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[CozMick]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2015-the-order-1886-tech-analysis

It seems pretty clear that Ready at Dawn has emulated this filmic approach and in that sense, we feel they've really nailed it. The upscaling artefacts in Ryse, minimal as they were, are eliminated here and the selected anti-aliasing and post-processing techniques really succeed in delivering the type of image one might find when examining a still frame on a Blu-ray film.

Coming from humble handheld origins, Ready at Dawn's first foray onto more powerful console hardware is a curious mixture of extremes. What can't be ignored are the fundamental flaws in the pacing, the over-reliance on cut-scenes and a basic lack of content. And yet, at the same time, from a technical perspective what we're looking at here is a game with an extreme level of care, attention - and accomplishment. The narrow approach to game design has at least allowed the team to unleash perhaps the most impressive example of real-time graphics on a console to date. The quality of the lighting and materials really helps build a beautifully realistic, almost tangible world for the player to experience.

The presentation also calls to mind our thoughts on Ryse when it was released in late 2013 - with a different approach to rendering that is more film-like in nature. The Order: 1886 moves away from the sharp edges one typically associates with real-time visuals by focusing more on a soft, temporally stabile display. It's clear that pushing visuals of this quality on a console with super-sampling would be impossible leading us to believe that this is the best possible choice given the situation. In our first look at Ryse, we quoted a Hollywood CG professional on image quality and, reading it again in 2015, it feels completely relevant to the approach Ready at Dawn has taken:

They mention texture filtering but it seems they have no idea what technique is used

Nit-pick me if old.

 

[Stike]

old...

 

[byron_hinson]

old...

It's the final analysis posted today

 

[CozMick]

Edit : Corrected my post for being completely wrong. My apologies.

 

[dark10x]

Their final verdict is pretty pathetic once again.

50% review 50% tech verdict.

That's just not true. The verdict is multiple paragraphs and gameplay is only very lightly touched on.

 

[Inuhanyou]

Very interesting. I saw the beginning of the game earlier, holy crap. They really did some nice work on that engine

 

[Stike]

It's the final analysis posted today

Oh..

So they post two articles on the same game? wtf

 

[DOWN]

Ready at Dawn deserves another game for the engine alone, whether it's an improved sequel to The Order or not.

 

[Angel_DvA]

I don't understand the tech review and at the same time the review of the game thing, just make two different article already, I don't care of the pacing or problem of the game when I just want to know how it run ...

The game looks great thought but the 21:9 thing need to die.

 

[CozMick]

That's just not true. The verdict is multiple paragraphs and gameplay is only very lightly touched on.

Yeah. My apologies. I saw a single paragraph. That's what happens when I'm viewing from a phone.

Sorry. I'll edit my post.

 

[Savantcore]

And yet, at the same time, from a technical perspective...

Is all that I'm interested in from you, Digital Foundry.

 

[c0de]

That's just not true. The verdict is multiple paragraphs and gameplay is only very lightly touched on.

Exactly. It's almost as if some wanted it to be there to complain.

 

[Steroyd]

Oh..

So they post two articles on the same game? wtf

They usually do a preliminary of sorts for example on a multiplatform game they normally break down one version of the game and then analyse and compare it to the other versions down the line.

 

[dark10x]

Is all that I'm interested from you, Digital Foundry.

That's what's there! Good lord.

That's more than seven pages written about the game with maybe only two lines in the whole thing mentioning the gameplay. The only reason this is mentioned at all is to deliver the point that creating such a narrow game allowed them to focus on these lavish visuals.

Heck, I'm one of the few people on here to actually really like the game. I thought it was a great experience but it's super limited in scope.

 

[Inuhanyou]

It may seem like a small thing, but POM used even sparingly can really bring out the wow factor on the cobblestone roads. Sure its not tessellation, but it doesn't really need to be, the effect is similar visually and that's really all that matters.

