The Order: 1886

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 100 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
The Order: 1886 Game Cover
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"The Order: 1886" is a third-person action-adventure shooter set in a unique vision of Victorian-Era London, where advanced technology is used to battle a powerful and ancient foe known as Half-breeds. As Galahad, a member of an elite order of Knights, players must navigate conflict with rebels and this deadly enemy to determine the course of history. The game combines historical figures and events with new twists on familiar myths and legends.

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Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 100 reviews
story69 positive mentions
replayability5 negative mentions
  • The graphics are stunning and set a new standard for console visuals.
  • The story is engaging and well-developed, with interesting characters.
  • The gameplay, while linear, offers solid shooting mechanics and a cinematic experience.
  • The game is relatively short, taking around 6-8 hours to complete.
  • There are too many cutscenes and quick-time events, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
  • The lack of replay value and limited exploration options make it feel less substantial.
  • story193 mentions

    The story of "The Order: 1886" is a central focus, praised for its engaging narrative and well-developed characters, particularly the protagonist, Galahad. However, many reviewers noted that the plot is relatively short and suffers from pacing issues, with some feeling it lacks depth and backstory for supporting characters, leading to a lack of emotional attachment. While the game offers a cinematic experience with stunning visuals and voice acting, it leaves some plot holes and an open-ended conclusion that suggests potential for a sequel, yet may disappoint those seeking a more complete narrative.

    • “The story is excellent.”
    • “I found the characters to all be quite interesting and the story was well-rounded and kept me interested as well.”
    • “The order: 1886 has an amazing story (Galahad is a brilliant lead), the graphics are the best I've seen on PS4, the soundtrack is exceptional, the entire game is fun and interesting, the soundtrack is amazing etc. It's essentially an interactive movie, and as a professional filmmaker, I simply love it!”
    • “The story is so brief you have no time to grow attachment to the characters.”
    • “There are many plot holes in the story.”
    • “The plot is pretty average.”
  • graphics97 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, often described as some of the best seen on a console, with stunning visuals and impressive detail that create a cinematic experience. However, some players noted issues such as excessive blur effects and occasional glitches, suggesting that while the graphics are a highlight, they do not fully compensate for gameplay shortcomings. Overall, the visuals are praised for their beauty and immersion, making the game a showcase of the PS4's graphical capabilities.

    • “The graphics are amazing on this game, and the story is awesome.”
    • “The graphics truly show off what the PS4 is capable of.”
    • “The graphics are the best I have seen on any console to date.”
    • “It causes unwanted blur over the entire frame, and if there's one thing I despise more than anything in video game graphics, it's blur.”
    • “More than just raising expectations, it’s hard not to wonder if some small part of the budget put into world-class graphics could have been set aside to assure that it was also fun to play.”
    • “This game proves that graphics do not trump gameplay.”
  • gameplay85 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many praising its solid cover mechanics and weighty shooting, while others criticize it for being repetitive and overly reliant on quick-time events. The seamless integration of cutscenes and gameplay enhances the cinematic experience, but some players feel that the gameplay lacks depth and variety, making it less engaging for replay. Overall, while the mechanics are generally sound, there is a consensus that improvements are needed to elevate the gameplay experience further.

    • “The cover mechanics are solid, and the shooting has a lot of weight to it.”
    • “It is highly cinematic, similar to The Last of Us, but what I liked more about this was it wasn't like watching a movie; it was perfectly blended with the gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay mixed with the cinematics is infused so well and fun to immerse myself in the world of the knights vs. lycans.”
    • “This game looks the exact same both in cutscenes and gameplay.”
    • “But it wasn’t long before I encountered my first lycans, and the stilted, unimaginative gameplay became unbearable.”
    • “The gameplay is admittedly shallow and the AI is on a level with the first Uncharted—that is to say, it's basically an arcade shooting gallery.”
  • replayability18 mentions

    Overall, the game suffers from extremely low replayability, with many players noting that it can be completed in a single sitting of around 6.5 to 7 hours. The lack of multiplayer options, a limited story, and minimal exploration opportunities contribute to a general consensus that once the game is finished, there is little incentive to return. While some players appreciated the graphics and gameplay, the absence of character or weapon progression and the short length significantly detract from its long-term appeal.

