Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Developer: Sandfall Interactive
Publisher: Kepler Interactive
Platforms: PC, Playstation 5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $49.99 USD – Available Here

Overview

A couple of decades ago, JRPGs split into two paths. Most mainstream franchises such as Final Fantasy incorporated action, replacing turn-based combat with freedom of movement, a direction that is still incorporated today. The other path was to simply be like Dragon Quest, and stick to tradition. Ambition is rare on this road, but Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 looks to change that. Featuring a unique, turn-based combat mechanic, layered in depth – can this newcomer break down a wall to move this side of the genre forward, or do these moments of brilliance miss their mark? Let’s find out.

Story

The narrative here is outstanding. Players take control of a group of heroes as they work against the clock the fight eradication in a world that is basically a dystopian version of France with a magic twist. Starting out, you take the role of Gustav, a man who is marked. You see, the tale here is that an ultimate evil dubbed “The Paintress” marks a number once a year, and once those hit that specific number in age, they evaporate to smoke. That is where the game gets its name. Expedition 33 is the name of the party who are trying to overthrow this event, and where the heart of the story can be found. Players get to know other team members such as Maelle, Lune, and others who all share the same goal of taking on fate, acting as the potential saviors of the world.

The plot is gripping, holding a lot of emotional moments that carry forth a journey full of twists and turns. That said, the pacing can be a little off at times as the gameplay and exploration can deter a little far from important plot points, making logs something that are greatly needed to keep up with all of the happenings to really get a full understanding of the impressive universe that is built here. That really isn’t a stain on the game by any means however, as it really shows how immersive and ambitious this expedition really is. I wanted to keep progressing to more as this journey feels like a much needed breath of fresh air in the genre, and one I think will be truly appreciated for years to come.

Gameplay

The gameplay is exactly what is advertised in many ways. This is a hybrid of traditional turn-based JRPG mechanics, where players take turns in combat in order to overcome foes. Enemies are found on the map rather commonly, where roaming into a match under-leveled comes with consequences of quick death, so you must step with caution and prepare in order to ensure survival of your squad. Sure, it takes some time to get used to the concept, but it really isn’t any different than what we have seen in titles like Dragon Quest and so on prior. 

The combat itself feels fresh, while still maintaining a welcome breath of familiarity that pushes it to the next level. You see, most of the combat is driven by time-based attacks, counters, and dodges. This is nothing new, but the way Clair Obscur handles this is what makes it stand out. Take that input-based timing and turn it up to 10, then layer it with an overarching system that compliments it with reward. We always hear the term “support characters” in this genre, but now they actually take to that title while still complimenting the forefront with their own techniques and specialties. Each specialty attack utilizes AP, which is limited and acts as your gauge for what attacks you can hit next. Most characters have attacks that prep for a larger attack later, and that can be utilized to deal significant damage if performed with the right buff in place. 

We have seen this before in other RPGs, but when you add in the timing-based inputs, what you have makes each battle – big or small, turn into a rather artistic action sequence that is difficult to master but extremely satisfying in execution. It’s kind of like conducting a symphony, and that really is just a piece of what these mechanics have to offer. Combat is where the magic happens, but exploration is what makes this game tick. The world biomes are vast and deep, with scattered items that can enhance our crew to give them an advantage. Guarding those items are both enemies and the lack of a sense of direction in dungeons, which can lead to a trial and error that demands you explore to be successful. 

I think that this will be a game that will be loved by those who are looking for something vast and unique, but I could see it being polarizing to newcomers who are just wanting to grind and level. The timing-based combat demands focus and attentive players to master, and those who just want to select attacks and simply see their choices play out may not really want to supply the effort. Those who become skilled will quickly learn how to breeze through even the toughest of bosses with relative ease thanks to the parry and dodge system, but those who just want to hit submit and move on will find a great challenge ahead as the demanding focus may be too much to adjust to. It’s not for every RPG seeker out there, but those who are willing to adapt to Expedition 33‘s mechanics will find a highly enjoyable and very different take on the genre.

Audio

The voice acting here is superb. The performances led by the likes of Charlie Cox and Jennifer English (among others) give each protagonist a sense of depth and identity, adding to the already explosive story. While the star-studded cast do wonders here, the soundtrack steals the show. The music within Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is varied and exceptional. Each area has its own theme of sorts, and the music adds to that. Add in the battle music, featuring a blend of jazz and orchestral beats – it’s hard not to get fully immersed in this stellar production.

Visuals

As I mentioned, combat relies on heavy focus. The enemy animations, set-up, and so on can result in you achieving a successful counter or attack.  Cues are very important. The main issue I had with this is that there is an intentional blur that can complicate these mechanics, as if it’s an unnecessary form of extra challenge. I don’t think everyone will find this as intrusive, but I had several moments of missing pivotal strikes due to this random blurring that felt almost like it was trying to cloud the water further on an already noisy battlefield. Some of the visuals later in the game can also change the hue of the color and further this frustration. The world within Expedition 33 however is a stunner and simply gorgeous. It is a lot of fun to peek around each corner and prod the environment, and the almost manditory push towards exploration feels organic and gratifying.

Overall

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is really its own thing. I think at first, I expected it to be more like a Lost Odyssey, or a Chrono Cross, or something similar to one of those random one-off RPGs that hit on the Xbox 360 years ago. Instead, it takes the traditional, turn-based system and incorporates those mechanics in a whole new way, creating something that feels fresh and invigorating. Sure, not everything is perfect as mild visual nuances can hinder learning how to master the offerings within and you really need to be focused an “in” the experience in front of you to thrive, but those who are able to overcome that will find plenty of rewards to all of this ambition before them. I think there is really something special here, and handling this title like a AAA blockbuster pays off fully for Clair Obscur, as this expedition will surely leave its mark on this generation and beyond. 

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