Let’s not beat around the bush: as of right now, I can declare thatClair Obscur: Expedition 33is the frontrunner for Game of the Year. It’s a bold statement, but one that is fitting of an equally bold game.
Clair Obscur is an accomplishment that ranks among some of the best RPGs ever created, serving as a love letter to some of the genre’s best entries from the past while still delivering a modern, blockbuster entertainment experience.
After watching that impressive debut trailer last summer, I, like many of you, wondered how a team of roughly 30 people could pull off such an impressive-looking game featuring an incredible cast. We’ve been burned far too often by games making an unforgettable first impression only to fall flat on their face.
Clair Obscur: Expediton 33 Won’t Have One Staple Of The Genre, So Players Can Explore More
Sandfall does have something in mind to help players not get lost.
I’m pleased to report that this is not the case with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Not only does it meet those expectations, it exceeds them, delivering an experience that perfectly intertwines its story, characters, and gameplay in ways only the video game medium can.
This review is 100% spoiler-free.
A Compact, Old-School RPG Experience
There has been a recent trend with old-school RPGs, particularly in theFinal Fantasyfranchise, to abandon their roots and transition into more action-focused experiences. We saw it with Final Fantasy XVI, having more in common with an over-the-top action game.
Final Fantasy VIIRebirthwent full-blown open world, introducing an admittedly fun hybrid of old-school turn-based combat with new-school action gameplay. It also introduced an impressive number of bloated fetch quests, but I digress.
That’s not to say a “true-blue RPG experience” can’t succeed today. Just look atBaldur’s Gate 3,Persona 5, andLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. The issue there, though, is that they require, at minimum, hundreds of hours of invested time to see and appreciate everything the game has to offer. Even if you’re able to successfully pack a game with that much worthwhile content, that’s such a major time investment that it’s a turnoff for many people.
Thankfully, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 respects our time, delivering a more focused, streamlined affair that clocks in at roughly 30 hours for the main campaign, while still offering plenty of additional content to keep you busy for up to another 30 hours. Few games have satisfied me the way Expedition 33 has, scratching every possible itch I can think of without overstaying its welcome.
One of my concerns with thepreview buildfrom last month was that things would be a little too streamlined, almost lacking in content. It doesn’t matter how gorgeous the game is - and it most certainly is a work of art I’ll talk about more later on - if I’m just walking through corridors between encounters.
I’m happy to say that isn’t the case; each level feels less like a linear corridor and more like a streamlined dungeon, offering branching pathways that all, in some way, lead from point A to point B. You can venture off the beaten path and discover Expedition 33’s many, many secrets that await, all of which serve some form of purpose.
In fact, I highly recommend that you venture off the beaten path, because you’ll need all the help you’re able to get.
Expedition 33 asks a lot from its players, but in a way, the tough gameplay ties perfectly into its story and narrative themes.
While Expedition 33’s combat looks like a traditional turn-based combat system on paper, in reality, it’s a lot more nuanced than that. I hate to be one of, presumably, many people to use this line, but it honestly does feel like a wonderful hybrid between old-school Final Fantasy, Persona, and theSoulslikegenre.
Everyone in battle proceeds in a turn order and performs a variety of basic attacks and special skills, the latter of which require Action Points (AP), a resource accumulated throughout battle. Nothing too outlandish there for RPG veterans, but it’s how you manage AP that will throw you a curveball.
The easiest way to gain AP is through parrying the opponent’s attacks, which is well and good, but the best way to not get absolutely trucked by these larger-than-life enemies is to, you guessed it, dodge and parry desperately out of time.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will constantly push you to the limit. You’ll have your fair share of pushover enemies, yes, but the boss battles are the real treat here, rivaling some of FromSoftware’s best work not just in terms of how the encounters play out, but also in design.
Even on easier difficulties, you’ll have to give it your all; Expedition 33 asks a lot from its players, but in a way, the tough gameplay ties perfectly into its story and narrative themes.
Thankfully, there are several ways to equip your party and give them a fighting chance. You’ll be able to upgrade your weapons and customize your attributes and skill trees based on those weapons, allowing for several unique playstyles, each of which can be super effective.
For example, one of my party builds was focused on starting a fight at half health but dealing more damage based on the amount of health I was missing. A colleague of mine, however, built that same party member in an entirely different way, opting instead for a build that focused on attacking as often as possible.
This customization does an excellent job not only of keeping things fresh but also of allowing players to experiment and find a playstyle that suits their strengths. It’s backed, too, by a robust system of additional traits called Pictos and Luminas.
These give members of your party various perks to aid them in battle, ranging from dealing extra damage, gaining more AP by performing actions in combat, or even reviving once dead. It’s the icing on an already delicious cake comprised of Expedition 33’s combat.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Not Only Inspired By JRPGs, But Also By One Very Hard Souls-Like
Clair Obscur was inspired by old Final Fantasy games and eve one title from FromSoftware.
