‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’ assessment: Closing Fantasy vibes and emotional maturity

These days, AAA video games have left me feeling a little bit uninspired. There’s a sameness to all of it — large budgets, greater expectations, and never a whole lot of coronary heart. So when an AA recreation comes out of nowhere, clearly made out of a love for the sport, it’s an actual breath of contemporary air.

That recreation is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the debut title from French studio Sandfall Interactive. A Western JRPG that proudly wears its Closing Fantasy and Persona influences on its sleeve; it first turned heads on the Xbox Video games Showcase again in June 2024. Since then, it’s quietly constructed momentum due to its beautiful visuals and a fight system that fuses turn-based mechanics with real-time parts.

After spending 24 hours with the sport on PS5, I can confidently say that the hype is actual, and the sport delivers.

The best expedition ever

Credit score: Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive

Make all of the jokes you need concerning the identify, however Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn’t attempting to be refined. The title truly is smart when you get into it. Set in a surreal, residing portray of a world, you play as Gustave (performed by Daredevil: Born Once more’s Charlie Cox), a citizen of the fractured metropolis of Lumière and a member of a gaggle referred to as Expedition 33.

On this universe, yearly, a mysterious, god-like being referred to as The Paintress paints a quantity onto her monolith. That quantity is the age of the individuals who might be erased from existence that yr. They name it the gommage (French for “erased”). Nevertheless, the catch is the quantity descends every year — and when the sport begins, it’s 33.

That’s the place Expedition 33 is available in. It is made up of volunteers who’re all 32 years outdated, giving them precisely one yr left earlier than their quantity comes up. Yearly, a brand new Expedition units out in a last-ditch effort to cease The Paintress and break the cycle. And yeah, it’s been taking place for some time (for a couple of century now, in reality).

As you’d anticipate, the most recent Expedition doesn’t precisely go easily. Issues go sideways nearly instantly, due to the arrival of Renoir, a cryptic older determine who mainly steamrolls the group. Gustave survives and finally ends up becoming a member of forces with the few remaining members: Lune, the mage and inquisitive scholar; Sciel, a relaxed and pleasant fighter; and Maelle, Gustave’s adopted sister/daughter and a 16-year-old who simply desires to see the world whereas she nonetheless can.

You’ll meet an entire solid of wierd, memorable characters in your journey, however I gained’t spoil these moments right here. Simply know the writing hits. It balances bizarre, poetic world-building with grounded, emotional storytelling. Positive, it leans into the melodrama from time to time, but it surely earns it.

They’re written with care — severe individuals with actual motivations, not simply automobiles for snappy dialogue. Gustave is simply looking for Maelle and make it house. Lune is targeted on ending the mission, it doesn’t matter what. Sciel, who’s already misplaced her husband, appears oddly at peace with the thought of dying and principally simply goes with the move.

They don’t all the time agree, however when battle comes up, they really speak issues by way of like adults. No sarcastic barbs, no compelled jokes — simply individuals below excessive strain, attempting to take care of it one of the best they’ll. I appreciated that the writers trusted you to choose issues up with out over-explaining.

I’ll admit, a number of story beats close to the top didn’t fairly sit proper with me. Not dealbreakers, however sufficient to make me pause and go, “hmm, actually?” Nonetheless, I went alongside for the experience. For a recreation heavy on narrative, that’s one of many few complaints I can level to. As for the world itself, the sport makes a degree of by no means spelling something out.

Everybody talks about Gesterals prefer it’s frequent information (information to me), and apparently, each child in Lumière was raised on the legendary exploits of Esquie — no matter that is. It’s all intentional, there is a greater image right here, however let’s be clear: for those who really feel like the sport hasn’t defined a single rattling factor, you’re not improper.

Combat for tomorrow

Credit score: Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive

Excessive fantasy has by no means actually accomplished it for me. Whether or not it’s an absence of creativeness or simply an excessive amount of unhealthy writing, the style normally doesn’t click on. Expedition 33 managed to vary that. The world is so well-realized that I discovered myself totally immersed as soon as the story settled in.

Expedition 33 is a turn-based motion recreation with some gentle RTS mechanics. You’re taking turns attacking enemies, however quick-time occasions can enhance your injury throughout your strikes. Timing additionally issues on protection—you’ll have to dodge and parry assaults to remain alive.

