The Mass Effect original trilogy needs no introduction, so I'll keep this brief. These are great games, very much deserving of remastering (although I wish just a little more was done with the graphics overhaul), and therefore it was a priority for me to make a fix equally deserving of the game's quality and stature. I hope I've provided that, and that everyone enjoys saving the universe from the Reapers once again in glorious 3D!
3D FIX FEATURES
Fixed via Regex:
Universal UE3 Regexes:
- Halos
- Lighting & Shadows
- Decal Clipping
- General VPM Fix
- GodRays
Mass Effect Extension Regexes:
- Lensflares & ME2+3 3D HUD
- Surface speculars
UI features:
- Autodepth HUD adjustments on all crosshairs, ME1 interaction icons (ME2 and 3 use different icons, and derive depth differently). Can be disabled via hotkey. Reenabling after disabling will require reloading the fix via the F10 key after pressing the hotkey to reenable it.
- Adjustable HUD depth on all other static elements
- 4 gameplay convergence values that can be cycled via hotkey
- Presets to set low convergence during cutscenes and conversations. These can be disabled via hotkey.
- Use of the Help OSD custom shader to provide visual feedback for all 3D fix keys, as well as a help menu that can be pulled up to display the keybindings at any time
Remaining issues:
- Speculars set to surface depth by default:
Since this remaster is technically just the old games with a fresh coat of paint slapped on, setting specular highlights to proper depth is a little problematic because they are baked into the textures on surfaces, rather than calculated and applied during a lighting shader (like most modern games now do). I do have a fix in place that works well in areas I was able to test in ME1, but many surfaces in ME2 and 3 (and possibly some in ME1 that my testing has not yet found) do not react well, and so I've set a specular depth parameter to allow this to be toggled on and off. By default I've set it 0%, so they will appear at the depth of the surface they are on, which is not visually correct, but never "broken" looking. You can push specular depth to 50% or 100% to enable the fix via a hotkey if you'd like to enjoy correct speculars, but with visual imperfections on an unknown # of surfaces. Or, of course, you can turn it on and off as wanted and needed to maximize the benefit! - Potential for remaining halos due to regex false positives:
There have been a couple shaders that are picked up and "fixed" by one of the halos regexes (aka "false positives") due to the common shader code pattern, and because they didn't need a fix in the first place, "fixing" them actually causes a halo. All known cases have already been resolved, but there's likely to be a few more out there. - Mass Effect 3 crashes at the title screen, and some menu screens for some individuals:
This is caused somehow by using the 3DMigoto software mouse custom shader. Unfortunately the only known solution is to not use this feature. A workaround is included in the fix for this issue, please see instructions below. - 3D fixes that are regex script based cause stutters when loading new shaders:
Every time a new shader comes on screen for the first time it gets analyzed by 3DMigoto to see if any regex fix patterns match, which adds a little CPU overhead and unfortunately we are usually CPU bottlenecked already, so we usually see these as sudden frame drops. Once the shaders have been seen/analyzed/fixed once, they are cached, so next time they appear they do not need to be analyzed again and instead are loaded instantly, so the more you play the better it gets. All of my fixes are, and will always be heavily regex scripted (when given the choice), so that's the price to pay for enjoying 3D with one of my fixes. Besides, we all know we'll all be playing these games more than once, right? 2nd and 3rd playthroughs will be so much more wonderful and smooth with a full shader cache!
INSTRUCTIONS
Installation:
Extract zip file to EACH of the trilogy game's Win64 subfolder, so for Mass Effect 1 you would need to install to: ..\Mass Effect Legendary Edition\Game\ME1\Binaries\Win64
For Mass Effect 2, to: Mass Effect Legendary Edition\Game\ME2\Binaries\Win64
... and so on for ME3: Mass Effect Legendary Edition\Game\ME3\Binaries\Win64
Yes, extract this same fix 3 times, once for each game in it's respective folder.
