How to Enable Console Commands in Mass Effect 1: A Detailed Guide

Enabling Console Commands in Mass Effect 1: A Step-by-Step Guide

Enabling Console Commands in Mass Effect 1: A Step-by-Step Guide

To enable console commands in Mass Effect 1 on PC, follow these steps:

1. Open the game’s installation folder, which ends in BioWareMass Effect.
2. Navigate to the Config folder.
3. Open the BIOInput file using a text editor like Notepad.
4. Find the line Engine.Console, and directly below it, add the line ConsoleKey=Tilde.
5. Save your changes.

Once this is complete, you can start the game and press the tilde (~) key to access the cheats console, where various cheats can be inserted.

Additionally, you may want to add the line TypeKey=Tab under ConsoleKey to create a console that is only one line wide, allowing you to see what’s happening in the game while using the console.

It is important to note that the console is usually accessed by pressing the backtick key ` (also called the ~ key; located below the ESC key on QWERTY keyboards) or the 2 key on AZERTY keyboards. By default, this feature is hidden.

After enabling the console, you can use commands such as:

• adjustcredits +/- X to add or subtract credits.
• fly to gain the ability to fly.
• giveallX to acquire all of the game’s gear.

Keep in mind that Mass Effect comes with a set of commands that can be executed through the console or bound to keys, many of which are hidden and can only be discovered through trial and error. However, changing critical gameplay keys may lead to difficulties interfacing with objects or starting conversations.

Also, note that the configuration files implement a CamelCase writing style for function and variable names. For example: the ‘Caps Lock’ key will be represented as CapsLock and the ‘Right mouse button’ as RightMouseButton. Yet, when entering commands in the console, you can use any case or combination of cases you prefer.

In terms of bindings, you might want to consider the following:

• Bindings=(Name=”SpaceBar”,InputMode=BIO_INPUT_MODE_NONE,Command=”ToggleCommandMenu | VehicleThrustersOn | OnRelease VehicleThrustersOff | GuiKey BIOGUI_EVENT_BUTTON_X | OnRelease GuiKey BIOGUI_EVENT_BUTTON_X_RELEASE”,Control=False,Shift=False,Alt=False). It is recommended to use a key other than the Spacebar to preserve the default method.
• Fast game speed for travel and cutscenes: Bindings=(Name=”MiddleMouseButton”,InputMode=BIO_INPUT_MODE_NONE,Command=”SloMo 10 | OnRelease SloMo 1″,Control=False,Shift=False,Alt=False).

Top Console Commands for Mass Effect Legendary Edition

To enable the console in Mass Effect Legendary Edition, including for Mass Effect 1, you need to follow these steps:

1. Download and unpack the ME3Tweaks Mod Manager from NexusMods. This will allow you to open the console window and use console commands.
2. Navigate to your game folder and open the ‘BIOInput’ file.
3. Find the line [Engine.Console] and under it add the line ConsoleKey=Tilde. This will allow you to access the console by pressing the tilde (~) key during gameplay.
4. Alternatively, go to Documents>BioWare>Mass Effect>Config on your computer, open BIOInput in Notepad, and make the same modification.

Once enabled, you can press the tilde key (above tab) during gameplay to open the console and type in the desired cheat. Note:

• These commands are NOT Case-Sensitive.
• Use these codes at your own risk; not all have been tested.

Here are some useful console commands:

Troubleshooting Common Console Command Issues in ME1

If you are experiencing issues with console commands in Mass Effect 1, follow these troubleshooting steps:

• First, ensure that you are using the correct key to open the console, which is usually the ~ key.
• Next, check that your game settings allow console access.
• If you have a non English/US keyboard, open the BIOInput.ini file located in Documents\Bioware\Mass Effect\Config.
• Add ConsoleKey=TAB to the [Engine.Console] section.
• Save the BIOInput.ini file afterwards. This will allow the console to work on both Steam and Origin versions of the game.
• Any key that is not bound to an in-game action and is not exclusive to Windows can work too, as long as you enter the correct key name in the [Engine.Console] section.
• Alternatively, use the TAB key instead of the Tilt key as the console key. For instance, CapsLock works as well, which means you don’t have to change your keyboard language before starting the game.
• If you have a European keyboard, follow these steps:
  • Go to Windows Settings, select Language, then Language Tab.
  • Click on your Native Language Tab Options.
  • Add Keyboard > United States, and set the United States keyboard as default.
  • Launch the game and press ~ (the key near 1).
• When entering commands in the console, you can use any case, or a combination of cases. For example: GiveBonusTalent 14 and givebonustalent 14 are both valid.
• If issues persist, try verifying your game files or check for potential compatibility issues with your keyboard or system settings.
• For enabling the in-game console in Mass Effect Legendary Edition, it requires installing a mod. Currently, there are two console enabler mods available for the trilogy.

