Mass Effect 1 Frame-rate Issues.

[Valkyira]

As most of you know, Mass Effect 2 allows you to import your save files from the first game. Because of this, I have decided to wipe the dust off ME1 and power through it again. But sadly, by doing this I was reminded of the only issue I disliked about it when it first came out.

The frame-rate is very choppy, even while doing something as simple as running around the Citadel. Now I know that people shouldn't be put off an amazing game because of little problems. But for me, ever since I noticed it back when it came out, I haven't been able to enjoy it as much as I should.

At first I thought it was a problem with my game, so I got rid of it and bought a new copy a few years ago but the problem persisted.
Has anyone else noticed problems with the frame-rate or is it just something wrong with me?

And, If anyone knows of how to make it smoother, any help would be appreciated. I own it on the 360 by the way... It would also be interesting to know if any PC gamers have problems or if it's just on the 360.

Any and all help is welcome

 

[MetallicaRulez0]

The framerate of Mass Effect 1, especially the 360 version, is absolutely horrible. It's not a problem on your end, it's just the way the game is. I remember playing through the Hot Labs area, it was as if you were playing in a strobe light.

 

[Valkyira]

The framerate of Mass Effect 1, especially the 360 version, is absolutely horrible. It's not a problem on your end, it's just the way the game is. I remember playing through the Hot Labs area, it was as if you were playing in a strobe light.

Yeah. I thought it was something to do with my disk at first, then a problem with my xbox. But I'm on my third console since release and its been a pain in the arse on all three.

But I'm glad other people have noticed it.

 

[Lolth17]

Just a tip, I completely agree, there are massive framerate issues in parts, but if you save when you're having them (if you can), then load it up, it usually solves them. Works every time for me.

 

[Buzz Killington_v1legacy]

Have you tried installing the game to the hard drive? I was having some of the same framerate issues with Mass Effect a couple of days ago, and putting it on the hard drive seems to have taken care of the worst of them.

 

[Valkyira]

Have you tried installing the game to the hard drive? I was having some of the same framerate issues with Mass Effect a couple of days ago, and putting it on the hard drive seems to have taken care of the worst of them.

Yep, it was the first game I installed back when the dashboard update came out. If it did fix some, I haven't noticed.

 

[BlindMessiah94]

Have you tried installing the game to the hard drive? I was having some of the same framerate issues with Mass Effect a couple of days ago, and putting it on the hard drive seems to have taken care of the worst of them.

I found that helps a lot.

There are still some choppy sections but I find it mostly occurs when moving into a new area that needs to load. Once you let it load it is fine.

The whole game I think was a little ambitious for it's time. Trying to do way too much and having tons of minor graphical and framerate glitches. (I'm looking at you too Perfect Dark 64)

 

[magicmonkeybars]

*Points* "HA HA."

Sure the pc has some problems, you need a pretty monsterous pc to run it with a half smooth framerate.
But atleast you can buy more ram or a better videocard for the pc.
You're just fucked.... enjoy your console.

 

[Valkyira]

*Points* "HA HA."

Sure the pc has some problems, you need a pretty monsterous pc to run it with a half smooth framerate.
But atleast you can buy more ram or a better videocard for the pc.
You're just fucked.... enjoy your console.

Well aren't you a pleasant individual. /sarcasm

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

Unreal Engine, oh how great you are. Texture pop-in on ME pissed me off too, but I still loved the game.

 

[cold killer pov]

I picked up the game for £10 havent really got into it, on noveria and had a convo with some matiarch women and now i get owned... so its back on the game rack, but yeah, i tend to die thanks to that frame rate issue

 

[reg42]

Frame rate issues? I never encountered this. The texture loading times were horrible though.

 

[Meggiepants]

Frame rate issues? I never encountered this. The texture loading times were horrible though.

Exactly. I was confused when I first read this thread. I never had frame rate problems, but the texture pop in was awful.

One of the worst of any of the games I have played. Sometimes a character would be talking to me for a several seconds before their skin finished rendering.

 

[reg42]

Frame rate issues? I never encountered this. The texture loading times were horrible though.

Exactly. I was confused when I first read this thread. I never had frame rate problems, but the texture pop in was awful.

One of the worst of any of the games I have played. Sometimes a character would be talking to me for a several seconds before their skin finished rendering.

I'm so glad they fixed that for the sequel. Even then they loaded slower than a lot of other games.

 

[Theron Julius]

Textures took too long to load at times especially during the final mission on the citadel. So weird be fighting geth when there a patches of rainbow texture on the walls. It didn't affect gameplay ever and I usually didn't notice it because of the lighting. Other than that there weren't any graphics issues that bothered me.

Edit: whoops, forgot to mention that I was playing it on a console.

 

[Meggiepants]

Frame rate issues? I never encountered this. The texture loading times were horrible though.

Exactly. I was confused when I first read this thread. I never had frame rate problems, but the texture pop in was awful.

One of the worst of any of the games I have played. Sometimes a character would be talking to me for a several seconds before their skin finished rendering.

I'm so glad they fixed that for the sequel. Even then they loaded slower than a lot of other games.

Yeah, it was the first thing I noticed with the sequel. Maybe they'll tweak it even more for the third. That would be nice.

 

[Flour]

Now I know that people shouldn't be put off an amazing game because of little problems.

You're wrong on this. At some point, "a few little problems" become annoying enough to completely break the game's experience. Hell, things like frame rate issues, slow texture loading, in-story contradictions and Deus Ex Machina are all extremely effective at this.