**Mass Effect 3 Crash Fix**
If you experience crashes while playing Mass Effect 3, you can resolve them by running the included "ME3CrashFix.bat" file once. This will disable the software mouse cursor feature. Re-running the file will revert back to the original state and restore the software mouse cursor.
If you experience crashes while playing Mass Effect 3, you can resolve them by running the included "ME3CrashFix.bat" file once. This will disable the software mouse cursor feature. Re-running the file will revert back to the original state and restore the software mouse cursor.
For myself, personally, I have only experienced the crash on the ME3 title screen. Loading Mass Effect 3 using the "Resume" option from the Mass Effect launcher (an existing savegame is needed for this) skips the titlescreen and thus also skips the crash, so I only needed to use the crash fix for my first time ever loading ME3, and then once I had a savegame made I reverted back to have the software mouse cursor.
Game settings:
All settings work, though I personally do not like Ambient Occlusion in ME1 (causes what looks like floating shadows around objects), but that's totally a personal preference, stereo wise they are correct as far as I can tell. I also recommend turning off Motion Blur in ME2 + ME3.
Game settings:
All settings work, though I personally do not like Ambient Occlusion in ME1 (causes what looks like floating shadows around objects), but that's totally a personal preference, stereo wise they are correct as far as I can tell. I also recommend turning off Motion Blur in ME2 + ME3.
Keybindings:
Key Function
F1: Displays Help OSD, which shows all keybindings in-game
F2 or Shift + F2: Cycles through 4 different settings for gameplay convergence
Ctrl + F2: Disables all automatic convergence presets
F3 or Shift + F3: Cycles through 5 different settings for HUD depth
ALT + F3: Disables autodepth on HUD elements
CTRL + F3: Disables the HUD
F4: Specular depth adjustment, 3 settings: Surface depth (0%), half depth (50%), and full depth (100%). Set to 0 by default due to breaking on certain surfaces
F6 : Lens flare effect on/off toggle
F7: Depth of field effect on/off toggle. Warning: Should only be used temporarily, eg. screenshots. Leaving DOF disabled causes severe distortion with camera movement
***Warning: Mass Effect 1 Keybindings Conflict***
ME1 has the weapon select keys on F1 through F4 which conflicts with the chosen keys above. For regional keyboard compatibility, and because ME2 and ME3 do not conflict, I am choosing to keep the above keys as they are and people that play with KB+M should either change their keybindings to set those weapon select keys to other keys, or if you wish to change the above keys used by this fix to other keys you may do so by editing the ShaderFixes\MassEffect_Fix.ini file.
FOOT NOTES
Tools/Resources Used & Special Thanks:
-3DMigoto v1.3.16: Thanks to the entire 3DMigoto team
-DarkStarSwords 3D crosshair & Help OSD custom shaders
-Blacksmith60 & Z31Turbo from MTBS3D forum for their beta testing feedback and gamesaves which greatly accelerated this fix's completion. Also thanks to Losti for his enthusiasm and willingness to help, albeit wasn't needed this time around, is still appreciated all the same.
Like this fix and want to show support & appreciation?
Fixes take a lot of time and effort, so donations are always welcome and appreciated and help support me in making more fixes!
Paypal donations may be made at www.paypal.me/DShanz or by sending to Paypal address: rshannonca@gmail.com
Thank you very much for this fix.
ReplyDeleteAmazing, and so quickly! Thanks so much DJ!
ReplyDeleteDJ-RK - 3D God !
ReplyDelete3D God? Wow, thanks for that, though I personally reserve that stature for the likes of Helix, DarkStarSword, bo3b, and Helifax, the true gurus that have shared their elevated knowledge and massive works/contributions with the community to bring us to the functional state where we are today, and done so much more so than a mere shaderhacker like myself. Now, I'll happily accept the status as one of the current "Godfathers of Shaderhacking" instead! Seems more fitting and has a nice ring to it. ;)
Deletecould you make a hud toggle for castlevania lords of shadows?Someone like the mass effect legendary hud toggle.Thanks
DeleteI could, but I don't work for free.
