The Order 1886: Did the $60 Price Tag Kill It? Will a Sequel Happen?
Planetary
The game was released at a time when PlayStation exclusives weren’t nearly as dominant as they are now. It received a ton of criticisms due to its length — the game could be completed in around five hours. The Order was obviously meant to be a series, the last cutscene ends on a cliffhanger. Sadly, we’ll probably never know the events that were supposed to transpire. I rather enjoyed The Order: 1886 — What exactly did I like about the title? I rarely do this, but I’ll list out the good the game had to offer.
- Solid third-person shooting mechanics
- Beautifully realized fictional version of London in 1886
- Wonderfully shot cinematic cutscenes
- Intriguing story all throughout with a great cast of characters
- Amazing graphics and presentation
- Great gameplay pacing outside of drawn-out cutscenes
Do I think The Order: 1886 was exceptional? No. It could have probably even benefited from having RPG elements of some sort — whether it be the character or gun progression. However, I do believe it caught a bit too much flack. I don’t think the game’s length was a big deal; more hours played doesn’t mean a better game experience. Look at the game Journey, an amazing experience that can be finished in under 2 hours. Easily a much better game than countless 100+ hour RPGs. Obviously, it’s odd to compare the two different types of games, but I just think the length argument is invalid.
The Order 1886 Should Have Been $30 – $40
I think it would have been less of a ‘slap in the face’ to consumers if Sony set the right expectations. They could have marketed The Order as a short and sweet cinematic experience, and then launched it at $30 – $40. Example: the Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice developer (Ninja Theory), spoke out saying that the game is half as long as most AAA experiences. Therefore, they believe $30 is the best asking price. Many publishers and developers don’t realize how much being real with the consumer can pay off. I think if Sony would have marketed The Order the same way, the reception would have been better, and a negative stigma wouldn’t surround the game.
Why do I want a sequel? As I mentioned above, I really enjoyed The Order: 1886. Not only that, but the game could easily be built upon. The gunplay can be tinkered with and enhanced, new styles of combat could easily be implemented. I think the first game is the skeleton for what a sequel could start with. Similar to the original Assassin’s Creed, it was the skeleton for what would be become the critically acclaimed Assassin’s Creed II.
Ready at Dawn Wanted a Sequel
The studio was obviously expecting/hoping The Order would receive a sequel. As I mentioned before, the game actually ended on a cliffhanger. Unfortunately, all signs indicate that Sony has no plans for a sequel. Sony actually goes out of its way to not include The Order: 1886 footage in any of its game reels at events, along with No Man’s Sky. It’s kinda saddening — along with me are thousands of fans of the original who are now left hung out to dry. Maybe Ready at Dawn will finish out the story in a comic-book, if we’re so lucky.
