Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the debut title by Sandfall Interactive, paints an irresistible portrait of an irreparably doomed world. From the second it was revealed, it is introduced itself as an homage (or ought to I say Gommage) to basic RPGs just like the early Last Fantasy collection, in addition to extra fashionable takes on the turn-based style like Persona. Clair Obscur wears its inspirations on its sleeve, borrowing thoughtfully from nearly each genre-defining RPG you possibly can title.
However on the identical time, it is also shockingly unique, with avant-garde turn-based gameplay innovation. With a quick fight system, memorable characters, a gut-wrenching story, evocative music, and beautiful environments, Clair Obscur took me on a journey I will not quickly overlook.
A Hopeless Mission To Save A Doomed World
Clair Obscur Follows “The Catastrophe Expedition”
Clair Obscur begins with an irresistible premise: yearly, every year, a mysterious entity known as The Paintress emblazons an ever-shrinking quantity on her Monolith within the sky. A 12 months later, in an occasion referred to as the Gommage, everybody of that age fades to mud. And instantly after, an expedition units off in hopes of defeating her, “so she will by no means paint loss of life once more,” in response to its reveal at Xbox Video games Showcase final 12 months.
As an entire, Clair Obscur‘s story is as operatic as these of the very best Last Fantasy video games, with an eclectic mix of heroism, humor, and coronary heart. Feelings are large, strongly felt, and rashly acted upon, typically inflicting additional regrets. Nevertheless it all performs out with a shocking diploma of subtlety that steers away from melodrama. It typically introduces philosophical conundrums with out overanalyzing them, leaving them for the participant to puzzle out. Nonetheless, because of this, it does typically skim over the extra attention-grabbing features of its fantasy races.
However each character has an outlined position throughout the Expedition and relation to their friends: Gustave the chief, Maelle the rookie, Lune the researcher, et cetera. In a peculiar transfer for an RPG, a lot of the playable characters already know one another once they set out on their expedition, which provides them deeper connections than most RPG events can forge in a 60-hour sport.
Character backgrounds are explored extensively in optionally available scenes you possibly can view whereas resting at camp. I typically want they have been slightly higher built-in into the principle story, however they’re straightforward to seek out if you would like them. And belief me, you will have them – the extra you find out about their pasts, their inner lives, their hobbies, and their targets, the more durable their failures will hit, and the upper their triumphs will soar.
All of it culminates in a surprising twist that’ll depart your mouth agape and your eyes teary. Clair Obscur‘s ending introduced me with probably the most troublesome selection I’ve ever needed to make in a online game: I will not spoil it right here, so you may must see it for your self. I additionally wish to give honorable point out to the sport’s voice performing, with an all-star English voice solid that includes the likes of Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings‘ Gollum), Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Jennifer English (Baldur’s Gate 3‘s Shadowheart) and Ben Starr (Last Fantasy 16‘s Clive and Balatro‘s Jimbo Joker).
Clair Obscur Reaches New Heights In Flip-Primarily based Fight
Persona, Meet Darkish Souls
Clair Obscur employs a turn-based fight system that additionally attracts on the dodge and parry methods of From Software program video games like Darkish Souls and Sekiro. Characters’ velocity stats resolve flip order, and, as soon as they’re up, you possibly can choose from a menu of choices that embody melee assaults, particular combos, spells, and extra. Performing timing-based inputs will increase the efficacy of your assaults, Mario RPG fashion.
It is all customary (however well-executed) RPG stuff – that’s, till the enemies begin hitting you again. There are QTEs for these, too, and you’ll keep away from most incoming injury by both dodging or parrying in time. However the dodge timing is tight, the parry timing much more so, and the penalties for lacking the window are steep. It will get to the purpose the place you must play by sure boss battles a number of occasions till you grasp the cadence of their assaults. And lots of enemies assault in odd, arrhythmic patterns, expertly calculated to throw you off.
I performed Clair Obscur on Expeditoner problem, which is the really useful stage. Dodge and parry timing is considerably much less essential within the simpler Story mode.
Clair Obscur‘s fight is an unlikely marriage of what appear to be two disparate genres of RPGs, however the result’s undeniably sensible. It could result in the identical form of hair-tearing, controller-chucking frustration as a Sekiro boss, however that makes each triumph all of the sweeter. Each blow feels impactful, accompanied by frenetic digicam transitions and flashy assault animations. And it is underscored by epic, inspiring music to remind you of the life-altering stakes of each single battle.
Distinctive Character Mechanics & Pictos Create Infinite Prospects
Customization Is King In Clair Obscur
You will unlock six totally different playable characters as you make your manner by Clair Obscur: the members of the titular Expedition 33. Crucially, every character has its personal distinctive mechanics. You are compelled to play each character in a different way, to think about the assets out there to them originally of each flip, as you slowly construct your manner as much as larger and greater assaults.
