MsBontle's Splash Screen Replacer (LE1 LE2 LE3)

Summary

This mod reimagines the default loading screens in Mass Effect Legendary Edition by replacing them with custom artwork, drawn from the raw assets of BioWare's Key Art Generator and meticulously hand-assembled by me in GIMP.

When I first encountered these artworks, I was struck by their beauty and I decided to incorporate them into my own loading screens. However, the original tool's limitations—restricted to only 8 characters—posed significant challenges to this process. For example, I would've been forced me to include some LE2 or LE3 characters in the LE1 artwork, instead of just the vanilla 6 characters. I also would've been unable to include the full suite of characters in the later games, limiting my overall possibilities.

Dissatisfied with these constraints, I took on the challenge of assembling the raw assets by hand (available here, courtesy of Audemus). Taking cues from the original artwork, I channeled my efforts into crafting a trio of arrangements that I felt surpassed the originals and were more representative of the beloved ensemble cast. These new arrangements not only capture the essence of each game in the trilogy, but are a joy to explore, remaining visually distinct and aesthetically pleasing. It was crucial to me that the final product avoid any sense of monotony or 'samey-ness' from developing between games.

The end result is collection that I hope you will find both satisfying and enduring, and that will breathe new life in the games' booting process. For a comprehensive breakdown of the contents, please refer to the following sections. Alternatively, if you're eager to get started, skip ahead to the downloads page (make sure to download the correct size for your monitor!).

I hope you get as much joy from using this mod as much as I have in making it!

What Is Included

Within this mod, you'll find a collection of distinctive splash images carefully tailored to each game. Every image showcases key characters from their respective stories, with a particular emphasis on the most influential figures for that particular installment. These were characters that I felt either possessed the most significant narrative arcs or remained highly memorable for the average player. For instance, Archangel is one of the most iconic characters from Mass Effect 2, featuring prominently in the LE2 artwork (alongside the enigmatic Thane). Similarly, the LE3 images focus on both Legion and Wrex, due to their embodying the moral lessons of the story, while LE1 highlights Tali and Liara due to their close ties to the main plot.

That said, I still felt it was important to recognise the other characters for their contributions. Each holds a special place in our hearts and deserves our appreciation (yes, even James!). As a result, they're positioned near the central leads and cascade outwards in a