The Order: 1886 has gotten a great deal of criticism for many things. The story has been called too predictable; the gameplay itself has been called boring and far too linier. The characters themselves have been said to have a range of emotion from indifferent and annoyed to expressionless and angry. It was also said on several different occasions that the game was too short and was simply not worth the sixty dollar price tag. While the game did have some of these qualities that doesn’t make it a bad game by any means rather just uninspired in some aspects. But what can people really expect from a title like this. A game that draws from no source material save for Nikolai Tesla having been an actual person who was a genius in many respects and the true father of harnessed electricity. The game does an amazing job of crafting its story and lore despite this and that in itself is a testament to the games quality.
One of the complaints that I do agree with is the constant barrage of the same enemies with the same voices and the same reactions to anything that happens. This again is one of those things that could be overlooked. If the game itself didn’t tend to come off as a series of short films followed by a hallway that ended in a shootout between you and thirty or forty of the same three drunken rebels from the slums. Now I know it seems like I am agreeing with what the general consensus of this game is but the truth of the matter is I absolutely loved this game and can’t wait for its sequel which has better be named The Order: 1887. Now allow me to tell you why The Order: 1886 is as of this moment one of the best titles available on the PlayStation 4.
When The Order: 1886 started out I was ten different kinds of confused. The character that is on the center of the games cover was being beaten to death and reverse water boarded by the two guys who were chasing Flynn rider from the Disney movie Tangled. Then you stab one in the neck and use the other as a meat shield before diving off a bridge to avoid being shot in the face by your fellow Knights. This is the baffling opening to the amazing story that is The Order: 1886 and if you were hoping for this game to stop being cryptic at any point, you’re going to be disappointed. But in the end it’s all worth it because the game comes to a startling conclusion that you may have seen coming but I certainly didn’t. And that’s one of the things I love about The Order 1886, so many shocking revelations are made during the course the game that I found myself constantly crushed with a feeling of anxiety waiting to find out what was going to happen next. The suspense of the game was so intense that there many times that I felt like I had no control over the fate of my character.
This isn’t to say that I felt the control scheme was set up ineffectively. If anything I felt as though they were too loose and free flowing at times particularly around the end of the game while sneaking around the garden area. This could have been present earlier in the game but I don’t recall many situations being as tense as the one present at the games closing chapter. Aside from that one notable instance, I found the control scheme pretty easy to acclimate too despite not having played a shooter of any kind since Modern Warfare 3. And even longer since I had last played an over the shoulder shooter so while the control scheme was simple enough to get the hang of I have to contribute the majority of my aiming success to the on screen crosshairs.
The cover characters of the game were all dynamic and interesting. From Lady Igraines tomboyishly strong little sister/scorned lover role and Sebastian Mallory’s clearly defined father figure role to his entire group. From the stereotypical French playboy role played by Sir Perceval all the way down to Sir Galahad; who takes the role of the loyal member of the Brotherhood who begins to question the will of his superiors only to uncover the unthinkable.
Now I’m aware that all of these roles may seem cliché but I believe that the opposite is true.
Women did not typically behave in this way during this time period and when they did it was a rare thing and usually took place in the slums because they needed to be that way in order to survive their often abusive homes growing up. While it appears that she wasn’t raised in this manner Lady Igraines or “Izzy” is as tough as they come. In an industry oversaturated by articles claiming that there are no strong female characters in video games Izzy stands as a testament to the contrary. She can play just as hard as the boys and often does despite her father telling her otherwise. It’s worth noting that she does have her spine broken and is nearly killed during a fight with a Lycan. But to be completely fair IT’S A WEREWOLF! The same thing would happen to anyone and most people wouldn’t even bother fighting back they would simply run away screaming. Some people may find Lady Igraines to be nothing more than woman but she’s certainly a woman I would want in my corner should Werewolves and Vampires ever start roaming the streets.