Using Mods to Unlock Console Commands in Mass Effect

Using Mods to Unlock Console Commands in Mass Effect

Enabling the in-game console in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition is done by installing a mod. There are currently two console enabler mods for the trilogy. Both mods are created by reputable members of the community and are safe to install, though a manual backup is needed to uninstall.

To enable console commands in Mass Effect Legendary Edition, players will need to download and unpack the ME3Tweaks Mod Manager from NexusMods. Before installing any mods, players should create backups of their saves and game files. Modding, as well as using console commands, has the potential to cause games to behave unpredictably, corrupt save files, or break entirely. Backups can prevent issues.

To enable the console, use the ME3 Tweaks Mod Manager. When playing in-game, simply press the ~ (tilde key), above tab (also known as ` (grave)) to open the console, then type in the desired cheat. The TAB key brings up a single box at the bottom of the screen, if you prefer.

It is recommended to use the in-game console instead of this mod. However, I will leave this up since there’s no good reason to take it down, but I won’t be maintaining it given the superior method. This lets you use every console command by typing them into a text file, and then pressing the corresponding numpad key. This method works for all three games and can be used instead of FOV replacers or other specific console command mods.

How to Install:

1. Backup your files. These are the ones that will be replaced:
   • Mass Effect Legendary Edition\Game\ME1\BioGame\CookedPCConsole\Coalesced_INT.bin
   • Mass Effect Legendary Edition\Game\ME2\BioGame\CookedPCConsole\Coalesced_INT.bin
   • Mass Effect Legendary Edition\Game\ME3\BioGame\CookedPCConsole\Coalesced.bin
2. Extract zip to Mass Effect Legendary Edition directory, overwrite when prompted (e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Mass Effect Legendary Edition\).
3. To Uninstall, restore from backups.

In each game folder, under ‘Binaries’, there will be 10 text files, ‘console0.txt’ – ‘console9.txt’. The number corresponds to the Numpad. So, Zero on the Numpad activates every command in console0.txt, and so forth. This will work anywhere in the game where you can quicksave. Nearly every command from the originals should work just fine. Place individual commands on their own line.

What this mod does: This mod allows you to use the console commands I’ve included by using the function keys. These specific commands are:

• F1: +100,000XP
• F2: -100,000 credits
• F3: +100,000 credits
• F4: +3 squad talent points
• F5: -3 talent points
• F6: +3 talent points
• F7: Add Electronics talent
• F8: Add Decryption talent
• F10: Set FOV to 90
• F11: Max Paragon
• F12: Max Renegade

To install, make a backup of your Coalesced_INT.bin from \Mass Effect Legendary Edition\Game\ME1\BioGame\CookedPCConsole\. Place the file into \Mass Effect Legendary Edition\Game\ME1\BioGame\CookedPCConsole\. Restart the game if it was running when you performed this. You will need to reinstall this mod after each game update.

If the commands are not working for whatever reason, I have uploaded an optional file that removes the F1-F4 weapon swap hotkeys. If this still doesn’t work, you can unbind them in-game.

Furthermore, if you have any mods installed, the install process should automatically enable console commands. However, if not, navigate to Tools menu > Bink Bypasses > and click whichever game you want to install it for.

Differences Between Console Commands for PC and Xbox in ME1

The console commands in Mass Effect 1 (ME1) reflect significant differences between PC and Xbox versions.

PC Version:

• ME1 features a developer console integrated directly into the game.
• This console allows players to customize their gameplay, such as giving themselves and their squad matching weapons or abilities.
• Players can access the console by going to Documents > BioWare > Mass Effect > Config on their computer.
• In the configuration file, they need to open BIOInput in Notepad and locate the line [Engine.Console]. They can then enable the console under this line.
• Players can type commands directly into the opened console after issuing the appropriate trigger.
• Currently, console commands are not available by default in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition; however, they can be re-enabled through mod installations.
• There are two console enabler mods available for the trilogy to grant access to old cheat codes.

Xbox Version:

• The Xbox version does not support console commands, which limits customizing options.

In summary, while the PC version of ME1 offers extensive customization through console commands, the Xbox version lacks this feature entirely. Players on PC benefit from mods that can restore functionality in the Legendary Edition, which is not possible on Xbox.