Support NeoGAF

[BruceLeeRoy]

Not all stories need to have comedic elements, but it's a good idea to have some if your story is about silly things.

What are you talking about?
So your saying because the characters have mustaches and the narrative is dealing with elements that don't exist in our world it needs humor in order to be good?

 

[RoboPlato]

It's impressive when it works, one of the reasons being that it works so rarely and requires special talent to achieve. I don't really feel any confidence in a video game developer to have the storytelling chops to pull off that kind of achievement, and what they've shown of the game so far has done nothing to dissuade me of that opinion.

Have you played RaD's GoW games? They were the best written, most character driven stories in the series and added a substantial amount to Kratos' character.

 

[Ishan]

Being a period piece doesn't preclude humor; there were plenty of funny people in the Victorian era. More importantly, when you try so hard to be dour and well, grimdark, you run a very high risk of creating tonal dissonance, as you're trying to make the audience believe that dapper gents running around fighting werewolves with steampunk shotguns is an incredibly serious and meaningful thing.

i think someone shotting and killing werewolves and rebels and then laughing and cracking jokes is psychotic at best and quite the tonal dissonance .

 

[ProfessorMoran]

What are you talking about?
So your saying because the characters have mustaches and the narrative is dealing with elements that don't exist in our world it needs humor in order to be good?

It needs rap.

 

[FaintColt388301]

So TLOU should've been comedic since it was about a fungus that turns people into man-eating mushrooms.

"Guess what. We're silly people, Joel. It's been that way for a long time."

 

[VindicatorZ]

Why are you guys even arguing with him? Somebody will complain about anything with this game. Now the game is too serious and could use some comedic elements? God damn, man. The tone of the game is fantastic, if there's a comedic element in there somewhere, who cares? It's not silly things, the game takes itself seriously, and that's awesome.

 

[Rurunaki]

This sure looks remarkably humorless for a game about mustachioed steampunk dudebros fighting werewolves. They seem to be trying really hard for "art" but they'd be better off just having fun with the premise.

So.. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen? Needs more Sean Connery if you ask me. No seriously, how did you come up wih this conclusion?

 

[Branduil]

What are you talking about?
So your saying because the characters have mustaches and the narrative is dealing with elements that don't exist in our world it needs humor in order to be good?

I'm saying they're trying to use A-grade presentation for B-grade material. Unless they turn out to be master storytellers, that's not likely to make for a great story. I haven't seen any reason so far to think that there's a deeper meaning to the Mustache Bros vs. Lycanthropes conflict than the surface one.

So.. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen? Needs more Sean Connery if you ask me. No seriously, how did you come up wih this conclusion?

Alan Moore is hardly an example of a humorless writer. In any case, I'd be impressed if the game ended up evincing half of his storytelling skill.

 

[Naughty_Doge]

Not all stories need to have comedic elements, but it's a good idea to have some if your story is about silly things.

So, any story with fantasy or scifi elements is not to be taken seriously and shold include comedy/humor no matter what?

Is that what you're saying?

 

[funkypie]

Looks good. I might just have to order this.

 

[shortsoptional]

I'm saying they're trying to use A-grade presentation for B-grade material. Unless they turn out to be master storytellers, that's not likely to make for a great story. I haven't seen any reason so far to think that there's a deeper meaning to the Mustache Bros vs. Lycanthropes conflict than the surface one.

Why do you call them "Mustache Bros" instead of the Knights like they state in the game?

 

[Branduil]

So, any story with fantasy or scifi elements is not to be taken seriously and shold include comedy/humor no matter what?

Is that what you're saying?

It depends entirely on what the fantasy and scifi elements are. But far more often than not, being completely humorless results in bad storytelling.

 

[B.O.O.M]

"Guess what. We're silly people, Joel. It's been that way for a long time."

More like The Last of FUNg-US amiright?

 

[3DimensionalAperture]

I'm saying they're trying to use A-grade presentation for B-grade material. Unless they turn out to be master storytellers, that's not likely to make for a great story. I haven't seen any reason so far to think that there's a deeper meaning to the Mustache Bros vs. Lycanthropes conflict than the surface one.

I don't disagree with you that a truly great story can leverage different emotional tonalities throughout the experience, and that TO 1886 better have a great story if it's going to depend on its story as much as it's letting on to be doing.

However making these blind assumptions about the "lack of humor" when the game isn't out for another 2 months is fucking stupid. We barely have anything to go off of to begin with. Your opinions are horrible if they resort to factless conjecutre.

Moreover, on the topic of "humorless" and "being taken seriously" - using the word "dudebros" should get you banned from having an opinion on the internet.

 

[BruceLeeRoy]

It depends entirely on what the fantasy and scifi elements are. But far more often than not, being completely humorless results in bad storytelling.

I'm sorry but this is the dumbest line of reasoning I have unfortunately taken the time to read.

 

[SlasherJPC]

I'm sorry but this is the dumbest line of reasoning I have unfortunately taken the time to read.

I'm with Bruce on this one. It literally makes no logical sense.