DeleteIf you, or anyone else has a serious request then feel free to inbox/DM me to discuss, but you can't seriously think that I'm just going to just work at your beck and call because you said "pretty please with sugar on top"... actually, you didn't even say please at all, you just said "thanks" as if you asking is a commandment, so yeah, hold tight and I'll get right on that for you, my Lord...
Yeah f'kin right!
Wow DJ you’re a sorcerer thanks man
ReplyDeleteHaha, thanks. That reminds me of one of my favourite cards from the board game called Cards Against Humanity, that read, "Because I'm a motha fuckin sorcerer" That card would almost always win the round!
Delete🤣
DeleteSweet!
ReplyDeleteAsari l0v3 has n3v3r l00k3D so G00D!
ReplyDeleteWow, I still don't know if I'll drop the heavily modded originals for the legendary, but DJ-RK, THANK YOU SO MUCH for doing this!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't even thinking of playing the Legendary(without 3D) instead the modded originals(with 3D), but now that both have, I'll need to compare!
Amazing stuff, thank you!
ReplyDeleteHow can I make sure that the right mouse button does not reset the set convergence when aiming?
ReplyDeleteTry using the Ctrl + F2 key to disable convergence presets.
DeleteThanks for the reply. I tried, but when I press the right mouse button or the aiming button on the gamepad, the convergence I set is reset. I think that you need to change something in one of the ini files, but what exactly and in which?
DeleteI figured it out. You need to change the values in [Preset]:[PresetCutscene] in MassEffect_Fix.ini to the desired ones.
DeleteYeah, that sounds about right for one way to handle it.
DeleteI'm assuming this is for ME2 or 3, and not ME1, correct? I never actually added any keys or convergence presets to the RMB, but what I'm assuming is that when aiming that maybe a DOF effect gets applied, which triggers the cutscene preset in those games, and unfortunately my testing hadn't shown that.
Anyways, I'll look into the matter more closely in the next update, but I'm glad you figured out your own workaround in the meantime and thanks for making the issue report.
I noticed the problem exactly in ME 1. It is noticeable when the convergence is set to 200. Probably, when aiming, the player's position changes relative to the screen plane, which triggers the script to trigger the settings for cutscenes.
DeleteI cannot get ME1 to run, it just hangs on the loading screen when I start it. I tested single player just before I installed the fix, worked fine.
ReplyDeleteProblem/bug I encountered and a workaround that worked for me (partially):
ReplyDeletePROBLEM: I was able to install the fix via 3D fix manager, but when I started the game I didn't see any depth at all. The weird thing was, if I took off my glasses I did see two images on top of each other, but only 2 pixels apart or so, despite 3D-depth being set to 50%. In some situations the left eye and right eye had severe differences in light intensity as well, which stopped at some point, can't remember how I fixed that. Anyway, after trying several clean installs (maybe that fixed the light problem): 3D vision driver, Nvidia driver (452.06), 3d fix, etc., I concluded it had to be some sort of a DirectX 11 problem, since over the past months I didn't have any problem with older games (such as original mass effect). However, I didn't read any problems for other people...
SOLUTION: Then I thought: "it's weird that I do see a few pixels difference between both images, if it's not working at all, both images should be at the same place. Maybe it is 3D but it's just to small a difference to see it, say 1-2% depth. So I set the 3D depth multiplier to 5 (=maximum) and the 3D depth to 100 (making it 500%), and I found out I was right. Now I see at least something like 10-20% depth, which is way better than none, and gives hope for the future :D.
So if anyone else has the same problem: no 3D, but the images are 1-2 pixels apart, go to 3D Fix Manager | Settings | NVidia 3D settings | 3D depth multiplier and put it on 5 (or higher if possible).
REQUEST: Please add the possibility to increase 3D depth multiplier to something like 50-100. Now 5 is the maximum.
