Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s fresh take on RPG traditions could revitalise the genre

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Developer: Sandfall Interactive
• Writer: Kepler Interactive
• Availability: Out 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Sequence X/S (and Sport Go), and PC (Steam and Epic)

It is truthful to say Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 caught the eyes of many – myself included – when it was revealed throughout the Summer season Sport Fest Xbox Showcase. Right here, amongst the a number of sequels and remakes of acquainted franchises, was one thing fully fresh: a turn-based RPG in a Belle Epoch setting to tug the genre into a contemporary period.

“It was very overwhelming,” inventive director Guillaume Broche tells me of the consideration the sport has acquired. “I was expecting turn-based fans to stand up and say ‘oh this looks cool’, but I wasn’t expecting this community to be that excited actually. It’s like we awakened a sleeping dragon.”

Certainly, it is the sport’s turn-based fight with motion parts that is turned heads most of all. Not since Xbox 360 unique Misplaced Odyssey has there been a “big realistic” AAA turn-based sport, says Broche. And whereas Sandfall Interactive’s sport is not AAA in finances, it is actually aspiring to that appear and feel.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – First Look Gameplay | PS5 Video gamesWatch on YouTube

“I’m a very big fan of turn-based games and I was deeply lacking something that had high-fidelity graphics,” says Broche, mentioning the likes of Persona and Octopath Traveller as fashionable and nostalgic options. “If nobody wants to do it, I will do it. That’s how it started.”

It is actually an intriguing determination. In at present’s business, turn-based fight is generally reserved for pixel video games, whereas sequence like Last Fantasy – recognized for its fight – have moved nearer to action-RPG lately. It was a criticism of Last Fantasy 16 particularly from longtime followers (by the way, Clive voice actor Ben Starr options in the forged for Expedition 33) that has left behind a niche for Broche’s sport to neatly fill.

“I don’t believe for a second that turn-based [combat] is dead, or that people don’t like turn-based games anymore,” says Broche. “And I think [this game] can show that, there is still a big community – ‘finally, a turn-based game with this kind of graphics!'”

But not solely is Expedition 33 a “love letter” to the basic RPG video games of Broche’s previous (Last Fantasy and Persona particularly), it is also a venture that is supposed to push the genre additional. “How can we make it more dynamic and integrate real-time elements that people also love?” he asks. “And that’s when we came up with the reaction system, both in terms of attack… but especially the dodge and parry system, which is very core to our battle system.”

Fight appears to be like unbelievable fluid and trendy | Picture credit score: Sandfall Interactive

Expedition 33’s fight consists of timed button presses for further injury and dodges, which is not precisely new – it is featured in video games from Nintendo’s Tremendous Mario RPG, to Legend of Dragoon, and extra just lately Sea of Stars. Surprisingly, although, it is FromSoftware’s Sekiro that proved influential right here: “I love perfect parries,” says Broche.

So how does it work in apply? I used to be in a position to watch Broche play by way of a demo, displaying off each exploration and fight. Enemies are seen in the world however initiating fight takes gamers to a battle scene. Right here, the UI appears to be like most akin to Persona 5 with its button prompts and trendy, angular menus. In addition to varied assaults and expertise, characters also can freely intention with a gun – not solely to shoot weak factors, however to work together with the surroundings throughout boss battles too. Every character has a singular fight capability as properly: lead character Gustave goes into Overdrive after a sure variety of assaults, whereas Lune makes use of Stains for elemental injury and Maelle can utilise Stances to prioritise offence and defence.

As soon as chosen, assaults are initiated and adopted by timed button prompts that present further injury and construct into strings of combos – although can generally damage participant characters if missed. Then, when enemies assault, gamers should dodge, bounce, or parry hits, with the latter requiring the tightest timing however permitting for a strong counter. The total celebration may even parry directly for a bunch counter. It appears, then, that the motion parts are properly built-in into fight and enemy animations clearly telegraph hits, however Broche explains to me they largely add to fight and are not all the time obligatory. Equally, it is completely attainable to do a no-hit run by dodging or parrying each assault. Boss battles additionally characteristic a break bar to stun enemies, although once more that is extra of a bonus. With assaults lining up with elemental weaknesses too, it is all about giving gamers choices in fight.

That extends to character customisation too. At relaxation factors – flags left behind by earlier expeditions – gamers can spend factors to degree up character attributes and unlock new skills in the talent tree. And whereas sure characters might align with pace or energy as an example, gamers can freely tweak builds. In reality, Broche is eager for gamers to experiment and create “broken builds”.