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

Everything I see from this game looks solid. Very Solid.

But its clear this game gets trolled like it was named Titanfall or something.

 

[HORRORSHØW]

lol damn. it's not an order thread without a pointless derail. at least this time it's something new! lmfao @ levity and comedic elements. galahad should have a hitl...er chaplin stache and call it a day. that should lighten the mood and heavy atmosphere.

 

[Branduil]

It's pretty telling that having a different opinion is considered a "derail." Par for the course with The Order threads.

I don't disagree with you that a truly great story can leverage different emotional tonalities throughout the experience, and that TO 1886 better have a great story if it's going to depend on its story as much as it's letting on to be doing.

However making these blind assumptions about the "lack of humor" when the game isn't out for another 2 months is fucking stupid. We barely have anything to go off of to begin with. Your opinions are horrible if they resort to factless conjecutre.

Moreover, on the topic of "humorless" and "being taken seriously" - using the word "dudebros" should get you banned from having an opinion on the internet.

I'm basing my opinions on what they've shown of the game so far, the same as everyone else. It's RAD's own responsibility if what they've shown is an inaccurate representation of the game.

 

[psn]

Wanted to pre-order. Sadly there is no collectors edition available at Amazon Germany atm

 

[Primethius]

It's pretty telling that having a different opinion is considered a "derail." Par for the course with The Order threads.


I'm basing my opinions on what they've shown of the game so far, the same as everyone else. It's RAD's own responsibility if what they've shown is an inaccurate representation of the game.

You're expecting a trailer to have comedic elements pre-release even though the major tone of the game is more serious in nature?

That's reaching pretty far to come to your conclusions.

 

[HORRORSHØW]

It's pretty telling that having a different opinion is considered a "derail." Par for the course with The Order threads.

it's not a derail if you're staunch in your opinion that every game you deem "silly" needs to lighten its mood. since no game is a simulacrum of reality (you know, the mundane, quotidian aspects of reality), then every game should fall within the taxonomy of silliness. were you there complaining about how the silliness of alien: isolation needed an air of comedy to cut its tension?

 

[Dodecagon]

Well the co-writer does have two Emmy's.

Guy below, you pretty much ignored his comment except for the last sentence.

 

[Branduil]

it's not a derail if you're staunch in your opinion that every game you deem "silly" needs to lighten its mood. since no game is a simulacrum of reality (you know, the mundane, quotidian aspects of reality), then every game should fall within the taxonomy of silliness. were you there complaining about how the silliness of alien: isolation needed an air of comedy to cut its tension?

If the Alien:Isolation trailer was about finely-groomed men fighting aliens set to Silent Night, sure, I'd have the same criticism.

 

[HORRORSHØW]

If the Alien:Isolation trailer was about finely-groomed men fighting aliens set to Silent Night, sure, I'd have the same criticism.

oh, so the distinction of being silly is having finely-groomed men in lieu of what, exactly? would an uncanny-valley woman with a plasticine sheen like amanda ripley suffice?

 

[BruceLeeRoy]

If the Alien:Isolation trailer was about finely-groomed men fighting aliens set to Silent Night, sure, I'd have the same criticism.

Brandy this is some dumb stuff man. Did you have a really bad day or something

 

[Branduil]

oh, so the distinction of being silly is having finely-groomed men in lieu of what, exactly? would an uncanny-valley woman with a plasticine sheen like amanda ripley suffice?

The silliness of The Order lies in the cumulative effect of its elements. Werewolves, steampunk, and mustaches by themselves aren't particularly strange, but combining them all together is very high concept, to say the least.

In the case of Alien:Isolation, it's a game based on a well-loved film franchise that was primarily anticipated for its gameplay that recreates the feeling of being hunted by a xenomorph. I don't think many people were expecting a particularly compelling story beyond what's required to serve that experience.

 

[Mifune]

I don't recall much humor in The Last of Us promos but the game turned out plenty funny. I'm sure The Order will have some humor; hell there's already some in this latest demo.

 

[Shabad]

The silliness of The Order lies in the cumulative effect of its elements. Werewolves, steampunk, and mustaches by themselves aren't particularly strange, but combining them all together is very high concept, to say the least.

In the case of Alien:Isolation, it's a game based on a well-loved film franchise that was primarily anticipated for its gameplay that recreates the feeling of being hunted by a xenomorph. I don't think many people were expecting a particularly compelling story beyond what's required to serve that experience.

You should stop posting. You are either a very bad troll, or someone whose opinion is just plainly misguided. In any cases, just stop already.

Otherwise, a very cool trailer. Not a Dead Island level of coolness, but still, it's getting me more and more hopeful about this game.

 

[Dodecagon]

The silliness of The Order lies in the cumulative effect of its elements. Werewolves, steampunk, and mustaches by themselves aren't particularly strange, but combining them all together is very high concept, to say the least.

In the case of Alien:Isolation, it's a game based on a well-loved film franchise that was primarily anticipated for its gameplay that recreates the feeling of being hunted by a xenomorph. I don't think many people were expecting a particularly compelling story beyond what's required to serve that experience.

