The latest PlayStation 4 exclusive from Ready at Dawn, The Order: 1886, released on Friday. But it was earlier in the week leading up to release where all of the drama happened. First there was a video showing the game, which has no multiplayer, being beaten in five hours. Then when the review embargo lifted, the reviews were less than stellar. People’s fears and doubts about the game were pretty much justified. It’s not the system seller that everyone at Sony and Ready at Dawn were hoping it would be, but that doesn’t mean that it’s all bad. In fact, there’s quite a bit to like about The Order: 1886. Here are five of those things…
The visuals
The Order: 1886 is one of the most, if not the most, beautiful games I have ever played. From the character faces and environment, to the animations and player models, everything has an insane amount of detail. Where the amazing graphics is most obvious is the character’s clothing and gear. From the way they look to the way they move with the characters, you’ll be blown away. Cloth looks like cloth, leather looks like worn leather, and buckles look like real buckles. You’ll also find items that you can examine, but most have no other purpose. The visuals are so amazing that I couldn’t help but shake the thought that The Order: 1886 was a tech demo, showcasing what Ready at Dawn can build upon in future games.
The cover shooting
As on-rails as the gameplay is, the shooting feels good. I actually wish that it wasn’t interrupted as much as it was. I really like the Gears of War series and The Order is right up there with it. There needs to be a little more polish, but the gunplay and cover mechanics are not the weak part of The Order. But there are moments where your team will split up that screams for co-op multiplayer, and that’s where you get a little sad.
The atmosphere
I love London. I love steampunk. So I loved the look and feel of the dark alleys in Victorian-era London. The gloomy skies and skyline from the buildings and architecture create a world that I’d like to spend more time in, just with a little more freedom. I also liked how you would find newspapers around the game, which would allow you to read the front cover and see how the press and general public learn about events. It’s like Destiny’s grimoire cards, except they’re in the game and I like the presentation better.
Voice acting and music
I thought every voice actor and actress did a phenomenal job. The performances given were heavy and full of depth, giving the characters wear and tear, a sense of purpose, and an understanding of the consequences of their actions. It helped the story out tremendously that everyone was top-notch. Likewise, the music and string instruments gave a sense of tension and drama that the cinematic approach desperately needed, which would have failed without the wonderful audio.
Cinematic approach
While playing The Order: 1886, I felt like I was playing a movie, which is what they were going for. They absolutely nailed the cinematic approach, even though it was intruding at times.
There are definitely positives to build on for sequels, and I think The Order: 1886 can be a really strong franchise if Ready at Dawn takes the criticism in stride and makes adjustments. There’s a good story in place, an amazing look, and solid shooting mechanics already there — things just need tweaking and more time to marinade. There also needs to be some sort of multiplayer, because the game would be entirely different with it. Like Horde mode, or The Order vs half-breeds, or co-op. There’s things here that got my mouth watering; now just deliver an amazing main course.
