Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review - A Masterful Debut That Could Define the Year in RPGs

Undeniable buzz surrounds Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, with many reviewers already naming it a serious Game of the Year (GOTY) contender. This new RPG comes from debut developer Sandfall Interactive, published by Kepler Interactive, and available on multiple platforms including PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation, Xbox and Game Pass. Despite launching alongside Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered's stealth drop, Clair Obscur indeed demands attention. The game centers on a desperate mission: lead an expedition to destroy the enigmatic Paintress before she erases humanity's last survivors.

Narrative and World: A Melancholic Yet Hopeful Fight Against Extinction

Players enter Lumiere, a world shadowed by the Paintress's annual painting ritual. Each year, this god-like entity marks a number on a distant monolith. Those reaching that age vanish into nothingness, creating a chilling countdown to societal collapse. The narrative explores themes of loss, survival, and perseverance with a melancholic yet ultimately hopeful tone. Reviews hint at significant plot twists and storytelling depth that resonates with players.

As a player, you command a group of compelling expeditioners, each with personal motivations for joining this dangerous journey. The game presents a distinctive Belle Époque-meets-dark-fantasy world. Sandfall Interactive deliberately infuses a "French touch" into every aspect of the artistic direction, reflecting the studio's Montpellier origins. This conscious shift away from typical Victorian settings creates a unique identity for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Gameplay Mechanics: A Dynamic Twist on Turn-Based Combat

Combat combines turn-based systems with active, action-oriented elements. The game uniquely incorporates real-time parries, dodges, and jumps, drawing inspiration from Soulslike games like Sekiro. Players execute timed button presses to strengthen attacks and skills, adding interactive elements to traditional turn-based battles. This creates significant strategic depth, requiring careful consideration of character skill synergy and tactical planning.

The game features memorable and unique boss fights that function almost like combat puzzles. These encounters introduce specific mechanics players must understand to succeed. For example, one early boss grows flowers it absorbs for shields, forcing players to use ranged attacks strategically. Another, the Bourgeon, swallows party members, requiring real-time adaptation with a reduced team. Bosses demand mastery of the full combat system—parrying, dodging, exploiting elemental weaknesses—with distinct attack patterns and precise timing windows similar to Sekiro.

Visually, these bosses form an eclectic array of enemies ranging from creepy mimes to nightmarish monstrosities inspired by the game's Belle Époque-meets-dark-fantasy setting. Significant encounters like the flying dragon Serpenphare require the airship Esquie to reach, making them noteworthy story events. Defeating bosses yields valuable rewards including rare Recoats for attribute resets, powerful weapons like the Lanceram from the Chromatic Lancelier, and important Pictos for character progression.

Exploration occurs on a world map and transitions to a third-person perspective within levels. The level design includes branching paths and dungeon-like locations reminiscent of FromSoftware titles. Players are rewarded for exploring hidden areas with gear and optional content.

Character progression involves leveling attributes and mastering Pictos, which provide various benefits enhanced by Lumina points. Players can reset attributes and skills using a rare item called Recoat. Each character—Gustave, Lune, Maelle, Sciel, Verso, and Monoco—offers unique skills and playstyles.

Visual and Audio Presentation: An Exquisite Artistic Vision

Critics widely praise Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for its exquisite and arresting visuals, describing it as a "true work of art." The art style draws heavily from Impressionist and Symbolist painting, creating a painterly and distinctive visual presentation. While not always pushing raw graphical fidelity boundaries, the unique art style and overall presentation truly excel.

The game features an epic, sweeping soundtrack that perfectly complements its atmosphere. It also boasts a "star-studded voice cast" with performances rivaling feature films.

Beginner's Guide: Mastering Clair Obscur's Unique Systems

Understanding Core Mechanics:

For players diving into this unique RPG experience, understanding the core mechanics is essential to success. First and foremost, mastering real-time defensive actions proves crucial throughout the journey. The game's hybrid combat system relies heavily on well-timed dodges, parries, and jumps. While dodging offers a more generous timing window, making it ideal for beginners, parrying requires precise timing but rewards players with bonus Action Points (AP). Additionally, some enemy attacks display golden markers, signaling the need to jump rather than dodge or parry.

Effective AP management forms the backbone of combat strategy. Characters spend these points to execute skills and ranged attacks, while base attacks and successful parries replenish them. Furthermore, Quick-Time Events (QTEs) during attacks boost damage output, though players who find these tiresome can activate automatic QTEs through accessibility options.

The Lumina system adds another strategic layer to combat. Characters can equip up to three Pictos that provide various benefits, with Lumina points allowing activation of bonus effects. After using a Picto in four battles, players unlock its associated Lumina ability, making it beneficial to rotate Pictos regularly.

Understanding elemental weaknesses proves fundamental to combat efficiency. Nearly every enemy possesses specific vulnerabilities and resistances to different damage types. Consequently, maintaining a diverse arsenal of elemental skills and weapon types across your team becomes essential for exploiting these weaknesses. Moreover, the Break Mechanic against tough foes increases damage potential while shielding your party from powerful attacks.