That is usually sufficient to maintain a turn-based RPG strategically partaking, however to take it a step additional, the synergy between characters in Clair Obscur is very well-thought-out. In most turn-based RPGs, there’s at the very least one character who lags behind; in Clair Obscur, each character was simply as viable as the following one, and I discovered countless pleasure in experimenting with new social gathering compositions, seeing how totally different combos of characters might assist and empower each other. In flip, the camaraderie and belief the characters construct felt that rather more actual.
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Each Video Recreation Launch Date (April 2025)
April 2025 is a comparatively fairly month for video games, however that doesn’t imply there aren’t nonetheless loads of superb indies and AAA titles to seize.
For development, Clair Obscur combines a conventional talent tree and leveling system with one thing much more customizable: Pictos. Form of like Guardian Forces (GFs) in Last Fantasy 8, you possibly can slot these into every of your characters’ tools to grant them a wide range of totally different stat bonuses and particular results. When you stage them up sufficient, they flip into Luminas, which suggests you possibly can apply their particular results with out having to equip them. They’re pretty fast to be taught and straightforward to swap round (albeit with some clunky menuing), which makes character customization a breeze.
And the consequences of your characters’ Pictos are extra than simply “+10% hearth resistance” or “earn extra money from battles” – they are often really game-changing, doing issues like providing you with further Motion Factors for good parries, or eradicating your skill to heal in trade for larger injury. You want to take into consideration your most well-liked playstyle for every character when doling them out, and it is simple to create highly effective – if not overpowered – interactions.
The truth that you are consistently unlocking new characters with new mechanics to find, mixed with more and more difficult enemies, ensures fight stays thrilling all through the whole lot of Clair Obscur. However there’s a lot extra to its gameplay, all embodied within the richness of its absolutely fleshed-out world.
Discover A Tragically Lovely World
Clair Obscur Boasts Attractive, If Complicated Maps
Clair Obscur does a superb job of constructing the stretch of land and sea between Lumière and the Paintress, known as merely The Continent, appear a wierd and otherworldly place. The Continent balances surprise and terror in equal measure: you may discover underwater ruins, cities populated by sentient paintbrushes, and floating islands within the sky as you journey throughout it. It is graphically gorgeous and, at the very least visually, impeccably well-designed. Enemy design generally is a little inconsistent, however when it is at its greatest, it soars.
Nonetheless, many areas are laid out reasonably confusingly, which will be each a professional and a con. A part of the issue is Clair Obscur‘s lack of mini-maps. It is taking the Elden Ring strategy to mapping, the place the obvious path typically is not the way in which ahead. That is a noble effort, however it would not work as nicely in a turn-based sport the place you are consistently shifting backwards and forwards between separate subject and battle screens. In sure locations, this contributes to the final unease and pressure inherent within the narrative. In others, it makes exploring really feel like a chore.
Nonetheless, exploring The Continent is duly rewarding, even when navigating it’s a little clunky. Most areas are consistently providing up facet paths, normally culminating in some kind of optionally available enemy or treasure. The reward is normally a brand new Pictos, which, as I’ve already talked about, are persistently helpful and all the time develop your choices in fight. There’s additionally an overworld dotted with the occasional focal point for individuals who wish to discover extra deeply. That features a few easy mini-games – nothing as mechanically complicated or addicting as FF7 Rebirth‘s card sport, however nonetheless worthy little distractions.
Last Ideas & Overview Rating: 9/10
Clair Obscur Achieves What It Set Out To Do
Clair Obscur is an all-you-can-eat buffet for RPG lovers, serving up one brilliantly executed fight mechanic, a uniquely designed space, or crushing boss battle after one other. It by no means didn’t remind me why I really like the style, particularly the surprise of delving into their worlds and the satisfaction of cracking their fight mechanics for the primary time. It nails that basic RPG feeling in each conceivable manner, whereas additionally going firmly in its personal course.
It has its flaws, however they’re comparatively minor, and barely distract from its simple originality and apparent high quality. If I have been to make a wishlist of every part I wished out of a turn-based RPG, it might tick each field. I think that is exactly what Sandfall Interactive got down to do, and its ardour for the style shines by in each facet of the sport. For anybody who shares even a fraction of that keenness, then Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is to not be missed.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Launched
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April 24, 2025
- ESRB
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t
- Developer(s)
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Sandfall Interactive
- Writer(s)
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Kepler Interactive
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 5
- PC Launch Date
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April 24, 2025
- Xbox Collection X|S Launch Date
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April 24, 2025
- PS5 Launch Date
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April 24, 2025
- Tells an emotional, mature story with memorable characters and an immersive setting.
- Lovely environmental design scored with evocative music that pulls on an eclectic mixture of kinds.
- Fight strikes an ideal steadiness between problem and satisfaction.
- Limitless development choices and distinctive character mechanics hold the battle attention-grabbing.
- Navigation will be unnecessarily complicated.
- Sometimes skips over sure features of lore.
ScreenRant was supplied with a Steam code for the aim of this evaluation.
