ENB Test : Real Vision ENB

ENB TEST

REAL VISION ENB

Today, an important ENB test.

I installed Real Vision ENB recently. I wanted to try it because it's now compatible (since several months) with latest enb series (308 and 315). Its update is recent too. I like up-to-date ENBS.

You must know that I already have an experience about it. Indeed, I used it during several months in 2013, just after the release. I used it for about 6 months, if I remember correctly. 

This ENB is the most popular and the most endorsed ENB of all time for Skyrim. In google, if you write "Skyrim ENB", Real Vision is the first ENB you can see.

This ENB has a lot of visibility.

I do this test for 2 reasons:

According to my first experience in 2013, does the ENB improve with time?

Second, Does "popular" means good?

Let's start!

I tested the ENB with both enb series : 308 and 315. No differences between them. Both are stable.....my game too.

I installed all requirements. Real Vision requires Climates of tamriel. Not sure this is the best choice in 2017/2018. Better climates and textures (sun, clouds, etc) are available nowdays. 

Two versions are available for the lighting system:

- RLO

- ELFX 

I used the elfx version. My game is build around ELFX and SMIM, so, I selected the ELFX version. 

1) First impressions when I started the game

Looks terribly ......old. Back to the past 😊 (in 2013). This sensation only occurs in forests and in cities. In snowy landscapes, the result is better. However, we can't judge an ENB on a first view. I need to visit the entire world to have a more precise opinion.

I only I have one big doubt...about the subsurface scattering (skin). The result on my characters is very important for me and I already know that I will not be able to get a good result. I tried to edit the subsurface scattering without good results (skin details and realism).

2) Strong points of the ENB

That's a problem. It's very hard to find strong points. The ENB is not cinematic and not realist. I have a difficuty to store it in one category.

However, the ENB is decent on rocks and mountains. The result is particulary nice on wet rocks. The wet effect is pleasant. But this effect comes from my meshes mainly, not from the ENB. I use meshes from realitic waters 2. 

The water is sometimes beautiful. Not perfect, it does not improve realist water 2, but some rivers and pounds are nice.

Another strong point, is in snowy landscapes. The result is not bad and snowy trees pop up from the screen. I like this sensation.

All glaciers and ice are great.

There is one commun point about these strong points. The color Blue. The ENB palette and all settings are "friendly" with this color.

3) Weak points of the ENB

So, yes, It looks like old unfortunatly. I don't see the improvement compared to my ancient experience in 2013. Lots of ENBS improve with time, but not this one. Why the ENB did not improve with time? I know the author/owner of the enb has changed with time, but a so much popular ENB could have improved a litte bit more.

The ENB is not vivid and does not improve a lot of details in the game.

With real vision, the game is just more colored compared to the vanilla version.

But, you'll not obtain added value or special/specific features.

No features but the ENB cost FPS (mainly exteriors). I'm ready to pay the price of FPS but for an important result, not for a small improvement.

Climates aren't impressive, nights are basic and characters are a little bit flat.

The ENB creates a neck seam/ tint variation on characters. You just need to remove the green point of the "Fixtintgamma" in the ENBGUI.

here

The original depth of field is.....limited. It's very good for gameplay but you must change is you want to do some screenarchery. The original Dof hasn't a focal point, so you can't move it. And settings are very limited.

You can replace it with the Dof of your choice from another ENB.

Another weak point is "interiors". They really miss something and ELFX is not improved.

On a personal note, I'm always demanding with one thing about ENB : precision. 

An enb can be realist, cinematic, or whatever you want, but I like precise graphics. Real Vision is not precise. It's a little bit blurry and shapes are not clear and not sharp

 

4) Verdict

Very very disapointed, I was waiting more. Normally, with all textures I have in my games, the final result should be superb, but it's not.

The lack of contrast and the general flat spirit bring nothing to your game.

The fps cost is not worth the graphics.

However, to finish on a positive point, Real Vision ENB has a very nice and detailled presentation page on Nexus with a lot of informations. The ENB has an auto installer. That's nice for beginners and new players.

Well, that's a good FIRST enb, for a first try, with few settings.

But with time and experience, I recommend you to move to others ENBS with more features and with a better visual impact....and for the same FPS cost.

Thank you

(more images below)