hasn't happened yet. So don't get too far ahead of yourself.

I know someone out there is keeping up...what PS3 exclusives are coming out before Christmas?

[SmokeyMcBear]

Uncharted, Haze, hopefully UTIII(timed), A bunch of PSN titles like Pain and Toy Home, The Eye toy games, i think theres some more, but you get the gyst of it.

[wangdiddy82]

needs to hurry up and remove these screens from the internet before they go main stream.. There not going to do this game any justice..

I know this games not going to look that bad but damn those were some ugly a$$ in game pictures.. The worse i have seen since shadow run..

[gnothe1]

why dont those screens look like these.
http://screenshots.teamxbox...
http://screenshots.teamxbox...
http://screenshots.teamxbox...
http://screenshots.teamxbox...

now I would rather believe these pics as the real deal. this is the type of quality i have been seening from the start not them probably OLD non HD pics!!

[360Sheep]

because those are the cutscene interactive dialogue screens, where is the HUD, wehre is the 3rd person view of when you actually PLAY the game, not sit back and watch , read, and push a button. Cmon man, anyone can make cutscenes look awesome, its gameplay that shows what it can do.

[sanderFVCKINcohen]

Those pics are fake.

[jcgamer]

I, or numerous others, won't be worried about 3 lackluster screenshots...

[360Sheep]

you didnt see the 149 yesterday???? take a look at those, and compare the close up dialouge screens to the gameplay showing the hud.. cmon i know the sheep can be blind.. but open your eyes.

[Kuest]

I will be making a shout out to you too when Mass Effect reviews drop in. Wait and see.

As a matter of fact, you don't even have to wait! Just head by Gamespot, IGN, 1up, Gametrailers, etc. and actually WATCH one of ME's gameplay movies/trailers.

I hear your Shepard calling... oh, wait- that's me. Your shepard. Now move along to the green, PS3 only pastures where its safe.

[jcgamer]

I am far from blind...I just have a thing for great games, I guess...I'll play the Uncharted's and other games this fall, come back in early January, and tell you what the best LOOKING game of the holiday season is, no problem man...but, right now, all I want to do is grab my 360 controller and play a GREAT game...is that asking for too much? Nah...and I'll also tell you my pick for game of the year...

[Kuest]

we have somebody w/ sense in this thread.

I couldn't have said it better myself, jc- Gameinformer has indeed spoken and their words for ME are nothing but praise. So, you can pile up the bad images- I won't care. I'll be playing the game for REAL.

GOTY, period.

edit:

lol! the armada is coming. Scurry while you can fanboys... you can talk about PROD, Halo 640P, or even how COD4 will look better on PS3 than Xbox.

but, you CANNOT talk about Mass Effect. At least, not without some repercussions... so, in this case, reviews are your worst friends. Just wait and see.

[jcgamer]

sup bro...now all we need is BLACKJACK VII to show up...

[jackie chann]

That last screen looks like starwars on ps2

[WilliamRLBaker]

if you dont like what I have to say then ignore me, but the fact remains what I said is fact, Every sony fanboy came in droves to put down the pictures, So my assesment of WOOOPP woooppp warning begin damage control barrage was right.

[360Sheep]

its not the wooop wooop.. its "Mass effect looks better then any ps3 game"...open your eyes sheep... open your eyes.

[Douchebaggery]

the graphics have never been what interested me in that game

Mass Effect GOTY 2007

[Kuest]

to get the mind of sony fanboys working. Hard.

Speaking of fanboys, hi Smokey! I must have noticed you somewhere in this thread... I mean you only used ALL your 5 bubbles in the course of 30 minutes. Nice. It seems like someone has been meaning to wag his paw for quite a while now doesn't it? I mean, I'm not surprised to see Whil4ire, not one bit- but Smokey? Dear me, the emotions people bottle up inside can drive anybody wild, I guess.

Next time, why don't you try to use more subtlety before posting like a jack rabbit with a carrot strapped over its head. That way, when Mass Effect reviews drop in and they're all stellar- you can act as if you didn't really care. Its too late now, though. NOW, as soon as I get the first ME review online- you'll be the first person I shout out to. Expecting an answer.

[Dr Pepper]

Wow people really jumped all over these pics...

It's interesting how little people comment on the screens when they are amazing. But when there are some bad shots, the comments come in like a massive flood.

