The Order: 1886 Review - A Cinematic Experience Gone Awry
Introduction
If you enjoy cinematic experiences and Victorian steampunk vibes, then this game might just be your cup of tea… or poison.
The Premise
The Order: 1886 takes players to an alternate Victorian London, where ancient legends and advanced technology collide. You play as Sir Galahad, a member of an elite order of knights tasked with fighting supernatural threats. Sounds cool, right? Well, hold your horses.
Visuals: A Feast for the Eyes
First things first, this game is a visual masterpiece. The attention to detail is so impressive that you’ll want to frame screenshots and hang them on your wall. The textures, lighting, and character models are nothing short of breathtaking.
- Pros: Absolutely stunning graphics, highly detailed environments, and realistic character animations.
- Cons: You might find yourself staring at the scenery more than playing the game.
Gameplay: Shallow Waters
Or should I say, wade through the shallow puddle that is The Order: 1886’s gameplay mechanics? While the visuals are top-notch, the gameplay leaves much to be desired.
The Good, The Bad, and The Boring
- The Good: Smooth controls and intuitive mechanics. You’ll feel like a knight, but only for a moment.
- The Bad: Linear levels and repetitive combat. The game feels more like a walking simulator at times.
- The Boring: Quick-time events. Lots of them. It’s like playing Simon Says with better graphics.
Pro Tip: If you want to stay awake, keep a cup of coffee nearby. You’ll need it.
Storyline: A Mixed Bag
The story of The Order: 1886 has potential. Ancient conspiracies, knights, and supernatural creatures sound like a recipe for success. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t quite hit the mark.
Highs and Lows
- Highs: Intriguing premise and well-written lore. The voice acting is solid, and the cutscenes are movie-quality.
- Lows: Predictable plot twists and underdeveloped characters. You’ll find yourself asking, “Wait, that’s it?” more than once.
Length: Short and Not-So-Sweet
One of the biggest criticisms of The Order: 1886 is its length. The game can be completed in about 6-8 hours, which feels more like a demo than a full-fledged title.
- Pros: Quick playthrough. Great for gamers with busy schedules.
- Cons: Leaves you wanting more. Or maybe wanting less, depending on your experience.
The Weapons and Setting
The alternate Victorian setting allows for some creative weapon design. The Thermite Rifle lets players ignite clouds of metallic dust, creating satisfying chain reactions. The Arc Gun fires lightning bolts that jump between enemies. These unique armaments hint at what a more gameplay-focused sequel could have achieved. The world-building itself — combining Arthurian legend with steampunk technology and Jack the Ripper-era London — is genuinely compelling and deserved a longer, more interactive showcase.
Who Might Still Enjoy This
Players who appreciate narrative-driven experiences and can find The Order: 1886 at a steep discount may enjoy it as a short cinematic experience. It functions well as a visual tech demo for the PS4 era and tells a reasonably engaging story across its brief runtime. However, anyone expecting depth, replayability, or value proportional to a full-price game should look elsewhere. The lack of multiplayer or new game plus modes means once the credits roll, there is little reason to return.
Technical Achievement and Its Cost
Ready at Dawn built a custom engine specifically for The Order: 1886, achieving some of the most photorealistic cloth simulation and subsurface skin scattering seen on PS4 hardware at launch. The deliberate choice to render at 1920x800 (a cinematic 2.40:1 aspect ratio with black bars) allowed the studio to push graphical fidelity further than a full 1080p game could. Each scene uses physically-based rendering with individually authored materials — leather, metal, wood, and fabric all react to light sources with physically accurate reflections. This level of visual craft came at the expense of interactivity, and many industry commentators at the time debated whether The Order represented a valid direction for gaming or an expensive dead end. The filmic grain filter applied to all gameplay footage mimics 35mm celluloid texture, contributing to the cinematic aesthetic that defines the entire presentation from start to finish. The game was developed exclusively for PlayStation 4 and was never ported to PC or subsequent console generations, which means it remains locked at 30 frames per second without any possibility of higher performance through hardware upgrades or backward compatibility enhancements.
Final Verdict: A Beautiful Letdown
In conclusion, The Order: 1886 is a visually stunning game that falls short in almost every other aspect. It’s like dating someone who’s really attractive but has the personality of a wet blanket. You’ll enjoy looking at it, but playing it is another story.
Overall Rating: 6/10
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