Sony Philippines serves up steampunk adventure and horror with ‘The Order: 1886’ and ‘Bloodborne’

 

 

As part of the ongoing celebration of the Playstation's 20th anniversary, Sony is making sure that all eyes are on what's coming for the venerable gaming platform. 

 

Sony Philippines recently held one of the first events of its kind in the country: an extensive preview of two of its most anticipated exclusives, "The Order: 1886" and "Bloodborne."

 

The media event was held at the Imperium e-Sports Bar and Video Game Lounge at Metrowalk. While waiting for the event to start, attendees got some hands-on time with "Bloodborne." This action role-playing game was developed by From Software, the studio behind the infamously challenging "Souls" series that includes "Dark Souls II." 

 

"Bloodborne" takes place in the ruined gothic city of Yharnam were deranged townsfolk and nightmarish creatures lurk. In the past, Yharnam was were travelers went to to seek a cure for disease, but now it is plagued with an endemic illness. "Players will have to face their fears as they search to discover the city’s darkest secrets in order to survive," reads the press kit. 

 

Sony Computer Entertainment's Asia Region marketing manager Arata Naito was present at the event and effusive about the games on hand. He mingled with gamers and gave tips not just on navigating the world of "Bloodborne," but surviving it. Like "Dark Souls II," planning attacks and being patient is crucial. Naito pointed to how stamina limits the number of consecutive attacks you can make. That means every hit has to be well placed and every opening must be taken advantage of. 

 

I chose to play as the hammer wielder in my time with "Bloodborne," hoping that heavy damage would make even just a few successful hits resolve an encounter quickly. But "Bloodborne" made short work of me anyway. While timing attacks felt easy enough to grok, dodging was another matter. Unlike other action games, "Bloodborne" doesn't use a regenerating health mechanic, which means conserving your health loss will be key to surviving Yarnham.

 

Once the event began, Naito took the stage to discuss the state of Sony Computer Entertainment. He didn't just talk Playstation, but highlighted the developers managed by SCE Worldwide Studios. These include Media Molecule ("Little Big Planet"), Sucker Punch ("Infamous") and Guerrilla Games ("Killzone"). There's also Naughty Dog, creators of the hit series "Uncharted" and critical darling, "The Last of Us." Naito singled out "The Last of Us" as an example of Sony's commitment to quality games, stating that it has won over 200 Game of the Year awards.

 

Then the game previews officially began with our first look at "The Order: 1886."  An action shooter from Ready at Dawn Studios, it is set in an alternate history version of Victorian-era London. The titular 'Order' is a group of monster hunters ostensibly descended from the Knights of the Round Table, and each member sports a callsign drawn from Arthurian legend. "Players join a centuries old war that will determine the course of history forever," reads the press kit.

 

After a video message from Ready at Dawn's Ru Weerasuriya, Naito was eager to show us the game. He stressed that everything we see — including the story segments of the game — is presented by the engine in real-time, rather than as pre-rendered CG videos. Ready at Dawn is based in California, and Naito said that the developer's proximity to Hollywood meant that they had access to talent that could help fine tune the game's filmic look. 

 

I was able to get some hands-on time with "The Order: 1886," and my comfort level with shooters helped me despite being unaccustomed to Dual Shock controllers. I stepped into a scene that involved gunning down rebels aboard a zeppelin and all the familiar cover shooter elements were there: sniping with long-range weapons, taking cover by doorways, lobbing grenades. 

 

There's a hacking minigame that sees you aligning mercury rods, some minor stealth sections and some QTEs, but it's all boilerplate stuff. What really impressed me were the graphics. Okay, improved graphics are par for the course with every generation of games, but this was crazy stuff: intricately textured leather overcoats and finely varnished wooden banisters. I've seen video previews and screenshots before, but they don't do "The Order: 1886" justice.

 

Naito also invited one of the gamers present to provide a guided tour of "Bloodborne." This gamer demonstrated his skills earlier in the day, but with two dozen media people watching, there was certainly pressure to perform. He did pretty well, favoring an agile dual wielding character that dealt little damage but fast enough to respond to any counterattack with a good dodge.

 

What excited me most about the event was that it was a sign that Sony Computer Entertainment is not just taking the local gaming market seriously, but exuding confidence in the value of their hardware and their exclusives on an international level. 

 

"The Order: 1886" will be available on February 20, and "Bloodborne" will follow the next month on March 24. Both titles are exclusive to Playstation 4. — TJD, GMA News