I know I'll be getting this game on day one. After seeing amazing screens and videos, as well as reading about the gameplay and the amount of exploration in the game, I won't be bothered by these screens.

[jaja1434]

Whats more amazing is all of the ingame video which looks great suddenly takes a back seat to someones still frames?

[Kuest]

Jaja, you too.

I'm not even going to fret, though, because its obvious as HELL that these nincompoop PS3 fanboys have been praying day and night to their God, ken, for some bad Mass Effect news. If you listen carefully, you can just hear the girlish giggles in the background...

like i said, PS3 fanboys, get your kicks in NOW. Because as soon as the FIRST, legitimate ME review comes in- you all will be permanently sh!t-faced. Oooh, its going to be sweet.

edit:

don't be modest, jc- bubbles for you too.

[jcgamer]

bubbles up guys...

[Xbox is the BEST]

doesn't look like that. I've seen the game in Motion, so have many Xbox owners. Please try harder.

[CrazzyMan]

in denial? =)))))))

[Kuest]

Unlike, you... but then again, I guess that's why they call you crazy, huh? Anyways, if you're so INTERESTED in how Mass Effect looks- go check out a video from any of your favorite gaming websites. That ought to do the trick. But wait... Your a hardcore gamer, right? So that means you already KNOW to keep up w/ upcoming popular games, right? I guess that means that you already HAVE looked up ME, but just couldn't bring yourself to believe the awesome goodness taking place right before your eyes.

Hold a tic- maybe... maybe that question you were asking Mr. Best... was really a question you were asking yourself. Wow, commenting to yourself? You really are crazy.

[jcgamer]

you tell em' Kuest...now that's what I call the power of 8 bubbles...you've been giving every ME hater on this post a dose of reality...and you still have 3 bubbles left...pick the "craziest" ones Kuest...choose wisely...hehe...bubbles up for 2/3 of you guys...sorry, but I ain't crazy...lol

[Kuest]

Thanks, jc. Oh yes, I've been a working up a storm trying to calm all these fan boys down. It ain't easy let me tell you, but somebody gots to do it. I mean, check any uncharted thread out... there isn't NEARLY as many foam-mouthed haters as there is in most ME threads (and there shouldn't be because uncharted is a good game).

Seriously, every time my favorite games pops up- some idiot is rambling away about how "the acting isn't realistic" or "the dialog isn't that moving". Now, fanboys are trying to diss ME's graphics! NOPE, enough is enough.

I'll be gate-keeping every ME thread that comes about (provided I'm still around) in order to block the bs. Come review time... payback.

That means fanboys got me, jc, and Blackjack to deal with. Don't mess, lol.

edit:

*sniff* JC, Jaja... I never thought so much good could exist. You guys are saints.

25 bubbles, huh? -N4G is MINE, *ahem* I mean ours- lol

p.s.

I meant 25, hehe... Forget I made that mistake (or send me back to 1st grade).

[jcgamer]

let the ME haters see the power of 17 bubbles...

[jaja1434]

meh add my 8 to the fray.

[jcgamer]

Thanks man, that makes 25...this is getting good...lol

[BLACKJACK VII]

Make that 29. I think Sony paid off this lazy website to post the absolute worst pix they could make with the grain filler on max... LOL ! (end sarcarm) I think nasim photoshopped these puppies... no wait, he's certainly not that bright....

Actually, the grain filler is completely switchable. I find it hard to understand why someone wanting to get good screen shots would TURN ON the grain filler ?!? Hmmmm...

All I know is I've seen the HD footage of actual gameplay, I've watched the gameplay from a recent build on my preorder bonus disc that you can pick up anytime B4 11/20 by preordering Mass Effect. And there is no comparison to these screens. So, I don't know what's up, & frankly don't care... only one review is in (from GI) & this is what they said about the graphics on page 151:

"Graphics: Every second of gameplay offers the visual quality you have come to expect from Final Fantasy cutscenes"

"...a visual work of art" "... it's easily one of the years best titles, and one of the most impressive games to date." "In fact, I think you'll agree that Mass Effect is one of video game's greatest treasures."

Direct quotes from their 9.75 review. Anywho, if you have any doubts watch some HD trailers (GameSpot is a good source) of a recent build & you'll wonder even more about these screenshots. Oh, I posted my own screenshots below from realtime gameplay.

