Like many of you, one of my biggest surprises of 2024 was the announcement ofClair Obscur: Expedition 33, a turn-based RPG with a stellar voice cast that seemed to come out of nowhere.
Developer Sandfall Interactive has done a great job of talking the talk. They want to pay homage toJRPGgreats like Final Fantasy and Persona while putting a modern spin on the genre.
They’re also heavily influenced by Belle Époque France, a period of French history between 1871 and 1914. This certainly makes for a unique setting in a turn-based RPG, but its style, impressive voice cast, and promise won’t mean anything if the game doesn’t walk the walk.
I was fortunate enough to play through the game for a couple of hours, and whileClair Obscur: Expedition 33is impressive and full of potential, I have some concerns.
A Blend of Old School and New School RPG Elements
I’m not going to sit here and say thatExpedition 33is the first RPG to innovate on the traditional turn-based combat system with precision timing to dodge or parry attacks. We’ve seen it done several times before, but given the game’s scope, it’s a perfect fit to add more tension to its combat, particularly the boss battles.
These are larger-than-life creatures we’re doing battle with, and they feel like they’re taken directly from enemies we’d see in theSoulslikegenre.
Having to constantly be on our toes to not just buff our attacks but also dodge and parry enemies is a natural fit, especially since failure to do so can result in taking an excessive amount of damage.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Collector’s Edition Already Sold Out; PC Requirements Revealed
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s Collector’s Edition restocks are not guaranteed, as Sandfall is caught by surprise by the demand.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s enemies are not forgiving, which plays into the world that Sandfall created. It matches the look and feel of Belle Époque France, but make no mistake: this is dark fantasy through and through.
You can see the anguish of your party during combat; they’re bloodied, beaten, and covered in dirt as they take damage. It’s a nice subtle touch that adds to the game’s intensity in combat, and it’s one that I hope is echoed by a successful story.
Big, Ambitious Narrative Swings
Despite its unique setting and visual appearance, the story ofClair Obscur: Expedition 33will still feel familiar to RPG fans.
Your team of protagonists include Gustave (Charlie Cox), Lune (Kirsty RIder), and Maelle (Jennifer English) as they embark on an expedition to stop the Paintress, who, once a year, paints a cursed number on a monolith, killing everyone of that age.
Next on the agenda for the Paintress is the number 33, which means that this is Gustave’s final year of life unless he can stop the Paintress.
Before the demo’s playable portion began, I was shown a “story so far” video that set the stage for the playable portion, which takes place after the game’s prologue.
As Gustave and Lune embark on Expedition 33, they’re ambushed by a mysterious figure, resulting in the causality of nearly everyone else from the expedition. It paints a grim, dark picture matched by the combat representation I mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, during the actual gameplay, I didn’t get that sense.
While I could tell the characters had been through a lot during cutscenes and dialogue, it never really translated to the gameplay as much as I would have liked. Again, this is an early build of an early part of the game, but it was one of my biggest disappointments with my preview.
Fancy Looking Corridor Simulator
I have major concerns that this game really dines out on the long, visually impressive corridor segments a little too much. The biggest reason for that is that every playable level, for lack of a better term, felt like an extended corridor that would get me from point A to point B.
Sure, I could explore each level by navigating off the beaten path, finding currency and upgrade items, and encountering enemies to battle, but things felt barren for the most part.
When given the chance,Clair Obscur: Expedition 33does a great job of showing off its unique environments and beauty. Sandfall has done an excellent job of not just crafting a world that’s true to its French inspiration but one that stands out in the genre.
It’s unique and a breath of fresh air, and I’m excited to see the additional biomes and worlds I’ll be able to explore, but I wish that there was, you know, more of it actually to explore instead of running forward.
Another frustrating part was the lack of a concrete sense of direction. The yellow ledges fromFinal Fantasy VII: Rebirthwere ridiculed online heavily, but they exist for a reason.
On several occasions, after I died and respawned at a save point, it took me a bit to realize I’d been walking in the wrong direction.
At the end of the day, though, it’s fair to say that the combat system is the biggest draw, and Sandfall understood the assignment.
On the plus side, the game’s world map is a wonderful throwback to the Final Fantasy games of old. It offers a little more freedom for exploration, and I can’t wait to see it expanded in the full game.
I sincerely hope this is where the meat of the exploration inExpedition 33takes place, because it was the one thing I wanted most in my three or so hours of gameplay.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Release Date Trailer
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33will be available on April 24 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S (available day one with Xbox Game Pass), and PC.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s Combat Meets the Hype
Expedition 33’s combat is an excellent marriage of traditional turn-based combat with a more modern reactive approach. Yes, it will feel similar toPersona 5, but it’s not like that’s a bad thing.
One highlight I’m excited to explore further is the intricacies of each party member.
Lune, for example, fulfills the wizard class role and offers not just a host of different element-based spells but the ability to conjure elements and use them to buff subsequent spells in combat. The same is true for Maelle, your presumed tank, who can switch stances to either make her deal more damage, sometimes at a cost, or get her guard up.
It’s a nice touch that adds depth to the traditional turn-based combat system and modernizes the game. There’s a reason why the RPG genre keeps innovating combat. Sometimes, it risks turning off longtime fans (Final Fantasy XVI). Other times, it can feel a little too old school despite some nice touches (the Octopath Traveler games).
Combined with the deep skill tree,Clair Obscur: Expedition 33promises to give its players plenty of options to build their characters and maximize the potential of its reactive turn-based combat system.
Provided you’re able to get good and dodge/parry oncoming attacks. Now, full disclosure: I am rhythmically challenged, so take this with a grain of salt: Some enemy encounters will be harder than others to survive.
Nothing felt impossible, though, and it was nice to be already pushed to my limits early on. Should you succeed, especially with parrying attacks, you’ll be rewarded with bonus APs that help you perform your most powerful skills.
A Potential Hit, Provided There’s More Depth
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33is showing all the right things leading into release. Sandfall is crafting a world that looks like it can stand toe-to-toe with the biggest blockbuster games out there, but at a reduced cost of $49.99.
I have concerns about the limited environments, which feel like very good-looking, but largely barren corridors. The game also needs to do a better job of showing the horrors Expedition 33 faces rather than just telling us about them.
Having said all that, combat is as good as advertised, and I was pleasantly surprised at how deep each party member’s skill tree is.
I know I’m going to spend hours upon hours messing with the optimal builds for each playable character, hoping that every skill has its own place, and we’re not being given the illusion of choice.
As it stands,Clair Obscur: Expedition 33is one of the year’s most anticipated RPGs for good reason. We’re in for a treat if it can follow through and deliver on its promise.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
WHERE TO PLAY
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a ground-breaking turn-based RPG with unique real-time mechanics, making battles more immersive and addictive than ever. Explore a fantasy world inspired by Belle Époque France in which you battle devastating enemies.In this evolution of JRPGs, real-time actions enhance the heart of turn-based combat. Craft unique builds for your Expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and character synergies. Open an active dimension in combat - dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free aim system.With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, and their fellow Expeditioners as they embark upon a desperate quest to break the Paintress’ cycle of death. Follow the trail of previous expeditions and discover their fate. Get to know the members of Expedition 33 as they learn to work together against impossible odds.Explore an enchanting realm populated by surreal adversaries. Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from the Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield, discovering secrets and hidden quests along the way. Find allies of fortune in creatures of legend and recruit special companions, access new travel methods and discover secret areas in the World Map.