+

+

=

Interesting to say the least...

 

[LookAtMeGo]

So now this game is lacking humor? Holy fuck, what next?

 

[RoboPlato]

The silliness of The Order lies in the cumulative effect of its elements. Werewolves, steampunk, and mustaches by themselves aren't particularly strange, but combining them all together is very high concept, to say the least.

I just don't get why you would expect to see any light moments in marketing materials for a serious game. Those sorts of things are best save for when someone is actually playing so that they can contrast more strongly with a bleak setting. No one knew TLoU was going to have funny moments before it came out. That game dragged you through a depressing atmosphere until an odd joke popped up, making it all the more effective. Putting something like that in this trailer would ruin the atmosphere they were going for and wouldpull any impact away from that moment in the game.

Also, why are mustaches something that makes the game seem more ridiculous to you? It was the actual style of the time for men during this period.

 

[RamzaIsCool]

Well the co-writer does have two Emmy's.

Guy below, you pretty much ignored his comment except for the last sentence.

What role did Kirk Ellis have on this project? Did he really co-write the story or was his role more of the advisory kind? The dude is fuckin awesome.

 

[GribbleGrunger]

I agree with Branduil and think they should have used this music instead:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcNhDstL4-k

Throw in a few pie fights and werewolves in tights and it's a day one.

 

[Dodecagon]

What role did Kirk Ellis have on this project? Did he really co-write the story or was his role more of the advisory kind? The dude is fuckin awesome.

The other guy came up with the concept, but Kirk Ellis is indeed a full on co-writer(scriptwriter). They talked about it in one of the early videodocs.

 

[Ricky_R]

I wonder if The Order will feature a comic relief. Preferibly a character.

 

[GribbleGrunger]

I wonder if The Order will feature a comic relief. Preferibly a character.

Every narrative needs a Jar-jar Binks. It works a treat.

 

[El-Pistolero]

Interesting to say the least...

ROFL! Pretty much...

 

[Dodecagon]

I wonder if The Order will feature a comic relief. Preferibly a character.

mimpsy the monkey

 

[Ricky_R]

Every narrative needs a Jar-jar Binks. It works a treat.

I was thinking more about Billy Crystal. I think he can rock the stach quite well.

 

[farmerboy]

In reading all of what's transpired over the last page or so, I've come to the same conclusion as most of you, and frankly can't be bothered joining the argument. Sorry.

Howeverrrrr,

a fight through a vaudeville stage act, involving the Knights and half breeds would be pretty awesome. Patrons would scatter and actors would be bumping into each other comedically, but the show would go on! And just as the lead was singing(?) his final note, BANG, a half breed would knock his head off.

And when all is said and done Galahad would say "I say old chap, what a frightful mess we've made Gov'ner. All the pity, I was coming to see this tomorrow night"

 

[GribbleGrunger]

I was thinking more about Billy Crystal. I think he can rock the stach quite well.

But can he twitch a tash like Charlie Chaplin?

 

[Daviii]

Cinematic flicker

Well I spent some seconds being mindblown before I found your extremely nitpicky reference

Flicker. Yes. It looks amazing.

 

[RamzaIsCool]

The other guy came up with the concept, but Kirk Ellis is indeed a full on co-writer(scriptwriter). They talked about it in one of the early videodocs.

Wow that's great news. Kinda random tho, looking to his previous works he doesn't seem the person to work on something like this. But then again he was the writer on John Adams, which makes him perfect for job imo. With him on board (probably has the highest credentials of any writer currently working on a game), people here wouldn't dare to concern troll the story right.... right?

 

[kyser73]

Well this trailer doesn't seem to match the tone at all since the game doesn't have anything to do with Christmas or the birth of Christ. The police radio one was much better.

And in this post the notion of repurposing a cultural item has never been seen before.

 

[Neff]

Hmm a peculiar juxtoposition...

Not really. People have been doing this sort of juxtaposition of sombre/violent/dramatic visuals cut to warm/virtuous melodies given a cold twist for a long time now. When I saw it was Silent Night, and knowing what the game is going to be like, I knew exactly how this trailer was going to play out.

Looks nice though.

 

[wonzo]

sure cant wait for them to introduce the dog sidekick *tips bowler hat to "the natives"*

 

[dofry]

I agree with Branduil and think they should have used this music instead:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcNhDstL4-k

Throw in a few pie fights and werewolves in tights and it's a day one.

Damn you mind reader! I spent an hour making THIS!

 

[Crossing Eden]

And in this post the notion of repurposing a cultural item has never been seen before.

Repurposing a song can be well if the song itself happens to match the theme of the thing it's repurposed for. In this case I don't think the order 1886 has anything to do with the song. A great example of repurposing a song to fit the theme, tone and visual provided is this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7khCk0bdnE

 

[King Beyond the wall]

When I enter a thread for the order I expect bizarre criticisms founded on what we have not seen, but this last page really blew me away. Now the Order is being criticised for not being a comedy?