Verdict
Regardless of its sometimes confounding UI and weak degree design, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a vital turn-based RPG that’s each a love letter to its inspirations and a possible imaginative and prescient of the style’s future.
After I first laid eyes on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, I knew it could possibly be particular. That stated, I by no means anticipated such an bold swing from first-time developer Sandfall Interactive, one that’s each a love letter to the turn-based RPGs of yore and a possible imaginative and prescient of the style’s future.
The stage was set with Expedition 33‘s reveal – a standout RPG forged together with Andy Serkis, Charlie Cox, trade meme machine Ben Starr, and Baldur’s Gate 3’s Jennifer English in what needs to be one other shoo-in come award season.
Paired with the Chiaroscuro-style visuals that lend the sport its identify, a robust and haunting soundtrack, and the instantly gripping premise of a dwindling civilization pressured to observe a monolithic lady scrub a fraction of them from existence yearly, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 had every little thing going for it from the leap.
You management a small staff, a part of Expedition 33, setting sail from Lumiere (a beautiful mirror of Belle Époque Paris you’ll instantly liken to Bioshock Infinite) to take down a ghoul identified solely because the Paintress. Dozens of groups have tried and failed for many years, however the hope is that developments in tech will lastly assist them seal the deal. Any expedition that dies attempting rests simple understanding they’ve blazed the path for the following. For those who come after. Lest there be none left to attempt.
Expeditions are sometimes made up of these destined to die the next yr, however Expedition 33 has yet one more keen participant – Jennifer English’s Maelle, a misplaced and lonely 16-year-old lady who needs to go out to battle with what stays of her household. It’s a transferring, painful begin to a narrative about coping with grief and the frailty of life. Fact be advised, that’s not even the primary tragedy.
You’re launched to this close-knit household early on. Maelle reveals Charlie Cox’s Gustave the ropes (actually) as they journey from a quaint rooftop backyard right down to the streets of Lumiere for equally heart-wrenching causes. It’s the annual Gommage, the day the Paintress paints a brand new quantity on the monolith, scrubbing anybody of that age from existence.
Given this has now occurred some 67 years in a row, the locals are shockingly at peace with this ultimatum. A lot in order that the Gommage now doubles as a pageant. Hardly a bon voyage, and never fairly a funeral, it’s a closing farewell and the tip of an ever-shortening highway they’ve at all times seen coming.
As soon as Expedition 33 units off on their journey to make sure this yr’s Gommage is the final, your goal instantly appears additional away than ever earlier than, with an overworld straight out of the perfect JRPGs blocking your path. Suffering from numerous biomes, treasures, trinkets, and enemies you may kill to attain free weapon upgrades, straying off the overworld’s overwhelmed path is commonly thrilling and rewarding. A few of its zones are single-screen areas akin to the pre-rendered backdrops of PS1-era RPGs, however the majority are longer ranges filled with enemies and even the odd platforming problem.
However the actual hook is Clair Obscur’s reactive tackle turn-based fight. Study your goal’s assault patterns, and the ever-expanding dodge and parry system will allow you to tackle something. Few assaults have hyper-obvious tells, however refined cues may help you discover the rhythm of your enemy’s arsenal. Check the waters with a forgiving dodge, then attempt for a counterattack by means of a extra exact parry the following time round. Toss in a couple of different complicating elements, together with jumps, triggers, and particular counters, and you’ve got a recipe for a hyper-stimulating tackle a style as soon as deemed too sluggish and off for the HD period.
What’s much less fulfilling is exploring the bigger ranges. Although environmentally numerous, most are shallow, as if Sandfall couldn’t work out what different challenges to current apart from fight. They’re not straight-up corridors to dash by means of, however they finally boil right down to cookie-cutter labyrinths with merchandise sweet on the finish of every hallway, damaged up with clunky platforming.
With no mini-map and a disappointing lack of really memorable set items, occasions, or noteworthy landmarks, it’s simple to double again on the identical path and unintentionally respawn enemies whenever you relaxation at a checkpoint you thought was new. These winding paths typically really feel deliberately distracting: one other dead-end to dash to and from with out studying extra concerning the world round you. Legendary creatures up for a chat (and a battle) generally add a fleeting little bit of taste, however they’ll solely achieve this a lot.
Narratively, I can perceive the dearth of a fleshed-out navigation device. It’s a contemporary expedition, in any case. However with every checkpoint flag numbered after the staff that left it, it’s simple to think about a mini-map that’s etched out as you progress.
Characters have some gentle banter as you wander round zones, however they hardly ever touch upon their environment. They’re shortly desensitised to the mass graves and indicators of grand battles, and infrequently voice their ideas, opinions, or theories on what’s occurring. As an alternative, we get obscure chats with spectres solely price reminiscing on as soon as the story all falls into place.
When the cryptic hints of the bigger story are finally (and appreciatively) dissected, I felt the meant emotional impression might need hit tougher had the build-up been extra thoughtfully dolled out by means of every degree. Regardless of the documented inspiration from Misplaced Odyssey, there’s sadly nothing like Kiyoshi Shigematsu’s ‘A Thousand Years of Desires’ right here to enrich the narrative threads.
Fortunately, Sandfall Interactive’s fantastic fight means you’re at all times seeking to dash headlong into the following battle. This can be a assured and trendy turn-based system impressed by Persona 5, Honkai Star Rail, Misplaced Odyssey, and Remaining Fantasy’s lengthy, wealthy heritage. Every playable character has their very own key mechanic: sword stances, colored mana, prices to steadiness, a combo system, and even one who collects a brand new ability from each defeated enemy.
AP factors dictate how every character’s flip performs out, with each ability costing a unique quantity. Utilizing both a ability or a primary assault ends your flip, however you may combine some expertise with ranged AP photographs to hit enemy weak factors and cancel assaults, break by means of shields, and lay the groundwork in your subsequent assault. Earlier than lengthy, you type a robust staff sequence to react to the enemy’s offensive and defensive maneuvers.
Paired with equippable passive talents and numerous weapon results, the synergies and scope for experimentation really feel virtually infinite. And if all three of your celebration members die, you’ll name in your closing two. This dramatic final stand pushed me over the end line in among the recreation’s hardest fights.
It’s a sturdy system that enables for an admirable degree of technique. Take the time to wrestle with its initially convoluted programs, and also you’re certain to see sparks fly. It’s only a disgrace that the drab customization display screen grows so cluttered and laborious to decipher. Being unable to reference every geared up impact in a battle additionally makes it laborious to effectively make the most of the lot till you lastly choose a rhythm.
Fortunately, you may make it by means of the 30-hour journey on the default problem with well-timed dodges, parries, and a few optimization of your passives. And when you’re simply there for the story, there’s a straightforward mode to hurry issues alongside.
Even contemplating my main UI and degree design considerations, it is a frankly astonishing first go from Sandfall Interactive. From its tactical, trendy fight to its standout vocal performances and soundtrack that’s up there with Uematsu’s work on Misplaced Odyssey, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will stick with me.
It’s a heartwrenching story that paints a transferring image of affection, loss, and the difficult chemistry of household, whereas exploring the agonizing ethical dilemma of what it means to convey kids into an unsure world. It’s additionally a vital contribution to a style unceremoniously ostracised for foregoing evolution within the face of custom, and a brand new trendy traditional that may certainly encourage different builders for years to come back.