    • “If a sequel were to be released that fixes all the game's problems and adds more longevity and replay value, then it will be a true classic.”
    • “Unfortunately, it is a little on the brief side with limited replayability, but the graphics, story, characters, environments, and controls are outstanding.”
    • “I don't really have any major complaints outside of the length and replay value.”
    • “There's no real replay value since it's a straight-to-the-point single-player game.”
    • “The problem with this game is the replay value; it is near zero.”
    • “There is zero replayability, as I cannot imagine sitting through this disaster twice.”
  • atmosphere15 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and beautifully crafted steampunk aesthetic, enhancing the storytelling experience. Players appreciate the cinematic quality and the lack of traditional HUD elements, which further engrosses them in the narrative. While some critique the game's length and content, the overall ambiance and visual presentation are considered standout features that contribute significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The atmosphere is enveloping and immersive.”
    • “Pros - well crafted and acted story, that continually gets more interesting - beautiful aesthetics and atmosphere, playing around with the photo mode and color themes really highlight how beautiful the game is - no HUD or menus really add to the story progression and get you engrossed in the game.”
    • “The graphics look great for a console and the story is awesome, the atmosphere of London in 1886 is very cool.”
    • “Where it succeeds is in the polish of tone and atmosphere, not content.”
    • “For the next games (in the reported trilogy): double the game length with more story and more side quests, continue to develop the atmosphere and story, and offer more variety of enemies.”
    • “While I understand the complaints some have of the game being short and it not being open world, I sincerely appreciated the beauty of the atmosphere and the story.”
  • music12 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its exceptional quality and perfect alignment with the game's tone, enhancing the overall immersive experience. Players highlight the effective use of musical cues that elevate key moments, making the soundtrack feel integral rather than filler. Overall, the combination of a stunning score, impressive sound design, and strong voice acting contributes significantly to the game's cinematic feel.

    • “The soundtrack is excellent and just about perfectly matches the overall tone of the game.”
    • “Sounds in the game are excellent and the music for each chapter fits perfectly for the situation you were in.”
    • “The soundtrack is exceptional, the entire game is fun and interesting, and as a professional filmmaker, I simply love it!”
    • “The music in this game is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel monotonous after a short while.”
    • “While the game has many strong points, the music fails to leave a lasting impression and often feels out of place.”
    • “The soundtrack is forgettable and doesn't enhance the gameplay experience as much as I had hoped.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Character development in the game is inconsistent; while some players appreciate the impressive growth of the protagonist, others feel that the lack of exploration for supporting characters diminishes overall engagement. The character designs are praised, but the absence of depth in certain characters leaves players with unanswered questions.

    • “We see character development throughout the game, and it's truly impressive.”
    • “Personally, I loved it; the graphics were amazing, the story was very intriguing, and the character development was pretty good.”
    • “The game has some really cool character designs.”
    • “The game does no past exploration or character development outside of the protagonist, leaving you not caring for them.”
    • “Character development, or lack thereof, raised way too many questions.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Reviews indicate that grinding in games can be excessively tedious and slow, often involving repetitive tasks that detract from the overall experience. Players express frustration over the time investment required for minimal rewards, with some citing hundreds of hours spent on monotonous activities without significant progress. This aspect can lead to a lack of engagement and enjoyment, particularly when the gameplay feels unnecessarily drawn out.

    • “If I had to guess, I'd say more than a few people are just mad all the time because they still haven't gotten a Gjallarhorn after 500 hours of mindless grinding in Destiny.”
    • “Most of the time you'll be tediously walking slowly from one point to the next, lazily pressing buttons to do mundane things that really shouldn't consist of so much of The Order 1886's content.”
    • “Considering that a bit of that was collectible hunting and grinding weapon kill counts, the nine and a half hour length is laughable.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while it features impressive visuals with minimal glitches, some users reported occasional graphical issues and a lack of engaging gameplay. The presence of bugs detracted from the overall experience, particularly towards the end of the game.

    • “Rather than adding realism, it felt buggy.”
    • “Near the end of the game, there were a few glitches in the graphics that surprised me.”
    • “Graphics - very good looking game, but a few glitches and some textures looked bad up close.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game is praised for its impressive graphics and smooth performance, with minimal stuttering or framerate issues. However, some players express a desire for deeper gameplay mechanics over high visual fidelity, indicating a trade-off between graphics and interactive depth.

    • “I would rather have lower graphics performance and more depth.”
    • “Despite the shortcomings of the gameplay and a sorely missing ability to interact with the world around you, the quality of the visuals and the performances by the actors only left me wanting more.”
    • “The graphics are amazing with hardly any stuttering or framerate dips.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the reviews highlights a sense of irony and hypocrisy in the gaming community, particularly regarding the differing reception of games based on genre biases, such as the preference for open-world titles over others.

  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviewers note that while Sony could improve its advertising to clarify the game's nature, the company's primary focus remains on maximizing profits by appealing to a broad audience.

    • “Yes, Sony could've done a better job properly advertising what type of game this is, but let's face it, they're in the business of making money and they are going to try and appeal to the largest possible audience to sell their game.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Reviewers praise the game's narrative for its well-executed twists and emotional beats, noting that the story's flow enhances the overall emotional impact.

    • “The twists and turns in the story flowed very well, with the emotional beats hit at the correct points in the story.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

160hMedian play time
120hAverage play time
40-200hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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