Hate all you want, you have about 2 weeks or less before the reviews start hitting, & after that the rest of us will be enjoying another epic game from Bioware.

[jaja1434]

Quite a fan club we are building.

[TheXgamerLive]

Everything we've seen so far even from live demo's looks 100% better than this.

Please stop the sh1t and get a life failed ps3 console fans.

[THAMMER1]

Sony trolls are switching to defcon ^6^.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/h...

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/g...

XBOX360 and HD DVD FTW.

[watchman]

Here's what the game looks like in real time.

[url] http://www.gamersyde.com/st...

[-SIXAXIS-]

The in-game graphics look like Halo 1 on my PC IMHO. There are so many jaggies and the lighting and modelling isn't that great either. These xbots keep hyping crap games and when M$ pays people to rate it 9.5/10, they start bragging.

Sorry for that guys, I had to get that off my chest. Man I hate people like M$ who cheat their way to the top.

[kn]

My screen is pretty small. Hard to tell.

[chrisin3]

Everyone knows this game is going to look better than those screens. I mean seriously, unless the developers only worked once a week for a year or two (which I am sure they didn't) those screens are just not portraying the game right.

Wii games look better than that, and everyone knows (PS3 fan or not) the Xbox 360 is capable of much better graphics than what those screens are showing . . . so calm down.

By the way, I am a PS3 fan, NOT a PS3 fanboy. I think that's the first time I used the word fanboy on N4G.

[DevastationEve]

all of which i can say looks very attractive.

and don't be surprised if this game gets high marks for graphics.

[DJ]

Low-res textures, low polygon counts, fairly empty environments with little going on. The cutscenes and dialogue segments are the only parts of the game that Microsoft likes to show off, and for good reason. Bioware's been complaining about DVD-9 for a while now, and it'll be really interesting to see what their current PS3 project looks like (gameplay comparison, of course).

[chrisin3]

That seems weird to me because Xbox 360 has had some nice looking titles. I haven't been following this game extensively so I cannot say anything with absolute certainty.

[HarryEtTubMan]

This game looks so boring... I have a 360 and am not interested in mass effect. Raher get COD4... assasins creed. anything..

[ktchong]

So, all the past screenshots -- thousands of them -- and videos are fake?

BioWare will come out and debunk these images -- they have been altered and downgraded.

[PS360PCROCKS]

Uh I'm very skeptical of these screenshots...these are just awful, I have in-game videos of this on my 360 and they look so much better than this and their like 5 months old...this is like N64 Goldeneye in that third picture...people who have played it have said it looks gorgeous, I'll go with them on their opinion as it's based on in-game, in-action gametime with the title.

[BLACKJACK VII]

LOL,...

"Be skeptical, be very skeptical indeed."

It'll be funny in acouple of weeks when REAL websites start reviewing this game & start talking about the graphics !

LOL, the screenshots I'm posting are 6 months old !

[PS360PCROCKS]

Lol yeah exactly man...thanks for the screens, this game is so purdy haha

[ironcreed]

That would put a quick end to any speculation, for good or ill. On some of the screens that were released yesterday, there was dev captions on a couple of them that had notes like, "Lighting needs to be fixed". That would suggest that these are maybe pre-alpha shots that are only now just getting released.

[BLACKJACK VII]

Try out some HD videos of gameplay instead...

http://www.gamespot.com/vid...

http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/...

[mesh1]

senn this game play on numeorus vids even th elow res youtube movies let u know these pics are not reality as MASS effect is goty and loooks amazing the 360 is an amazing piece of gaming kit and lets just wait to make some ppl vry when it comes out.

[ironcreed]

This gameplay footage confirms these screens are nothing but pure FUD...and nothing more. And so is this Gamer.TM site that is spreading the FUD as well. The game looks nothing short of phenomenal. Cannot wait.

EDIT: Looks like someone beat me to it, lol. No biggie, I am just glad that this video is out to quell any speculation of Mass Effect being downgraded. As the game looks killer.

[THE TERMINATOR]

Graphics are crap.
Nuff said.
NEXT.