While the French are notorious for their womanizing charm Perceval only displays this behavior once during the course of the story and this is regrettably how people tend to see him for the remainder of the game. What they should notice about Perceval is his unwavering loyalty to Sir Galahad which is displayed all throughout the game; most notably when he finds Sir Galahad leaving the rebels base of operations after he is branded a traitor. In addition to these many admirable qualities the man is just outright hysterical. Always there with a witty quip pertaining to the situation no matter what perilous situation he finds himself in. It turns out that he was merely an inductee to The Order but upon the death of a fellow knight Sir Perceval is bestowed full Knighthood by the head of The Order. Given his attitude towards the news of Sir Galahad’s supposed betrayal against The Order an excellent decision has been made.
If ever there was a man to look up too as a symbol of justice, it would be Sir Sebastian Mallory. He is the leader of your small crew of knights and the mentor to Sir Galahad. Unfortunately we don’t get to know him very well as he is killed mid-way through the game during a mission to bring down the rebellion. Although it seems it was more likely that he simply wanted to capture the rebel leader and get the answers his own order would not give him than to actually them. In spite of Mallory’s death, the secrets that the order tried so desperately to hide would be unearthed by his most trusted disciple.
Galahad. The face of The Order: 1886, yet the man that leaves the player with so many questions by the games conclusion. What could he possibly do to expose the truths revealed? Did he kill Sir Lucan or fire slightly above him, sparing him? How will he explain himself to Lady Igraines and will she even listen when he does? How was he able to save Nikola and what are the two of them planning? These are only a few of the many, many questions I had after the credits had rolled and I found myself back at the title screen. The only thing I was sure of by the end of The Order: 1886 was that Sir Galahad is something to be feared by the Lycans as well as The Order itself. The final scene of the story is Galahad making peace with Lucan despite everything that just transpired, if that doesn’t make a stand up gentleman then I don’t know what does or ever will. After the credits run their course Galahad can be soon on a rooftop overlooking London. He can be heard speaking with Nikola who somehow survived a fist fight with Lucan before firing a tiny cannon in his face? I’m sure it will be cleared up or at least touched upon in the games sequel. All in all Galahad is one of the most interesting and well layered characters I have seen in a game since Nathan Drake.
I really don’t want to talk too much about the games story outside of what I have already listed here, because I feel like it is something that is much better off experienced firsthand rather than a story to be told through a friend. I will however leave you with this bit of information about the games story.
Zeppelins are always a bad idea no matter what kind of tech they happen to carry.
Also Getting into a fist fight is almost always a sure way to find oneself disemboweled and left rotting In the gray overcast of Great Britain. Just remember these words of wisdom and I promise that you will most likely make it through this game.
One of the complaints that I do agree with is the constant barrage of the same enemies with the same voices and the same reactions to anything that happens. This again is one of those things that could be overlooked. If the game itself didn’t tend to come off as a series of short films followed by a hallway that ended in a shootout between you and thirty or forty of the same three drunken rebels from the slums. Now I know it seems like I am agreeing with what the general consensus of this game is but the truth of the matter is I absolutely loved this game and can’t wait for its sequel which has better be named The Order: 1887. Now allow me to tell you why The Order: 1886 is as of this moment one of the best titles available on the PlayStation 4.
When The Order: 1886 started out I was ten different kinds of confused. The character that is on the center of the games cover was being beaten to death and reverse water boarded by the two guys who were chasing Flynn rider from the Disney movie Tangled. Then you stab one in the neck and use the other as a meat shield before diving off a bridge to avoid being shot in the face by your fellow Knights. This is the baffling opening to the amazing story that is The Order: 1886 and if you were hoping for this game to stop being cryptic at any point, you’re going to be disappointed. But in the end it’s all worth it because the game comes to a startling conclusion that you may have seen coming but I certainly didn’t. And that’s one of the things I love about The Order 1886, so many shocking revelations are made during the course the game that I found myself constantly crushed with a feeling of anxiety waiting to find out what was going to happen next. The suspense of the game was so intense that there many times that I felt like I had no control over the fate of my character.
This isn’t to say that I felt the control scheme was set up ineffectively. If anything I felt as though they were too loose and free flowing at times particularly around the end of the game while sneaking around the garden area. This could have been present earlier in the game but I don’t recall many situations being as tense as the one present at the games closing chapter. Aside from that one notable instance, I found the control scheme pretty easy to acclimate too despite not having played a shooter of any kind since Modern Warfare 3. And even longer since I had last played an over the shoulder shooter so while the control scheme was simple enough to get the hang of I have to contribute the majority of my aiming success to the on screen crosshairs.
The cover characters of the game were all dynamic and interesting. From Lady Igraines tomboyishly strong little sister/scorned lover role and Sebastian Mallory’s clearly defined father figure role to his entire group. From the stereotypical French playboy role played by Sir Perceval all the way down to Sir Galahad; who takes the role of the loyal member of the Brotherhood who begins to question the will of his superiors only to uncover the unthinkable.
Now I’m aware that all of these roles may seem cliché but I believe that the opposite is true.
Women did not typically behave in this way during this time period and when they did it was a rare thing and usually took place in the slums because they needed to be that way in order to survive their often abusive homes growing up. While it appears that she wasn’t raised in this manner Lady Igraines or “Izzy” is as tough as they come. In an industry oversaturated by articles claiming that there are no strong female characters in video games Izzy stands as a testament to the contrary. She can play just as hard as the boys and often does despite her father telling her otherwise. It’s worth noting that she does have her spine broken and is nearly killed during a fight with a Lycan. But to be completely fair IT’S A WEREWOLF! The same thing would happen to anyone and most people wouldn’t even bother fighting back they would simply run away screaming. Some people may find Lady Igraines to be nothing more than woman but she’s certainly a woman I would want in my corner should Werewolves and Vampires ever start roaming the streets.
While the French are notorious for their womanizing charm Perceval only displays this behavior once during the course of the story and this is regrettably how people tend to see him for the remainder of the game. What they should notice about Perceval is his unwavering loyalty to Sir Galahad which is displayed all throughout the game; most notably when he finds Sir Galahad leaving the rebels base of operations after he is branded a traitor. In addition to these many admirable qualities the man is just outright hysterical. Always there with a witty quip pertaining to the situation no matter what perilous situation he finds himself in. It turns out that he was merely an inductee to The Order but upon the death of a fellow knight Sir Perceval is bestowed full Knighthood by the head of The Order. Given his attitude towards the news of Sir Galahad’s supposed betrayal against The Order an excellent decision has been made.
If ever there was a man to look up too as a symbol of justice, it would be Sir Sebastian Mallory. He is the leader of your small crew of knights and the mentor to Sir Galahad. Unfortunately we don’t get to know him very well as he is killed mid-way through the game during a mission to bring down the rebellion. Although it seems it was more likely that he simply wanted to capture the rebel leader and get the answers his own order would not give him than to actually them. In spite of Mallory’s death, the secrets that the order tried so desperately to hide would be unearthed by his most trusted disciple.
Galahad. The face of The Order: 1886, yet the man that leaves the player with so many questions by the games conclusion. What could he possibly do to expose the truths revealed? Did he kill Sir Lucan or fire slightly above him, sparing him? How will he explain himself to Lady Igraines and will she even listen when he does? How was he able to save Nikola and what are the two of them planning? These are only a few of the many, many questions I had after the credits had rolled and I found myself back at the title screen. The only thing I was sure of by the end of The Order: 1886 was that Sir Galahad is something to be feared by the Lycans as well as The Order itself. The final scene of the story is Galahad making peace with Lucan despite everything that just transpired, if that doesn’t make a stand up gentleman then I don’t know what does or ever will. After the credits run their course Galahad can be soon on a rooftop overlooking London. He can be heard speaking with Nikola who somehow survived a fist fight with Lucan before firing a tiny cannon in his face? I’m sure it will be cleared up or at least touched upon in the games sequel. All in all Galahad is one of the most interesting and well layered characters I have seen in a game since Nathan Drake.
I really don’t want to talk too much about the games story outside of what I have already listed here, because I feel like it is something that is much better off experienced firsthand rather than a story to be told through a friend. I will however leave you with this bit of information about the games story.
Zeppelins are always a bad idea no matter what kind of tech they happen to carry.
Also Getting into a fist fight is almost always a sure way to find oneself disemboweled and left rotting In the gray overcast of Great Britain. Just remember these words of wisdom and I promise that you will most likely make it through this game.