The Order: 1886
- February 20, 2015
- Ready At Dawn
Ready at Dawn's first foray into developing a completely new property has paid off as The Order: 1886 is among one of our favorite games to be released this year.
"The Order: 1886 is a third-person action-adventure shooter set in a technologically advanced Victorian-Era London, where players join the elite Order of Knights to battle ancient forces threatening history. This horror shooter game offers a single-player campaign, but it does not have a multi-player feature."
Reviews
- Unbelievable graphics that set a new benchmark for console games.
- Compelling story with an interesting alternate-history Victorian London setting.
- Solid shooting mechanics and a variety of unique weapons enhance gameplay.
- Incredibly short campaign with little replay value and repetitive structure.
- Gameplay is often dull and uninspired, relying too heavily on quick-time events.
- Lacks player freedom and engagement, making it feel more like a cinematic experience than a game.
- gameplay13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "The Order: 1886" is visually impressive but suffers from a lack of balance between cinematic presentation and interactive elements, leading to a reliance on quick-time events and restrictive mechanics. While some players appreciate the immersive atmosphere and solid third-person shooting mechanics, many criticize the gameplay for being dull, repetitive, and overly scripted, detracting from the overall experience. Ultimately, the game is seen as a technical achievement that is hampered by mediocre and uninspired gameplay.
“Stunning graphics, the line between in-game and cut-scene is non-existent, unique story with an interesting backstory, gameplay feels Naughty Dog inspired, no unnecessary fluff.”
“Superb cinematic presentation, the pacing is excellent, fun gameplay that makes the experience immersive, great story and characters.”
“Outstanding visuals, soundtrack and voice acting, solid TPS mechanics, atmosphere.”
“Too reliant on quick-time events, frustrating insta-fail stealth, restrictive and unimaginative gameplay.”
“Overlooks the best aspects of its premise in favor of boring storytelling; every gameplay element is drab and rote. There's too little of the cool stuff (guns, werewolves) and lots of the dull stuff (looking at things, walking slowly).”
“Though a stylish adventure, The Order: 1886 emphasizes its cinematic polish at the crippling cost of gameplay freedom.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their stunning quality, with many reviewers noting the seamless integration between in-game visuals and cut-scenes. The detailed aesthetics, impressive visual fidelity, and stylish design contribute to an immersive experience, setting a high standard for future titles in the genre. However, some critiques mention that while the visuals are beautiful, they may not compensate for a lack of depth in gameplay.
“Stunning graphics; the line between in-game and cut-scene is non-existent.”
“Fortunately for Ready at Dawn, they've achieved setting the bar high in visuals, and have laid out the groundwork for what could well be one of the best PlayStation exclusive franchises.”
“Absolutely amazing graphical fidelity, rock solid framerate, beautiful soundtrack and voice work.”
“A playable third-person shooter with a laughably short campaign, pretty visuals and no substance.”
- story10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is characterized by stunning graphics and a cinematic presentation, but it suffers from pacing issues and an abrupt ending. While some players appreciate the unique backstory and compelling moments, others criticize the storytelling for being clichéd, lacking depth, and failing to fully explore its intriguing premise. Overall, the narrative experience is polarizing, with some finding it immersive and engaging, while others deem it unremarkable and overly scripted.
“Despite all its flaws, there is a story worth experiencing, and some great moments.”
“Superb cinematic presentation, the pacing is excellent, fun gameplay that makes the experience immersive, great story and characters.”
“A stunning action game that relies on story and performance over padding and tacked-on game modes; The Order: 1886 will nonetheless divide gamers with its short run time and reliance on cinematic dazzle.”
“Overlooks the best aspects of its premise in favor of boring storytelling; every gameplay element is drab and rote, with too little of the cool stuff (guns, werewolves) and lots of the dull stuff (looking at things, walking slowly).”
“Shooting is average at best, with no respect for player involvement. The game takes control away at every opportunity, and the story and characters are unremarkable; little will stay with you.”
“Abandons plot threads that could’ve been expanded upon to create a more robust package. The game is very scripted, with poor stealth gameplay exposing this, and the repetition of sections wears thin.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has low replayability due to its short length, repetitive structure, and lack of multiplayer options or unlockable content. Players noted that the story leaves many questions unanswered, but this does not enhance the incentive to replay. The heavily cinematic experience and repeated tutorial hints further detract from the desire to revisit the game.
“The story is full of unanswered questions, and there really is no replay value.”
“Incredibly short with little replay value, repetitive structure, awkward pacing, and no multiplayer option.”
“Heavily cinematic at times, repeated tutorial hints, and no unlocks for replay value.”
- music4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the impressive soundtrack as a key element that complements the visuals and voice acting. It is described as magnificent and perfectly suited to the game's cinematic experience, contributing significantly to the immersive quality of the gameplay.
“Joined by a soundtrack that perfects the mood, the order is a cinematic masterpiece.”
“Outstanding visuals, soundtrack and voice acting, solid TPS mechanics, atmosphere.”
“Absolutely amazing graphical fidelity, rock solid framerate, beautiful soundtrack and voice work.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for neglecting its intriguing premise in favor of uninspired storytelling, leading to a lack of engaging gameplay elements. Players feel that the experience is bogged down by tedious tasks, overshadowing the more exciting features like guns and werewolves. Overall, the emotional impact is diminished by a focus on dull mechanics rather than the potential for thrilling moments.
“Overlooks the best aspects of its premise in favor of boring storytelling.”
“Every gameplay element is drab and rote.”
“Too little of the cool stuff (guns, werewolves), lots of the dull stuff (looking at things, walking slowly).”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its outstanding visuals, immersive soundtrack, and strong voice acting, all of which contribute to a captivating experience. Additionally, the solid third-person shooter mechanics enhance the overall ambiance, making it engaging for players.
“The outstanding visuals, combined with the immersive soundtrack and voice acting, create an incredible atmosphere that pulls you into the game.”
“The atmosphere is enhanced by the solid third-person shooter mechanics, making every moment feel intense and engaging.”
“The combination of stunning graphics and a captivating audio experience truly sets the mood and elevates the overall atmosphere of the game.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
“Despite the impressive visuals, the overall atmosphere fails to evoke any real emotion or tension.”
“The game’s atmosphere is marred by repetitive environments and a lack of engaging sound design.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization of "The Order: 1886" is praised for its impressive performance and cinematic quality, though some players may be disappointed by its short runtime and lack of additional game modes. Overall, the game prioritizes a streamlined experience over extensive content.
“A stunning action game that relies on story and performance over padding and tacked-on game modes, The Order: 1886 will nonetheless divide gamers with its short runtime and reliance on cinematic dazzle.”
“The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during intense action sequences.”
“Despite its beautiful graphics, the optimization is lacking, causing long loading times and occasional crashes.”
“The performance on lower-end systems is disappointing, making it nearly unplayable for those without high-end hardware.”
Critic Reviews
The Order: 1886
Regardless of quantity concerns (which is a valid complaint), where The Order more crucially falls apart is in regards to quality. It does not matter if a game is one or one hundred hours long, you need to enjoy playing it, and The Order fails at that most crucial of tasks. This is unforgivable, and instantly makes it impossible to recommend.
40%Uncharted Territory
Ready at Dawn's first foray into developing a completely new property has paid off as The Order: 1886 is among one of our favorite games to be released this year.
80%The Order: 1886 Review
The Order: 1886 is a great game, as long as you treat it as a mindless shooter and not the bevy of innovation we were all led to believe it was. Graphically appealing, the title shows us once again, we should not judge a book by its cover.
70%