Animator trio 64 Bits Animations combines science fiction with a retro pixel art aesthetic in a Game Boy Advance-inspiredMass EffectDemake.
ThoughMass Effecthad its first release back in 2007, it still maintains its spot among the video game greats, The scifi action RPG introduced players to a military adventure rife with aliens and romance - and, of course, plenty of high-action combat.
Created for the Xbox 360, the game shined in its 3D third-person perspective. Allowing players to see both the action of the scene and Commander Shephard, the visual style aided developer’s efforts to keep combat intense and fast-paced. But how wouldMass Effectchange if it were made Game Boy Advance-style?
Well, one trio of animators from The Netherlands asked that exact question. Taking inspiration from Nintendo’sAdvance Wars, the trio created aMass Effectdemake with old-school flavor.
64 BITS ANIMATION’SMASS EFFECTDEMAKE
64 Bits Animation is a trio of animators from the Netherlands:Niels Beekes(backgrounds and compositing),Ryan van der Gouw(2D animator and illustrator), andNiels “Nelis” K(director, character animation). TheirMass Effectdemake is the sixth of theirdemaster series on YouTube, followingSkyrim, Minecraft, Bioshock Infinite, God of War, and Monster Hunter. Each “demaster” is actually an animation, asking what each of these beloved games might look like in a retro style.
Now, they’ve tackled scifi classicMass Effect, combining it with elements fromAdvance Warsto create what they’ve dubbed “Advance Effect.” The animation takes players along a mission to Virmire to destroy the Krogan cloning facility.
Via 64 Bits Animations
Following Commander Shephard’s difficult decision, the animation displays a turn-based version ofMass Effectcombat. Aided by 5 other team members, Shephard holds off geth to protect the bomb in the facility. The team battles, eventually victorious against Saren.
The demake makes excellent use of Advance Wars' interface and graphics. The character portraits of Kaiden, Ashley, and Shephard add so much charm, and are just plain delightful (even with the heavy story mission!). TheAdvance Warsselection screen is clean and vibrant, making for an incredibly smooth translation of the originalMass EffectUI.
Via 64 Bits Animation
Unfortunately, this demake isn’t a playable game, but the animation is still a real treat for anyMass Effectfan.
To see more of 64 Bits Animations, check outtheir YouTube channel,Twitter,orTwitch streams. You can also view arecent Q&A streamfor more details on their process for this animated demake. Otherwise, watch the full animation below:
