The Order: 1886 isn’t out until later this week, but it’s already proven to be a controversial purchase. So to make sure you have all of the information you need before you decide whether or not to buy it, here’s what we know about the game so far.
Is the game really only 5 hours long?
Let’s get this one out of the way first. If you haven’t been following the story, basically a YouTuber broke the game’s embargo, and released a full walkthrough of the game earlier this week. People were quick to notice that in total, it took that YouTuber about 5 hours to complete the entire game.
In response, Ready at Dawn creative director Ru Weerasuriya stated that “it’s a matter of quality, not quantity.” Additionally, the studios technical officer Andrea Pessino has said that playing through the game at a “normal” pace and difficulty level will take around eight to ten hours.
In short, we won’t really know how long it will take the average player to complete the game until the general public has access to it later this week. If you’re worried about the length, it would make sense not to pre-order the game, and wait to see how people are responding to it post-release.
Is there a multiplayer mode?
No, The Order was designed to be a singleplayer-only experience. Ready at Dawn has previously stated that the design team was heavily influenced by Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.
What resolution/framerate does it run at?
The game will run at 1080p and 30 frames-per-second. The 30 fps stat seems a little low, but Ready at Dawn has been defending that aspect since it was announced. According to the developers, the lower framerate created a more “filmic” look that the developers liked, and that due to the game’s high visual fidelity, it would have been impossible to make the game run at 60 fps without sacrificing the quality.
That sounds a little iffy, but in their defense, other developers have previously come out and said the same thing. A few years ago, Mike Acton of Insomniac Games wrote a blog post stating that a higher framerate does not mean better visuals, and furthermore, there is no real correlation between the framerate of a game and its sales/review scores.
Do you get anything for pre-ordering?
Yes you do. If you pre-order the game in stores or through the PlayStation Store, you will receive a code for the Knight’s Arsenal DLC. The Knight’s Arsenal DLC includes the Red Lightning Pack (a Red Knight uniform and the Arc Rifle Prototype), and the Arsonist Pack (a Black Knight uniform and the Arsonist Rifle).
If you pre-order the game at GameStop, you will also receive the Knight’s Endurance DLC. This includes a Desert Khaki Infiltration Field Uniform, Endless Blackwater, and Blacksight Regeneration. It also includes the Knight’s Arsenal content.
Are there different versions of the game?
Yes, there is the base game, the Collector’s Edition, and the Premium Edition.
The Collector’s Edition includes the game, the Knight’s Arsenal DLC (a bonus outfit and variant weapon), a digital soundtrack, digital behind-the-scenes videos, a collectable steelbook case, stickers, and a 7 inch tall statuette.
The premium Edition includes the game, the Knight’s Arsenal DLC, a digital soundtrack, digital behind-the-scenes videos, a collectable steelbook case, an art book with a hidden compartment, stickers, a “Blackwater Vial” and chain, and a 13 inch tall statuette.
Are there multiple endings?
No, The Order has been designed as a linear story experience.
How big is the PSN download?
If you’re purchasing it digitally, the game will require 29.4GB of free hard drive space.
Is there a demo for the game?
No, Ready at Dawn has chosen not to release a demo for the game. This may chance in the future, but the studio has made no indication of this.
Will the game be coming to other platforms?
It’s possibly, but very unlikely. The game is being published by Sony, and has been marketed as a PlayStation 4 exclusive.
Have the games’ trophies been revealed?
Yes, you can find the full list of PSN trophies here. Be warned though, there may be spoilers.
How long has it been in development?
According to Ready at Dawn, they’ve been working on the game since 2010. It was officially announced three years later at E3 2013. It went gold last month on January 17.
Who directed the game’s development?
The Order: 1886 was co-directed by Ru Weerasuriya and Dana Jan. Weerasuriya is the founder, CEO, and creative director of Ready at Dawn Studios. He was previously an employee at Blizzard Entertainment, where he worked on Starcraft, before leading the cinematic art direction for Warcraft III and World of Warcraft.
Jan meanwhile was previously the director of God of War: Ghosts of Sparta, and the Lead Level Designer on God of War: Chains of Olympus.
Who composed the score?
That would be Jason Graves, who previously worked on the music for Tomb Raider and all three Dead Space games.
What game engine does it use?
The Order: 1886 runs on the RAD Engine 4.0, which was developed internally at Ready at Dawn Studios.
Are there any PlayStation 4 freebies?
Yes, you can get a code for a free PS4 theme by going to the game’s official website and exploring the “pinboard” to learn more about the game. You’ll need to explore all 10 sections, but you can speed through it by opening and then immediately closing them. It should take no more than five minutes.
When is it coming out?
The Order: 1886 will be released on February 20. You can pre-load the game now if you have already pre-ordered it.
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