Based on the MAL rating system,
Story: 6
Art: 6
Sound: 5
Character: 6
Enjoyment: 7
Overall: 6
Based on my personal rating system, my overall rating is: 6.38
Q: Do I have to watch the other Fate/* anime in order to watch this one?
A: It is highly recommended. Although the sequence of events in Grand Order are separate from the plots of the other Fate series, this adaptation assumes that you have either played the Grand Order mobile game or that you have been experienced to other Fate related content. It is helpful to understand the concepts of masters, servants, the holy grail, and a few other things before starting this movie.
Fate and its characters could continue to be re-used and re-hashed many times over and I would probably not get tired of it. My love for Fate and the servants, however, must be separated from the components that go into making a successful anime: artwork, sound, the story, character development, and enjoyment. When we isolate and analyze these components, even the reputable Fate title must be subject to scrutiny.
The art was nothing too special. Some of the fighting sequences were nice, but overall, the animation quality was subpar and it felt like a lot of the effects were re-used. For example, Caster's explosion effects and the sudden wide angle zoom out were used too often in succession. It would be nice to shake things up here and there. While we cannot expect every animation to match the quality of ufotable's Fate renditions, the quality of Grand Order is probably competing with Studio Deen's Fate/Stay Night release from 2006.
The sound was alright. Nothing really stood out though and the soundtrack did not really heighten the experience or coordinate the audio with visuals in a skillful manner.
Where the art and sound lacked, the character and story start to pick up. It is here where the potential for the rest of this adaptation lies. Although Ritsuka is the common timid main character who makes Shirou (from F/UBW) look way more confident in comparison, the dynamic between himself and Mash has the potential to develop into something really good. If future episodes can individually develop each character and strengthen their bond to each other, the series stands to improve on the whole.
The story, as already stated, is a separate plot from Fate/Stay Night, Unlimited Bladeworks, Heaven's Feel, and Zero. It requires some prior understanding of the Nasuverse, or, some of the terminology and constructs that set the backstory for the other Fate stories. Without that understanding, I fear that this OVA would suffer greatly for the first time Fate-viewer. With an understanding of masters/servants and the holy grail, the story of First Order is fair. The pacing starts off slow and then suddenly jumps to full throttle. Be sure to pay attention, because by the time you get to the end it will have set the stage for future OVAs in the series (which is where the potential rests). Essentially, First Order was one long introduction.
Though I was critical of the art and sound and am skeptical about the story and character development, I recognize the potential for something good to come out of this series if all the right pieces are are put in the right place. I enjoyed seeing some old characters from other Fate series and getting introduced to some new ones. The fighting scenes, while sometimes repetitive, were still relatively enjoyable.
Overall, First Order was fair but has the potential to be great if it can capitalize on the story and character development it set the stage for.