Nuanced Narrative & Flawless Presentation
Taking place in a dark fantasy world inspired by the late 1800s and early 1900s French Belle Époque, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 tells the story of Expedition 33, comprised of select citizens from the town of Lumiere.
Led by Gustave (Charlie Cox), Maelle (Jennifer English), Lune (Kirsty Rider), and Sciel (Shala Nyx), they embark on an expedition to defeat the evil Paintress, a mysterious character who has god-like powers that kill everyone of a given age.
This event, known in-game as theGommage, has been affecting the world for quite some time. Citizens of Lumiere are forced to live their lives knowing that they have an expiration date.
It should come as no surprise, then, that the main narrative theme here is grief and how people deal with it. Imagine giving birth to a child and starting a family knowing that you’ll perish before they turn ten years old.
This is one of several realities that the people of Lumiere, as well as the Expeditioners, all deal with throughout the game. Yet we’re never beaten over the head by the story’s overarching meaning.
That’s because Sandfall Interactive has mastered the art of showing, not telling. Whereas other RPGs will throw heavy-handed exposition at their players to the point of boredom and frustration, Expedition 33 has a remarkable amount of restraint. There were so many times, especially early on, when I was begging for some context and backstory.
In reality, though, that’s how I knew I was hooked. I wanted to dive deeper into its world, learn more about its inhabitants, and actually spend more time with them in-game. I wanted to engage in conversations not necessarily for the rewards, but to learn more about who they are: their passions, their desires, and their motivations.
The emotional attachment I grew to these characters is, quite frankly, unparalleled. In a world where exploration in a video game is dictated not by curiosity but by an arrow in the center of the screen, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a wonderful breath of fresh air.
…Sandfall Interactive has mastered the art of showing, not telling. Whereas other RPGs will throw heavy-handed exposition at their players to the point of boredom and frustration, Expedition 33 has a remarkable amount of restraint.
Beyond wanting to learn more about its characters, Expedition 33’s voice cast has one of the best performances in a game since Baldur’s Gate 3.
I suppose this shouldn’t be a surprise given the talent on display here, including Baldur’s Gate 3’s Jennifer English. It’s essential to remember, however, that it was the voice cast that brought Clair Obscur to everyone’s attention.
It would have been very easy to rest on their laurels after booking such a star-studded cast, but credit where it’s due, the quality of writing and the world-building present match the ability of the actors, lifting the words off the page. I felt their anguish, their elation, and everything in between on this rollercoaster of events.
Some of the symbolism and themes may seem a little on the nose, given that the rough translation of “Clair Obscur” is “Light/Dark.” Again, though, Expedition 33 doesn’t beat us over the head with these themes; instead, it lets them grow organically.
Not to mention, even if the themes are ‘on the nose’, the game is so enigmatic at times you’ll never truly feel that you have it all worked out.
A World That Is A Work Of Art
That slow-burn approach to storytelling is only further accentuated by the eye candy on screen. It shouldn’t come as a shock that, given its visual inspiration of France’s “Beautiful Era,” the game looks like an actual work of art.
An impressive amount of detail is on display, from the imposing nature of the enemies to the varied designs of each dungeon and the character design, in particular. However, there’s a focus on both the micro and macro aspects here, allowing for subtle details to come to the fore.
For example, when you’re fresh out of a difficult battle and low on health, you can see the blood, sweat, and grime all over your party’s face. An excellent touch that adds to the overall immersion.
Having said that, even this near-flawless graphical assortment pales in comparison to the game’s score. This is some of the best music I’ve ever heard in a video game.
One minute, I’m treated to an orchestral track that has me getting lost in the environment, and the next, it’s a wonderful classical/modern hybrid beat that has me on the edge of my seat throughout a boss battle.
Each selection perfectly matches the mood of the gameplay, too, and Sandfall knows when to lean into that all-important score and, more importantly, knows when to keep things silent to build tension.
I can’t stop listening to this game’s score; I’m literally listening to it as I write up this review. IfLorien Testarddoesn’t take home several end-of-the-year awards, I’ll be extremely disappointed.
Closing Comments
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has exceeded every one of my expectations. Sandfall Interactive’s debut title is one of the greatest accomplishments in gaming, delivering a well-paced, polished, and unforgettable experience. From the incredibly impactful and deeply emotional narrative to the enjoyable, challenging, and rewarding combat, Expedition 33 delivers on all fronts. I wanted an old-school RPG that sticks true to its roots while taking advantage of modern game design. I got that and so much more. Four months into the year, this is the clubhouse leader for Game of the Year, and honestly, it’s not even close. Do not miss out.
