The Order 1886 Review (PS4) (Rated Mature)
Normally when I write my reviews, all I focus on is the game's merits. Is it good or bad? How do the mechanics function? Simple things, alas this review will be slightly different. Too many people made up their minds about this game long before they even got a chance to play it. It seems many people hate it and I do not understand why. The story in The Order 1886 is very inventive, I love the mix of fantasy with history in an environment we do not often see. You will play as Grayson a knight of the order which descends from a line once led by King Arthur. The setting is London in 1886; you will get to see the beauty of London, along with the seedy underbelly of the Whitechapel district where the Ripper murders occurred. You will face enemies of both human and monstrous origin. The story is not totally original; however, the acting and writing are extremely well done.
The story does lack depth, but what it lacks in depth and originality it makes up with stunning production values and terrific performances. The characters are diverse and memorable, most of them are also very well developed. What seems to attract so much criticism is that the game blends action with storytelling. Unlike other linear based shooters, this game takes it's time to also tell the story, and create pacing that is not just running from one shootout to the next. This is something I actually adored, most shooters of this nature are extremely fast paced. They just keep setting up bigger events, and while that can be quite fun. It is nice to see a different approach and there is still plenty of action and thrills in the game. None of the cut scenes were too long, in fact, most of them are interactive, this is where some people also have a problem with the game.
Yes there are a ton of quick time events during the game's 7-hour story; but, that was not a detraction for me, I found most of these events to be fun and well designed. The Order is really going for a cinematic experience, and I enjoyed most of the games quick time events; I felt that they added to the games atmosphere and immersion. That being said, a few of them felt overdone and mildly repetitive. The game often would seamlessly branch from a cut scene or quick time event to gameplay, which I liked because it created a more immersive experience. There are also sections of the game where you will be just exploring the beautifully rendered environments and not shooting up the place. Still, this is a linear game, the path is always forward though there are hidden corners to find and explore.
The games shooting action is intense, fluid and visceral. Gunfire inflicts brutal damage to your opponents, and the game's melee takedowns are also equally satisfying. The controls were very precise; although the cover system could be slightly clunky at times. There are plenty of weapons, and while the more inventive ones are set aside for certain events, I found the game's weapon selection to be very effective. I even enjoyed the more basic of the game's gun selection. No matter how good a games shooting mechanics are though, without well-designed scenarios the game would fall flat. Luckily the action pieces are exquisitely designed, some of them are small and claustrophobic, others are rather large which requires different tactics. Enemies are somewhat intelligent as they never follow the same pattern twice. What I enjoyed about the level design beyond the cinematic nature, was that it felt different. The art style and architecture is really spectacular, it was refreshing to see environments that were not the same sci-fi or war-torn landscapes we see all too often.
As I said the game is paced slower than other shooters and your encounters with the game's monsters are very spread out. You will face more of the game's human enemies than monsters; nevertheless, each time you come to face one of the game's fearsome beasts it is both memorable and pulse pounding. There were also a few stealth sections, these areas are fairly open and feel less linear, they also never overstay their welcome. The game's slower pace may be a problem for some, still I found the game's pace refreshing and a daring change from the faster pace most action games have. Everything felt very deliberate, just when the game needs some exciting action, it pops up. The way the action is spaced out helped the game have more variety, which kept things from getting repetitive.
Many of the the design choices in The Order will be quite polarizing; the story driven nature along with the methodical pace may put off some players. Still, at its core this is an incredibly well-made game, it seems many have written it off before even giving it a chance. Yes the shooting gameplay is nothing new, but it is done very well and makes for plenty of exciting action. The story may be fairly predictable, but I really enjoyed the original setting and the game's charming characters. Of course the game is also visually stunning, with outstanding lighting, visual effects and extreme attention to detail. Much has been made of just how impressive the game's visuals are, and they are breathtaking, to say the least.
Is this a game for everyone? No it is not. However, most of the mainstream critics would lead you to believe that this is a mediocre and boring game at best. That is simply untrue, rarely do I speak out about anything other than the game in my reviews. But, the hatchet job that the media has done to this game is in my opinion disgusting. What is most appalling, is that most of them made up their minds long before they even played the game. It's not perfect, but it is far from the dreadful mess most would lead you to believe. This is a fun and starkly different narrative based shooter experience, if you find that kind of game interesting, chances are you will like this one. Yes, the game is only 7 hours long and there is no multi-player or extra content. But, I have never measured a game's worth based on how long the experience is. I would rather have 7 hours of a great experience, than 30 hours of pure boredom. Plus once the credits rolled, I started the game up again, although I am the type of person that will watch a good movie more than once.
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