Patch 1.05 Gets the Characters a Little Farther From the Uncanny Valley
Mass Effect: Andromeda’s reviews were more or less dominated by discussions of the lifeless eyes and rigid glares that overshadowed key scenes. BioWare heard these complaints, and set out to correct this problem with the latest update, patch 1.05.
Now that the patch is out in the wild, users have began compiling comparison shots detailing how effective the fixes were. The results are characters that look more human and less like flat-eyed imitations waiting for you to fall asleep.
The first set of shots is from Reddit user Tripod1404. On the left, you have the proper level of light in the eyes, more subtle makeup, signs of stress and even some subtle creases in the forehead. The image on the right is more like an old CRT monitor a half-second after it’s been switched on. The second set of shots shows the eyes in greater detail, both before and after. These come courtesy of Reddit user jizabo. These images show just how important these tiny details are. The proper (or improper) level of light in the eyes means the difference between a human expression and a nightmarish facsimile.
With this patch in place, a major component of initial criticism towards Andromeda has been addressed. However, even a response this expedient may be too little, too late. Whether or not these fixes are actually enough to change player perception remains to be seen. BioWare has more fixes and updates planned over the next couple of months. A sober second look, once all the tinkering is over with, may reveal a very different game than the one sold on launch day.