 

[krimsoncharge]

the NXgamer tech analysis is pretty good too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ3N2kLKdX0

 

[Heigic]

I don't understand the tech review and at the same time the review of the game thing, just make two different article already, I don't care of the pacing or problem of the game when I just want to know how it run ...

The game looks great thought but the 21:9 thing need to die.

It cant be that hard to ignore half a paragraph.

 

[Steroyd]

I don't understand the tech review and at the same time the review of the game thing, just make two different article already, I don't care of the pacing or problem of the game when I just want to know how it run ...

The game looks great thought but the 21:9 thing need to die.

I think mentioning pacing, cutscenes and narrow corridors are fair points to make in the tech review because it gives an insight on why the graphics are awesome and the framerate is steady etc.

It'd be an obvious different ball game if it was open world for example.

 

[icecold1983]

That's just not true. The verdict is multiple paragraphs and gameplay is only very lightly touched on.

in your opinion, yay or nay on msaa?

 

[jellies_two]

While heaping praise on the engine and overall immersion it creates, they could have ended their sentence about the best real-time graphics ever right there at the full stop instead of adding ".. on consoles" as though it wouldn't dominate also out of that pond. At least currently.

Also amazing and spectacular in a bad way is how reviewers - who all to a man pile on any game that doesn't bring better visuals to the table, or is held back by poor porting, or is laden with day zero bugs, or doesn't use hardware to the fullest, or is partly a product of last-gen -
these reviewers with their checklist of key sins, when presented with a game that has no such visual issues, is a leap on previous engines, offers a serviceable and bug free experience, still with a story (in a field hardly known for amazing writing at even the GOTY level), and yes with its flaws too, including length and replayability. Some of these reviewers give it 5s, 4s or 2s?
Without metacritic, you could just ignore them as trolling players, but everyone looks at that whatever it is, yellow 66 figure..

 

[Inuhanyou]

I gotta say, whether its on PC or console, these are some of these best graphics ever out of any commercial hardware not a tech demo.

Everything else still has the video game sheen. Not with this game, and it all comes down to their effective use of PBR, how they actually put specific layers down for every material, how light is effectively cast in dynamically...it all comes together really well

 

[DOWN]

I don't understand the tech review and at the same time the review of the game thing, just make two different article already, I don't care of the pacing or problem of the game when I just want to know how it run ...

The game looks great thought but the 21:9 thing need to die.

How do you watch movies that use the now classic 21:9 standard? Most Blu-Rays are 21:9, and even Beyond: Two Souls went for a wide format. I love it and wish people would get over themselves. It is a great composition and if anyone wants to use it, especially with how iconic it is to visual media after decades as a standard, then I want them to use it. I prefer it over 16:9.

 

[SeanTSC]

How do you watch movies that use the now classic 21:9 standard? Most Blu-Rays are 21:9, and even Beyond: Two Souls went for a wide format. I love it and wish people would get over themselves. It is a great composition and if anyone wants to use it, especially with how iconic it is to visual media after decades as a standard, then I want them to use it. I prefer it over 16:9.

It makes for some good shots in movies, but it's terrible in Third Person Camera games. Galahad taking up 1/4th of the screen totally ruins any shot composition they were going for when you're controlling him. I very much dislike it in The Order and it was even *worse* in The Evil Within. It's not worth the negative effect it has on gameplay. Maybe it'd have been better if the camera was pulled much farther back, but as is, the whole "cinematic shot" thing is total bullshit with how much real estate Galahad's model takes up while playing.

Maybe it'd work better in First Person games, but I think it's total shit for Third Person Cameras, especially ones that are so close to the player's model that it hurts gameplay.

 

[DHC-Shannow]

That's what's there! Good lord.

That's more than seven pages written about the game with maybe only two lines in the whole thing mentioning the gameplay. The only reason this is mentioned at all is to deliver the point that creating such a narrow game allowed them to focus on these lavish visuals.

Heck, I'm one of the few people on here to actually really like the game. I thought it was a great experience but it's super limited in scope.