[GIJeff]

The game has decent character models, but the environments are very low poly in comparison. Id like to see this in wirefame. The people would be thick, but the backgrounds would be empty. All of the previous screens/videos in the past have impressed people because theyve all been closeups on 1 or 2 characters. The background was never seen in all of its low poly, bad lighting, and jaggity goodness. Oh well. Ancient graphics cards....what do you do...its good enough for the masses i guess. *sigh*

[jazzmanb]

this is goty,and the graphics look better than any ps3 game ever..look at the lighting of mass effect,then look at uncharted,which advanced lighting needed to be taken out of the unreal engine to run properly on the ps3...no bs....you cats who still dream of the ps3 as this amazing machine that developers well figure out and magically have games that blow 360 games away graphically,are dreaming....in fact youll be lucky to get games that look close to as good as the best looking 360 games,especially with the ps3 and its known issue with advanced lighting and shaders...

[Trebius]

But I will admit that I thought it would look a lot better than that. Those images (especially 140-53) are disgusting looking...just bad...just bad. We'll have to wait til the game comes out though to see whats up with that. If Mass effect really does look that bad, then I think the 360 has hit a dead end graphics-wise.

[sniddles]

the game will not look like this. These pics are not representative. We already have a VERY good idea of what the game looks like, and that is very good...

These pics can't be considered any more than those sh1tty lost planet pics for PS3 a couple weeks ago which had all the girls panties in a bunch. Just like lost planet for PS3 will not look as sh1tty as those pics did, Mass effect will NOT look like these.

Why is stuff like this approved??? this blatant fanboy sh1t slinging has got to stop. This site is a huge waste of time thanks to this crap. Mass Effect will likely have the best graphics of any game this year. Take that and cash it...

[mmike855]

This game looks really good, it really does. While I've seen many images depicting the closeup in game conversations, its nice to see some open world gameplay. The only issues I see are a relative simplicity of the geometry in the environments (not quite as imaginative looking as bioshock) and facial rendering that looks somewhat diminished in comparison with those close up scenes. The game, overall, looks phenomenal, and looks to have a captivating storyline, and a truly rewarding array of systems that can keep you playing over and over. My one quip with this one is, the graphics suddenly look more familiar, environments that closely resemble Halo 3's, and structure that appears slightly disappointing. Hope this game turns out well, and I'm sure it will.

[DevastationEve]

And to think...many of you guys are judging "games" by their screens! Screens are just pictures, and a great majority of which are jPEGs. Compressed to usually around 75-90% quality. And even still, some games look better in their screens than their actuall gameplay. However, I'll never be foolish enough to let a few poor shots hold me back from delving into such a marvel that a game like this TRULY is.
It represents the pinnacle in gaming achiement: a universe that is truly YOURS to behold. Not some middle eastern-themed "history lesson". Gaming is for the future, driven by progression.

[JokesOnYou]

ha ha I'll remember to refer back to this post when the reviews start coming in, I'm sure smokey, DJ and all the other haters will mysteriously be missing or immediately start stuttering with "but, but, but"= EXCUSES, ha ha just because Factor 5, sony, and you sonykids hyped Lair with the "power of the cell", "cant be done without bluray" (ha ha I still always laugh when I remember all their talk, sh!t is so funny) just remember sonykids this is Bioware= quality games every year, their record speaks for itself, so sonykids you can spew all the BS you like, in the end my money is on Bioware, if you are willing to bet against them then, once again the=

JOY

[THAMMER1]

If they were real gamers they would be happy that gams that are this good are even available. Sony fans are just trying to spread FUD. People like DJ know the truth too. They are just on Sony's left NUT.

Bioware is one of the best development teams out there. If this game was for the PS3 there would be like 20 post of stupid retards saying things like the CELL this and that lighting is so next gen.

PS3 for the non gamer. PS3 for fan boys only. You know it is true. Only non gamers buy just one or two games. Only non gamers and fan boys can bee fooled with super computer BS and cloudy @ss marketing ploys.

Sony played tricks on that @ss.

[DJ]

no wonder no one's on your side. No reason to call me out in every other post just because you feel to need to defend inferiority.

[sheng long]

that video blackjack posted looks much better than the screenshots. What engine is this game using? the graphics remind me of Halo 3.

[Ahhhh]

I can't see the pictures but what some people are sayin.. ME will look great.. gameplay always looks better than screenshots anyway.

[CrazzyMan]

i mean gameplay, not just cut-scenes.
Models are great, but that is all.

i am in denial? lol.

[bioshock]

i also wanna buy this game...but i will wait till i get confirmation from metacritic.com