This underwater degree was jaw-dropping | Picture credit score: Sandfall Interactive

Additional, gamers can customise the Pictos of their characters – basically their armour – by mastering Luminas assigned to gear that may be mastered to supply enhanced stats and passive results. I liken this to Last Fantasy 9’s skills system, and Broche agrees. As with the greatest RPGs, there are overlapping methods that enable for loads of experimentation.

I ask if there are some other methods or parts from the previous included in Expedition 33 – a world map, as an example? “Maybe,” says Broche with a glint in his eye, although he isn’t keen to offer additional particulars. “Old school JRPG fans can expect a lot more in that direction.”

Fight is deserving of the consideration, then, however seeing the sport in movement for the first time it is the visuals and music that actually seize me. The surroundings explored in the demo seemingly takes place underwater, however with characters operating and respiratory as regular: sea monsters glide over the skeletons of ruined ships, whereas mild shimmers down over luminescent aquatic flora, all accompanied by mournful piano. It is breathtaking (actually, maybe) and actually units the dramatic, surrealist tone.

The reactive fight ensures you are not looking at menus | Picture credit score: Sandfall Interactive

It is all in the identify actually: Clair Obscur, or chiaroscuro in Italian, is a time period in artwork to explain the robust distinction between mild and darkish, and was a French cultural and creative motion in the seventeenth and 18th centuries. Along with the Belle Epoque and Artwork Deco setting combined with realism and excessive fantasy, Expedition 33 has a singular aesthetic that is baked into its lore too – there are many creative phrases, maybe linking to the sport’s villain The Paintress.

A lot of the distinctive visible model is right down to Nicholas Maxson-Francombe, the sport’s artwork director. “I think the core is that Nicholas our art director is, for me, a genius,” says Broche. “He comes up with crazy stuff on his own without a lot of references or anything. It’s just plucked from his brain.”

A doorway from the underwater space results in a wholly new space referred to as The Manor, as the workforce performs with house and time. It is a recurring space that is darkish and gothic against this to underwater, and the celebration is aided by a ghostly, faceless creature. Afterwards we meet the Gestrals, metallic retailers with bristles for hair who present some comedian reduction and should be fought to unlock all their wares. Identical to the visuals, the characterisation balances mild and darkish as Broche pursues plausible, human characterisation.

“The core of the game is serious, it’s dark, it’s heavy,” says Broche, “but it’s lightened up by some funny aspects of the game. The characters are not always dark and sombre, they know how to have fun also and decompress.” That happens at camp, the place characters can relaxation up between exploration.

Broche continues: “I think to get attached to someone you also have to see their funny side. We wanted to show they can be funny and give them real humanity in this way.”

Breathtaking | Picture credit score: Sandfall Interactive

Characterisation is core to the narrative, then, and whereas plot parts from this preview have been minimal, we all know from the trailer the sport will comply with an expedition of characters searching for to destroy the Paintress and forestall her from portray dying – an occasion often called The Gommage. The story will not all the time be instructed explicitly, with gamers piecing collectively lore by discovering the remnants of earlier expeditions and chatting with NPCs (one other Souls affect, maybe). Very like in conventional RPGs, the expedition types a celebration of characters who every have a unique view of the Paintress and ranging causes for becoming a member of the expedition, however they kind a cohesive group. There is definitely loads of chatter between them whereas exploring.

The music, in the meantime, is “the most important thing” to Broche in establishing the sport’s haunting tone. The likes of Last Fantasy 7 and eight have iconic, recognisable soundtracks and Broche is eager for Expedition 33 to have the similar; composer Lorien Testard was solely the third member to hitch the improvement workforce after Broche started alone. Testard cites NieR: Automata as a favorite sport on the Sandfall web site and, together with the inclusion of a French opera singer for the Expedition 33 rating, you possibly can actually hear the affect. Steel vocalist Victor Borba additionally options, recognized for singing on the Devil May Cry soundtrack.

In all, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 appears like a very formidable venture, with Broche impressed by a few of the biggest RPG classics in gaming historical past. Regardless of its spectacular presentation, this seems extra restricted in scope in comparison with current open world giants like Last Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth – world design particularly will not be open, however does characteristic branching paths to discover – and I can not think about card video games and karaoke right here. But by bringing trendy presentation and gameplay parts to a conventional RPG construction, I’ve little doubt Expedition 33 will fulfill followers of the genre longing for a fresh interpretation.

As the preview ends with the celebration arriving in a fantastic autumnal space of vivid pink leaves, I discover myself itching to see extra and play for myself. Clair Oscur: Expedition 33 had already caught my eye, however now it is shot to the high of my most-wanted checklist.