Fantastic analysis mate, looking forward to experiencing those visuals

 

[1.21Gigawatts]

unleash perhaps the most impressive example of real-time graphics on a console to date.

Cut the "perhaps" and "on console" and we have a deal.

 

[Backfoggen]

Exactly. It's almost as if some wanted it to be there to complain.

It's easier to just dump the same criticisms into every DF thread than to actually look at the individual articles.

 

[CozMick]

That's what's there! Good lord.

That's more than seven pages written about the game with maybe only two lines in the whole thing mentioning the gameplay. The only reason this is mentioned at all is to deliver the point that creating such a narrow game allowed them to focus on these lavish visuals.

Heck, I'm one of the few people on here to actually really like the game. I thought it was a great experience but it's super limited in scope.

I did enjoy reading the article but I do believe more emphasis on what an engine does well should be written in comparison to the nit picking which is quite apparent in this analysis.

Because let's be honest there isn't another game on the market that is pushing the graphical quality of this title.

Cut the "perhaps" and "on console" and we have a deal.

Exactly my point. Is it downplaying? Who knows.

 

[Angel_DvA]

How do you watch movies that use the now classic 21:9 standard? Most Blu-Rays are 21:9, and even Beyond: Two Souls went for a wide format. I love it and wish people would get over themselves. It is a great composition and if anyone wants to use it, especially with how iconic it is to visual media after decades as a standard, then I want them to use it. I prefer it over 16:9.

I always preferred 1.78:1 aspect ratio for movies or games, i hate Black bars and they don't bring whatever you want them to do, I have a large TV and I want media to use all of it.

I think mentioning pacing, cutscenes and narrow corridors are fair points to make in the tech review because it gives an insight on why the graphics are awesome and the framerate is steady etc.

It'd be an obvious different ball game if it was open world for example.

Some games have great performance even being an Open World like GTA or Shadow of Mordor or Dragon Age inquisition or ACU ( Joke ) ... I understand what you're saying and i agree that an open world game can't be as good looking as a corridors game but everyone know that.

 

[Freeman]

Cut the "perhaps" and "on console" and we have a deal.

I agree, why is it so hard to admit the obvious?

I'm still waiting for someone to show a PC game that looks better. Ryse on my PC that is much more powerful than a PS4 doesn't look nearly as good.

 

[Sevenfold]

the NXgamer tech analysis is pretty good too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ3N2kLKdX0

Never heard of NX gamer but that was great. I got a high end gaming rig and this looks incredible!

 

[travisbickle]

Cut the "perhaps" and "on console" and we have a deal.

Definitely drop at least one of the two.

unleash perhaps the most impressive example of real-time graphics to date.

unleash the most impressive example of real-time graphics on a console to date.

 

[MrNyarlathotep]

That's more than seven pages written about the game with maybe only two lines in the whole thing mentioning the gameplay.

It's more like ten to twelve pages if you really breathe in the analysis

 

[Seanspeed]

I agree, why is it so hard to admit the obvious?

I'm still waiting for someone to show a PC game that looks better. Ryse on my PC that is much more powerful than a PS4 doesn't look nearly as good.

Seems like damn high praise all through the article. Why is that not good enough for some of you?

 

[FranXico]

This technical analysis was clearly sharply focused on the technical achievements of the game, and while the gameplay was mentioned, that discussion didn't take center stage, as there are plenty of reviews out there for that.

As it should be. Unlike the other "analysis" that was published by another author who just used it as an opportunity to bash an exclusive on the platform that is competing with his favorite brand.

Thank you, John.

 

[1.21Gigawatts]

Definitely drop at least one of the two.

That would be good, too.

 

[Seanspeed]

As it should be. Unlike the other "analysis" that was published by another author who just used it as an opportunity to bash an exclusive on the platform that is competing with his favorite brand.

Leadbetter does articles on all sorts of things, many of which have nothing to do with gaming. Its just some of you so entrenched in console warfare that you're seeing the enemy everywhere even when you're at the supermarket.