The dodge and parry system ended up being considered one of my predominant frustrations. Enemy assault timings typically felt like they had been tuned particularly to be annoying. Late-game bosses, particularly, use fake-outs and stuttered assault patterns, making reacting in time unnecessarily tough. The design jogged my memory of Elden Ring, the place bosses appear able to reacting to your inputs and adjusting their combos mid-animation. The truth that I unintentionally performed half the sport in High quality mode at 30FPS didn’t assist. It made these already tight home windows really feel even worse.

Efficiency on PS5 was principally strong, except for a number of technical hiccups. Sound design was inconsistent — cutscene transitions had been often off, and through battles, the music would generally minimize out fully, just like the audio file ran out and wasn’t set to loop. It isn’t a dealbreaker, however noticeable sufficient to say.

Fight in Expedition 33 will really feel acquainted to anybody who’s performed a traditional JRPG. On their flip, every occasion member can use gadgets, carry out a primary assault, or set off particular skills that devour Assault Factors (AP). Each character additionally has a big talent tree, permitting you to form their playstyle to suit your preferences.

Gustave performs like a paladin — he can hit exhausting but additionally brings passive buffs to assist the group. His signature capability, Overcharge, builds vitality in his mechanical arm with every assault. As soon as it hits 10 prices, he can unleash a strong electrical strike for severe injury.

Credit score: Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive

Lune fills the mage position. She has entry to therapeutic spells however leans closely into elemental injury. Her particular system, Stain, lets her stack magical results, which she will be able to later convert into boosted assaults or stronger therapeutic.

Maelle acts because the rogue archetype. She makes use of totally different stances to extend her injury output, although every stance additionally raises the quantity of harm she takes in return. She’s excessive danger, excessive reward.

Sciel rounds out the group as a warrior. Her mechanic, Foretell, is constructed round Solar and Moon playing cards. She applies these results in battle, then consumes them to enter a Twilight part, which briefly boosts her injury, generally doubling and even tripling it.

You may solely deliver three characters into battle at a time, so occasion composition does matter — but it surely doesn’t take lengthy to determine who pulls their weight and who can sit out. The enemy design is without doubt one of the recreation’s actual highlights. The Paintress’s creations, referred to as Nevrons, shift in type relying on the atmosphere, and the artwork route right here is genuinely spectacular.

In a single early space, Flying Waters — a visually hanging inverted seafloor with an ocean suspended above you — the Nevrons resemble crab-like sea creatures with vintage diving helmets. They don’t precisely swap up their assault patterns a lot, however they give the impression of being cool as hell and match the surreal tone of the sport completely.

The worst of the bunch are flying enemies. You may’t hit them with normal assaults or most abilities. As an alternative, it’s important to use a mechanic referred to as Free Intention, which helps you to manually goal and shoot enemies. It’s additionally the one technique to hit weak factors or apply marks, which makes targets extra susceptible to follow-up injury. Each shot prices AP, so it’s not one thing you’ll be able to spam with out penalties.

The problem is when the sport leans too exhausting into this. Some areas are stacked fully with flying enemies, and since they can’t be touched by regular assaults or abilities, your choices develop into frustratingly restricted.

Credit score: Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive

The final main layer of Expedition 33’s fight system comes within the type of Pictos and Luminas. Pictos are passive upgrades you’ll be able to equip — every character will get three slots. These vary from primary boosts like performing first in fight or rising therapeutic effectiveness to extra strategic ones like incomes additional AP for pulling off an ideal dodge.

Then there’s Luminas, which is the place issues begin to get attention-grabbing. After profitable 4 battles with a Picto outfitted, you unlock the choice to completely add it to a personality utilizing Lumina factors. So, for those who’re utilizing the “Dodger” Picto, which supplies +1 AP on an ideal dodge, you’ll be able to burn a Lumina level to maintain that bonus endlessly, even whereas equipping a distinct Picto in its slot.

Lumina factors themselves might be upgraded at camps utilizing gadgets you acquire all through the world. It’s a strong system that rewards experimentation with out locking you into one construct. The extra you mess around with it, the stronger your group will get and the extra flexibility you have got in fights.

Weapons are upgradeable, too, however actually, this felt just like the least attention-grabbing a part of character development. As you discover or stage up weapons, they’ll include passive bonuses and elemental results — some helpful, some situational. It’s value swapping them out relying on who you’re preventing, however in comparison with the depth of Pictos, Luminas, and the talent timber, the weapon system doesn’t go away a lot of an impression.

