Mass Effect 2 Tech Analysis (Digital Foundry)

[twesterm]

Scoobes said:

As we had a thread last week on Mass Effect 2's graphics I thought this might be of interest to some. Sorry if this is already posted:

Link: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-tech-analysis-mass-effect-2-article

Summary:

• Cut scenes can drop to 20fps to maintain the high level of detail in characters during cut-scenes
• Frame-rate and tearing issues from first game greatly improved
• The 2XAA from 1 has been completely turned off; depth of field and bloom are used to compensate (Obviously on PC you can turn this on via hardware)
• Whilst models from 1st game are still present on characters, apparent sub-surface scattering introduce improved shader effects on faces
• Higher quality shadow maps in sequel
• Main advantages of PC version are performance related (better frame-rates) and 16XAnistropic filtering. Otherwise, PC version a bit dissappointing to those with powerful machines

Improvements for 3 (imo): I'd quite like to have seens some more variety and details in environments. The majority of the game is set in urban environments (relatively simple I believe) with a few jungle areas. If I'm going to be visiting other planets I want some weirder stuff! Also, I'd like those environments to be less static (wind blowing leaves and branches instead of static trees).

I noticed that in the occassional cut scene, but that makes it sound like it happens all the time like in Mass Effect when it really doesn't.