Mass Effect: Andromeda faced mockery and harsh criticism due to its poor facial animations. Therefore, Bioware implemented a new shader with patch 1.05 that significantly improves the facial expressions. We have a comparison video for you that clearly shows the differences and improvements of the update.
In terms of facial animations, Bioware truly did not shine with Mass Effect: Andromeda. Especially the protagonist Ryder and many important human NPCs stare into the beautiful new world of the Andromeda Galaxy with dull, lifeless eyes. The result was harsh criticism as well as mockery and ridicule online.
Bioware did not want to let this slide any longer, and thus with patch 1.05 came a fix for the “wooden face problem”. Thanks to the new shader, the faces now appear significantly more lively.
ME: A – Facial animations – From wooden fool to heroine with patch 1.05
You can see what a small shader adjustment can achieve in the embedded video below. A bit more shadow, a little more light, and a silly-looking space pancake turns into a cool heroine in patch 1.05! The same goes for other important characters in the game, such as the cute navigator Suvi or your tough companion Cora.
Without the stiff, lifeless gaze from version 1.04, the faces of the humans look clearly more lively and expressive. Curiously, the problem of poor shaders was only an issue for humans. Aliens such as Krogan, Salarian, and the new Angara looked significantly better due to their foreign facial features and eyes than the silly staring Homo Sapiens.
Mass Effect: Andromeda – Shader update – Finally beautiful!
Jürgen says: Finally! As for myself, I am glad that I haven’t played much of Mass Effect: Andromeda yet. That way, I can now experience many dialogues with a significantly more attractive and less silly-looking Ryder than before. Nevertheless, I am still disappointed that a studio like Bioware allowed such foolish faces in a AAA title.
What do you think? Do the faces look better to you now, or do you find the adjustments only marginal? Let us know in the comments!
Also interesting: Mass Effect: Andromeda – Not Bioware at fault for the animations?
