Character Models Completely Missing (Help)

[Aimslee]

So I'm currently about 6 hours into the Mass Effect Trilogy, starting off with the first ofc. Anyways, I'm on a the snowy planet (can't remember what it's called) and just finished driving the rover, I am getting out of the rover and take 3 steps and poof my characters are now black squares along with random objects as well as enemy models. I don't understand what is happening and am thinking about just finishing the level which is fairy hard without being able to see what you're shooting and seeing if that works, but if someone else has another solution, I am all ears. Pic Related : http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=116663593

[Laurentius]

Same happens for me. I am completely clueless on how to fix it. How does this occur for you? Have you tried playing through the section where it occurs? Do the black squares pass at some point?

[Grunky06]

Thats the base you first encounter the rachni in Noveria. Same happened to me, I fixed it using the bug fix described here: http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2282965
But now I'm in Ilos and it happened again, I tried to fix the file again, but not worked.

[Hollapeno]

I tried that fix, but it didn't work for me. Still black character models the moment I walk into that building at the part the Andrew said.

[Raz]

Its a known and very widespread bug, along with the rather long loading times.
Its got something to do with the games age, video drivers, and newer computers.
If you're having crashing problems too, setting compatibility to 'Xp service pack 2' completley fixes those.
The graphics thing though.. nothing.
I've searched around forever for a fix, but the best answer i've found is honestly just 'try to ignore it'.

It'll happen twice. Once there on Noveria, and then later towards the end of the game in Prothean ruins. Thankfully once that mission is done, the glitch goes away on its own.

For me it cleared up right before the confrontation with Benezia. I was quicksaving and loading them every 10 minutes or so. You could try that? Try it right before, and then right after you get on an elevator. It seems to have something to do with the textures in those particular areas/rooms.

The cool thing is the hitboxes are still the same, you just gotta take those sections slow and you'll be fine.

Also, oddly enough, Mass Effect 2 is actually running better for me than this one did.

[Laurentius]

Good news, guys. This video has a comment with instructions on how to fix it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEvl9RAn2CY
Once you enter a black-squared area, open the console and type "viewmode unlit". It makes the game look really ugly, but at least the squares are gone. Every once in a while, try typing "viewmode lit" to the console to see if the squares have passed. They gradually disappeared on my playthrough of the snow planet.

[Hollapeno]

Thank you!

[Ehkrickor]

How do i open the console. usually its shift~ or something like that but i can't get it open

[Laurentius]

There's a comment on that video I linked. Guess I should have copy-pasted it right away:

"First go to your Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect\Config\BioInput.ini and in the file you opened, search for [Engine.Console], and add the line ConsoleKey=Tilde just under it.

If you don't have an english keyboard, you may have to type ConsoleKey=Tab

When in game, activate the console by pressing the tilde key (or tab key). The game console will appear. In it, type
viewmode unlit
And play through the parts with the bug. Save and reload to reset."

[Zariak]

dang, I did not know about this, thanks for the fix!

[Ambrose Shea]

this fix has not been around the last time i replayed ME1. thank you, form the bottom of my vile, wretched renegade heart >=}