Another workaround that makes the 3D increase to maximum levels: increase the monitor size in Settings | Display Profiles
DeleteStrange problem there. Since it's working for others, it must be something on your system. I'd recommend doing a fully clean DDU reinstall of your video driver, including the Clean setting there. There are times when the driver can get corrupted in odd ways. For example, it might have saved a bad screen size in the registry.
DeleteI have tested the game on Windows 7 and Windows 10 and it does not work. I can not start the games. On Windows 7 I get an error message that it can't start and on Windows 10 the game stops after a few seconds. Can someone please help me how to start the Legendary Edition with the 3DFix? I hope there is a solution. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI know now on Windows 10 it does not work because of the graphics driver 452.06. With the current driver you can start the game but then the 3D driver is gone.
ReplyDeleteI would like to play the game on Windows 7 but I do not understand this tutorial. I have done everything as described here:
https://www.nexusmods.com/masseffectlegendaryedition/mods/354
But the game still does not start.
Just tested this out on Win10 21H1, Driver 452.06, Origin version. Was working fine here, as long as I apply the Schwing hack for the driver. You can possibly use 425.31 with no hack, but depends on if game cares.
DeleteCan possibly run under Win7, but game may not be compatible with Win7 as this is a remake. If you did a binary edit for Win7, restore the game before testing Win10.
If you have done a binary edit for Win7, restore the game before testing Win10. - I didn't quite understand what you meant by that.
ReplyDeleteI played Resident Evil 2+3 Remaster on Windows 7 with no problems.
The game is supposedly for Windows 10 only, but it is supposed to work on Windows 7 as well. There are various instructions for this.
https://www.gamepretty.com/mass-effect-legendary-edition-how-to-play-on-windows-7/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1328670/discussions/0/3056237435837443966/
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
The game now starts on Windows 7 but 3D does not work yet. I found out at which file the game stops: d3d11.dll
ReplyDeleteI get an error message:
Mass Effect Legendary Edition does not work anymore
A problem has prevented this program from running properly. Close the program.
All other files do not cause any problems.
When I start the game under Windows 10, the IR transmitter turns on. But after 2 seconds the game crashes. I made a video of it:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.dropbox.com/s/2pxxxe0y2isyacu/20220613_212039.mp4?dl=0
Does anyone else have an idea how I can get the game to run?
ok the problem is with the graphics driver: 452.06.
ReplyDeleteI uninstalled the 3DFix and the same problem persists. I do not understand why it does not work for me. It seems that most people here do not have such problems.
sorry, it's not the driver after all. The 3D function was still enabled. I deactivated it and I could start the game. So the driver is ok but the game does not want to start in 3D. Surely there is a simple solution. I hope so much. I finally want to play it in 3D :)
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be working now. I had to restart the PC and after that I could start the game and it didn't crash. I hope it stays like this. I have to keep watching it.
ReplyDeleteSorry for all the text. Maybe someone can delete it. Thanks.
OK, glad you got it working. When you run into stuff like this- first step in debugging is to do a DDU cleanup of your driver. Nvidia does a shit job of managing the drivers and they get corrupted over time.
DeleteI had added the 3D fix manually. About the 3DFM it worked then but about Beamer I still have so small problems. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not work.
ReplyDeleteThe depth is perfect but otherwise I am not yet satisfied. It is exhausting for the eyes. The lighting is a bit faulty. With F12 you can improve the 3D setting but what would be the optimal setting?
hello, i'm using sbs virtual desktop with valve index, i'm wondering how i can set my own convergence ? this fix override my manual value in the d3dxdm.ini file, please any help would be greatly appreciated :) and thank you for this fix !!
ReplyDeletehaving this problem as well using tab output
DeleteThank you for this wonderful fix. I just finished the ME1, ME2, and ME3 all heavily modded and working almost perfectly everywhere with virtual desktop, katanga and a quest 3. I did add a shader skip for the fog/rain at the end of the Leviathan dlc. Other than that only minor issues.
ReplyDeleteThanks again, this trilogy was truly amazing to experience in stereoscopic 3d.