How do you watch movies that use the now classic 21:9 standard? Most Blu-Rays are 21:9, and even Beyond: Two Souls went for a wide format. I love it and wish people would get over themselves. It is a great composition and if anyone wants to use it, especially with how iconic it is to visual media after decades as a standard, then I want them to use it. I prefer it over 16:9.

I bought a 40" TV because I wanted a 40" image.

 

[DOWN]

I always preferred 1.78:1 aspect ratio for movies or games, i hate Black bars and they don't bring whatever you want them to do, I have a large TV and I want media to use all of it.

I don't know what "they don't bring whatever you want them to do" means, but if you're reasoning is because rather than looking at the excellent picture on the screen, you are thinking about black bars, then it seems like an arbitrary reason to lose enjoyment of many films and now some games. Were you one of those people who bought pan and scan full screen movies back when TVs were 4:3?

Do you prefer 16:9/1.78:1 stuff because it is TV shape and you need the TV full or else? Because I really prefer the composition of 21:9/2.39:1 and I'm always glad when movies and games use it for many visually pleasing scenes. I'd rather have TVs move toward 21:9 than have composition try to switch to TV ratios.

Seems like damn high praise all through the article. Why is that not good enough for some of you?

They put qualifiers where they weren't needed. They understated the scope of the accomplishment, which seems like an issue that any fan of the work could be reasonably bothered by.

 

[AlphaDump]

Seems like damn high praise all through the article. Why is that not good enough for some of you?

eh, people are upset because of prior bias (Far Cry 4), or unsubstantiated comments (Evolve), and are now holding them up to a lens. I being one of them.

"perhaps" is underplaying it, again, without a doubt. intentional? who knows, it's just weirdly consistent

 

[A More Normal Bird]

Cut the "perhaps" and "on console" and we have a deal.

I did enjoy reading the article but I do believe more emphasis on what an engine does well should be written in comparison to the nit picking which is quite apparent in this analysis.

Because let's be honest there isn't another game on the market that is pushing the graphical quality of this title.

Exactly my point. Is it downplaying? Who knows.

I agree, why is it so hard to admit the obvious?

I'm still waiting for someone to show a PC game that looks better. Ryse on my PC that is much more powerful than a PS4 doesn't look nearly as good.

Definitely drop at least one of the two.

Because "Best. Graphics. Ever!" is fine for a personal opinion on a forum, but for a professional writer it adds nothing substantial to the article yet can be seen as making an objective statement on a subjective issue that would no doubt serve as a lightning rod for trolling and controversy. Adding "perhaps" as a qualifier cuts out (or at least limits) all debates about art-style and game scope and adding "on console" does the same for things such as obscene IQ and 16K pillow texture mods, whilst still conveying that in the author's informed opinion the combination of technologies stand at the pinnacle of current achievement in the field.

 

[Seanspeed]

They put qualifiers where they weren't needed. They understated the scope of the accomplishment, which seems like an issue that any fan of the work could be reasonably bothered by.

This just seems like the most insane level of nitpicking/complaining yet. Like, people were searching hard and wide to find something to bitch about or find some evidence to confirm their preconceived notions and this is all they could come up with. Its sad.

 

[Ushay]

A technical masterpiece, good stuff, at least ROD shone in one regard with this game, gives me hope for the possible sequels.

 

[icecold1983]

if 4x msaa is indeed being used this is serious coding wizardry

 

[FranXico]

Leadbetter does articles on all sorts of things, many of which have nothing to do with gaming. Its just some of you so entrenched in console warfare that you're seeing the enemy everywhere even when you're at the supermarket.

Good thing I was referring to an article that has to do with gaming, in fact it concerned the same game, which makes commenting on that article by comparison pertinent. Are people forbidden from criticising Leadbetter's recurring slant on his articles, especially when they have an example of the same title analized by two different people?

I am not sure which point you are trying to make here.