General Gameplay Tips:

• Explore the Continent Thoroughly: The overworld is extensive and contains secrets, puzzles, and optional bosses. Explore as much as possible to discover valuable items and resources. The world map is filled with optional locations.
• Don't Neglect Lumina Points: Remember to utilize Lumina points to activate extra Picto effects after unlocking the Curator in your camp. Speak to the Curator and select "Upgrade Expedition resources".
• Learn Each Character's Quirks: Each party member has unique combat mechanics. Pay attention to the character tutorials when you unlock a new member.
  • Gustave: Prioritize quantity of hits to fill his Overcharge meter. He also has a "free aim" mechanic for his gun.
  • Lune: Light stains can substitute for other elemental stains. Her weapon Lighterim scales primarily with Defense, then Agility.
  • Maelle: Equip weapons and skills to utilize Virtuose Stance for a significant damage boost. Some of her skills can apply elemental weaknesses.
  • Sciel: Focus on increasing her Might as she is a primary damage dealer. Against bosses, try to build up Foretell stacks before using them.
  • Verso: He is a supportive character who can "mark" enemies to take extra damage. Invest in Agility to ensure he goes first for easy marking, or Vitality to improve his survivability. His damage increases with his Perfection Rank.
  • Monoco: Defeat each enemy type with Monoco in your party at least once to unlock new skills.

• Utilize Items (Tints): Don't hesitate to use Energy Tints, Healing Tints, and especially Revive Tints during combat. These items replenish whenever you rest at a checkpoint. You can only use them in combat.
• Burn is Powerful: Be aware that the Burn status effect is very strong and can stack up, dealing damage even if the character who applied it dies. Look for characters and skills that inflict Burn.
• Dealing with Shields: Ensure your party has ways to effectively deal with enemy shields.
• Attribute Point Allocation: Early on, consider investing points in Vitality for survivability and Luck for critical chance. Agility increases speed, allowing for more frequent turns. You can reset attribute points if you're not satisfied with your build.
• Build Relationships: Talking to your party members at camp and building relationships can reward you with new gradient attacks. These can be crucial in later battles.
• Pay Attention to Enemy Attack Patterns: Especially in boss battles, learning enemy attack patterns and their timing for parrying and dodging is essential.
• Utilize Autosaves: The game autosaves frequently, so don't worry too much about losing progress if you make a mistake. You can also load previous saves from the in-game menu to undo decisions.
• No Manual Saving: Be aware that there is no manual save option. Rely on the autosave system.
• Consider Difficulty Levels: The game has different difficulty settings: Story (narrative focus, less demanding combat, parry/dodge not required), Expeditioner (intended difficulty, challenging combat, parry/dodge recommended), and Expert (hard difficulty, demanding combat, parry/dodge mandatory).
• No Mini-Map in Dungeons: There isn't a mini-map for dungeons, which can sometimes make navigation a bit disorienting. Pay attention to visual cues and item placements.
• The Title Can Be Confusing: Don't let the "confusing title" deter you from playing.

By keeping these tips in mind, new players should be better equipped to navigate the world and challenges of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Reception and Accolades: Universal Acclaim and GOTY Potential

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has received overwhelmingly positive critical reception. The game boasts impressive Metascores (92 average on PlayStation 5) and OpenCritic averages (92 with 96% recommended). Critics have granted the game "universal acclaim" with a high percentage of positive reviews.

Numerous outlets have awarded perfect or near-perfect scores, with many naming it a potential Game of the Year contender. Reviewers frequently describe it as a "must-play title for RPG fans." Critics highlight Sandfall Interactive's remarkable achievement as a debut studio. Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida noted the game's impressive scope and quality despite being created by a team of only 30 people.

Potential Criticisms: Minor Drawbacks in an Otherwise Stellar Experience

Despite widespread acclaim, some minor drawbacks exist. The confusing title for mainstream players appears as a recurring criticism. The game's release coinciding with "stealth Oblivion drop" potentially challenges its visibility.

Some reviews mention uninteresting traversal and the lack of a mini-map, occasionally leading players to get lost despite the visually striking environments. Some reviewers mentioned potential "gamification problems," though this might reflect translation or subjective interpretation issues. Critics also note potentially confusing mechanics and cluttered menus.

Comparisons and Influences: A Fresh Take on Genre Classics

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 openly draws inspiration from classic and modern JRPGs including Final Fantasy, Persona, Chrono Trigger, Dragon Quest, Lost Odyssey, and Legend Of Dragoon. It also incorporates elements from action RPGs like Dark Souls and Sekiro.

In the view of Gurugamer editorial team, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 doesn't merely imitate but innovates with its distinct vision and a unique "French touch." The game successfully blends old-school JRPG feel with dynamic, modern gameplay elements. We believe it could become a series rivaling Final Fantasy.

Conclusion: A Sublime and Essential RPG Experience

In conclusion, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stands as a remarkable achievement and potential landmark title in the RPG genre. Its compelling narrative, innovative combat system, stunning art style inspired by French artistic movements, and memorable characters create a truly special experience.

As Sandfall Interactive's debut title, it makes a bold and promising entry into the gaming landscape. With widespread critical acclaim and serious Game of the Year buzz, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 appeals strongly to RPG enthusiasts and potentially broader gaming audiences. This sublime and essential RPG leaves a lasting impression and suggests a bright future for Sandfall Interactive.