Exploring the continent

Credit score: Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive

The world outdoors of Lumière is a freaky little place that feels each alien and acquainted. Floating islands dangle within the sky, surrounded by swirling clouds and unusual glowing gentle. Forests and fields combine with historical ruins and overgrown tech, creating an area that feels lived-in however mysterious. One space is full of calm meadows and flowers, whereas one other is plagued by large damaged machines and glowing coral-like constructions.

It’s a wierd combine, but it surely works. The environments really feel like they’re telling a narrative even when nothing is occurring. One second you are standing in a peaceable glade carpeted in violet wildflowers, and the following you are navigating a biomechanical graveyard plagued by the remnants of titanic constructs and crystalline growths. It’s a visible fever dream, however with simply sufficient grounded naturalism to make you consider you might truly step into it

Exploration will undoubtedly draw many comparisons to Closing Fantasy X, and it’s fairly spot-on. The areas look large and open at first look, however they’re principally linear, with a number of branching paths right here and there. Typically, you’ll discover a aspect character tucked away or stumble into a gaggle of unsettling mime-like enemies that really feel like they wandered in from somebody’s nightmare. However don’t anticipate wide-open zones or large aspect quests early on.

Between these areas, you journey throughout a tilt-shifted overworld map. It’s a pleasant visible change, and it’s not only for present — the overworld has enemy encounters and scattered NPCs you’ll be able to work together with. Most of them are Gestrals, odd little creatures modeled after these wood drawing mannequins. They’re a bit dim however extraordinarily pleasant, and so they reside for fight. You may commerce with them and generally problem them to battle for bonus loot.

The overworld stays fairly restricted till Act 3, the place it lastly opens up and affords a bunch of elective dungeons and further areas to discover. Till then, it’s extra about transferring from level A to B, assembly a number of oddballs, and infrequently punching them for treasure.

Whereas exploring the continent, you’ll often be capable to arrange camp. That is the place you’ll be able to relaxation, improve Luminas, and improve your weapons with the assistance of the Curator — a skeletal, hollow-like determine who rescues Maelle early on and ultimately takes up residence in your camp after leaving The Manor. He’s vaguely unsettling to have a look at, however he makes my weapons hit tougher.

Camp can be the place you’ll be able to test in along with your occasion members. Don’t anticipate Baldur’s Gate 3-level character interplay right here. Dialogue is restricted, and a lot of the deeper camp-related content material doesn’t even unlock till nicely into Act 2. Can’t say rather more with out spoiling it, however simply know that even when it opens up, the camp system is extra of a light-weight contact. Nonetheless, it’s a pleasant second of calm between the heavier elements of the sport, supplying you with an opportunity to attach with the group extra groundedly.

Jeu magnifique, magnifique

Regardless of the sound points, Expedition 33’s music guidelines. The orchestral strings, the moody piano motifs—all of it simply works. The soundtrack elevates each second, whether or not it’s a quiet stroll by way of a dreamlike panorama or a boss battle that’s making you query your reflexes and life selections.

Visually, the sport is simply as robust. Past the excessive fantasy setting, it leans closely into Belle Époque-era France, the supposed golden age of the nation from 1874 and 1914. So sure, if it wasn’t apparent already, this recreation is unapologetically French. Lumière, the principle metropolis, is actually simply Paris with a brand new identify. (“Lumière” actually means “gentle,” and Paris is the Metropolis of Lights — refined, it isn’t.)

Even in Efficiency mode on PS5, the sport seems to be nice. The world design is beautiful, stuffed with painterly element, with environments that really feel like they had been made to be PC wallpapers. The paint-themed aesthetic extends to the characters and enemy design, which regularly attracts straight from artwork historical past. Don’t be shocked when a YouTube video essay titled “An Artwork Historian Performs Clair Obscur” drops a yr from now.

Suffice to say, the sport hits like crack in all the suitable methods.

Is Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 value it?

Credit score: Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive

Expedition 33 isn’t good — fight might be irritating, particularly with the parry system and flying enemies, and a number of the deeper mechanics don’t totally open up till later within the recreation. However what Sandfall Interactive has constructed right here is one thing genuinely distinctive.

The story is slow-burning however rewarding, with grounded, well-written characters who don’t deflect with quips. The world is unusual, fashionable, and unapologetically French, backed by a stunning soundtrack and painterly visuals that make even the quiet moments really feel intentional.

It’s not good, but it surely’s daring, bizarre, and stuffed with coronary heart. In the event you’re into character-driven RPGs with a definite vibe and don’t thoughts a number of tough edges, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is totally value your time.