Walking away from E3, a lot of folks were excited about the variety of new IPs launching on next-gen platforms. The idea of branching out into original ideas and moving away from tired sequels is certainly a welcome change of pace, but unfortunately for Ready at Dawn’s The Order: 1886, it was difficult getting too excited over. Not because the teaser didn’t pique my interest, the setting and tone seem like they’re right up my alley, but because the entire trailer was pre-rendered footage that didn’t even explain what genre the game was built around. Was it a shooter? If so, first-person or third-person? What about action-adventure, or action-RPG. The problem with completely CG trailers is, we just don’t know. Luckily, the PlayStation Blog got a hold of studio co-founder Ru Weerasuriya, who was kind enough to answer some of the more pressing questions concerning the upcoming PS4 exclusive.
Most importantly, he confirmed that The Order is an action-adventure title that incorporates shooting mechanics. As far as what to expect, Weerasuriya said, “it’s very much story-based – it’s a linear story-based game. We’re trying to tell a story. It’s what we call a filmic experience.”
Elaborating further on exactly how the studio intends to mirror a more cinematic experience as compared to other games, Weerasuriya mentioned that, “when you watch a movie you don’t question what lens is being used. You don’t question why there is grain on the film or why there’s a certain lighting. Those are things we’ve been accustomed to seeing for 30 years. So when it’s missing we usually go ‘Wait, something is wrong with this image’.”
“With this game we replicated a lot of physical attributes,” he added. “We have true lens distortion. We built physical lenses into our engine so we could get something where people will look it and not be totally disconnected. Games have a tendency sometimes to be too clean and crisp. We thrive in the dirt. We just love the fact that it feels dirty. It’s filmed in a very realistic way.”
This filmic experience the team is building toward is centered in London, and while there won’t be a 1:1 mapping of the British capital, Weerasuriya mentioned that those familiar with the area will recognize all of the important landmarks. “There are obviously some things we’re going to put in there that don’t exist, and we’ve moved certain locations a bit, but as you can see from the trailer, when you pass in front of the Thames, Parliament is where it’s supposed to be and London Bridge is where it’s supposed to be. We don’t want people to go ‘Nah, this doesn’t look right’. You’ll be interacting with real people, real events and real places.”
Ready at Dawn is best known for their PSP iterations of the God of War series. As mentioned above, The Order: 1886 is scheduled to release exclusively on the PS4 sometime in the future. Considering the team is still figuring out the moment-to-moment action and doesn’t have any real footage to show off just yet, it’s a safe bet that this title won’t be releasing until late 2014 at the earliest, with a release date in 2015 seeming even more likely.
Do you folks like what you’ve seen from The Order:1886 so far? Are you a fan of Ready at Dawn’s previous work? What types of qualities would you look for in a game that is promising a more cinematic, filmic experience? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to like IGXPro on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or give us the ‘ol +1 on Google+. If you can’t get enough of my shenanigans, (who could blame you?) you can check me out @GamingsNirvana, or add +VinnyParisi to your circles.