 

[CozMick]

This just seems like the most insane level of nitpicking/complaining yet. Like, people were searching hard and wide to find something to bitch about or find some evidence to confirm their preconceived notions and this is all they could come up with. Its sad.

Almost akin to the article.

 

[1.21Gigawatts]

Because "Best. Graphics. Ever!" is fine for a personal opinion on a forum, but for a professional writer it adds nothing substantial to the article.

Agreed, but the way its phrased now also adds nothing of value.
Just like the popular "one of the best" phrase. Has no meaning other than "its pretty good".

 

[Seanspeed]

if 4x msaa is indeed being used this is serious coding wizardry

Would it still be coding wizardry if it was 1920x1080 and 2xMSAA? I think that makes it a bit more realistic when you think about it like that, but its still a hell of an accomplishment no doubt.

 

[icecold1983]

Would it still be coding wizardry if it was 1920x1080 and 2xMSAA? I think that makes it a bit more realistic when you think about it like that, but its still a hell of an accomplishment no doubt.

i should have just used msaa instead of qualifying it with a sample count. i mean its very impressive even if its just a free ppaa. but its a marvel of coding if they managed this level of fidelity together with hardware aa given the specs of ps4.

 

[DOWN]

This just seems like the most insane level of nitpicking/complaining yet. Like, people were searching hard and wide to find something to bitch about or find some evidence to confirm their preconceived notions and this is all they could come up with. Its sad.

Eh, everyone will have a bias on a statement like that. Someone more immersed in consoles will likely be very proud and excited to see a game setting a standard when it seems like it goes against the odds of hardware and hardware criticisms. Someone with PC experience may be less inclined to tout a console tech achievement beyond that arena if they tend to keep the higher potential of PC hardware evolutions in mind over a generation (whether that's disadvantaged by the studios making engines for PC or not).

It's just the kind of thing where you might wonder why the teacher called the valedictorian "highest scoring girl in the graduating class" instead of "highest scoring in the graduating class." It leaves room for and almost implies to less involved parties that there's something better on PC if the achievement mentioned was stated as specific to consoles or qualified with that descriptor.

 

[stryke]

i should have just used msaa instead of qualifying it with a sample count. i mean its very impressive even if its just a free ppaa. but its a marvel of coding if they managed this level of fidelity together with hardware aa given the specs of ps4.

Using a forward rendering process affords them the use of MSAA more easily.

 

[Seanspeed]

Good thing I was referring to an article that has to do with gaming, in fact it concerned the same game, which makes commenting on that article by comparison pertinent. Are people forbidden from criticising Leadbetter's recurring slant on his articles, especially when they have an example of the same title analized by two different people?

I am not sure which point you are trying to make here.

I'm saying that people are seeing what they want to see. I see the same criticisms about DF pop up even when its not Leadbetter writing the articles. And I see people talk about 'media bias' against the Playstation quite a bit, especially in review threads. Its like some people believe there's this huge conspiracy out to trash the Playstation when in reality, its just their own emotional investment in the brand isn't being reciprocated so lovingly by others and so anything where the Playstation isn't being held up on a pedestal is 'bashing' or some agenda or something. I don't think some of you guys realize how silly it seems from an outside perspective.

Eh, everyone will have a bias on a statement like that. Someone more immersed in consoles will likely be very proud and excited to see a game setting a standard when it seems like it goes against the odds of hardware and hardware criticisms. Someone with PC experience may be less inclined to tout a console tech achievement beyond that arena if they tend to keep the higher potential of PC hardware evolutions in mind over a generation (whether that's disadvantaged by the studios making engines for PC or not).

It's just the kind of thing where you might wonder why the teacher called the valedictorian "highest scoring girl in the graduating class" instead of "highest scoring student in the graduating class." It leaves room for and almost implies to less involved parties that there's something better on PC if the achievement mentioned was stated as specific to consoles or qualified with that descriptor.

This sounds incredibly paranoid.