I am Obsessed with ‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’

Have you ever had an experience that just… clicked? Something that perfectly scratches every itch you’ve ever had? The kind that shows up out of nowhere to give you the time of your life? That sticks in your head no matter how hard you try not to think about it?

Most people would call that falling in love. But since that’s not in the cards for me, I’ll have to settle for the next best thing. That being ‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33‘.

I knew virtually nothing about this game prior to release. Nothing aside from it being a turn-based RPG with jaw-dropping graphics. That was enough to put it on my radar, but not on my list of immediate must-play games. Just something to keep an eye on.

Until the game actually came out. The positive reception its received has been something to behold. A brand new IP, the first game from a new studio, immediately joining the contest for Game of the Year? All for a more affordable price than its competition? After that, I just couldn’t resist.

Even then, after all the hype and good press, this game managed to completely blow me away. This isn’t just a GOTY contender. This game is making a strong case for my top five favorites of all time list! It is a genuine masterpiece in every way!

Although that should be taken with a tiny asterisk. I’m partway through act 3, and I think the game has been absolutely incredible up to this point. However, I still haven’t finished it, so I can’t be sure it sticks the landing. But given how insanely high quality the experience has been thus far, only a fumble of the most legendary proportions could ruin it for me now.

The island city Lumiere is faced with slow and inevitable extinction. Each year, the Paintress paints a number in the sky, counting down from 100. Each year, everyone of that written age is erased from existence. One day, the only people left to suffer will be children too small to understand why.

Those whose lives will end in one year join together in a hopeless cause: the Expedition crews. Their goal: sail to the continent, kill the Paintress, and bring her countdown to an end. Sixty-seven expeditions have gone before, and none have succeeded. Now, it’s the 33rd Expeditions turn.

And that’s where my summary is going to end. Vague as that was, I still feel like I spoiled too much. I hesitate to even use character names.

The story in Expedition 33 is captivating from the instant you boot up the game. Every character is fully three-dimensional, with plenty of depth in their backstories and personalities. The underlying mystery is captivating, the world beautiful and bizarre, the lore extensive and intriguing. More than anything, it was unpredictable. There are more twists and turns in this game than a rollercoaster. So many scenes that had my jaw on the floor in sheer disbelief of what I just saw. All of it comes together as a heartfelt exploration of grief and mourning.

So many games these days try to be like movies. But so few of them make proper use of the language of film. Expedition 33, meanwhile, is – for lack of a better term – absolute cinema. There are so many shots in this game that I want to print and hang on my wall. Some cutscenes are presented in 4:3 monochrome, creating this dreamlike surreal air that had me star-struck. Combine the excellent visuals with the phenomenal writing, and even the game’s longest cutscenes were just as engaging as gameplay.

The motion-capture performances for the cutscenes are phenomenal. However, if you’re playing the game in English like I did, you’ll probably notice some issues with the lip syncing. While it is distracting, I found that the voice performances more than made up for it. The English cast is phenomenal, featuring such talents as Andy Serkis, Charlie Cox, Ben Starr, Jennifer English, Rich Keeble, and more. Check out this behind-the-scenes video for more on them. Or if you just want to see English speakers struggling with French words.

Finally, there’s the music. Oh my god, the music! Lorien Testard has put together one of the best video game OSTs I have ever heard! An eight-hour masterpiece featuring sweeping orchestras, jazz, choirs, techno, and more! The passion he has for his work shines through in every single track. Here’s another behind-the-scenes video on that if you’re curious. I’d highly recommend it; the story behind the music is wonderful all its own.

Over the years, I have played more than a few turn-based RPGs. Final Fantasy, Mario & Luigi, SMT, Dragon Quest, Persona, Chrono Trigger, you name it, I’ve probably played it. So believe me when I say that ‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33‘ is one of the best games I have ever played in this genre!

Combat is easy to learn, hard to master. At its core, it’s very simple. By attacking, parrying, or using items, you build up that character’s AP. With this, you can afford using your more powerful skills for increased damage or more effective buffs/debuffs.

On the enemy’s turn, they’ll buff themselves, debuff you, or most often: attack. But you don’t just sit there and take the damage; when an enemy attacks, you have a chance to either dodge the hit or parry for a counter-attack. Parries have strict timing, but raise your AP. This creates an addictive loop of risk and reward. Do you play it safe and dodge, or risk the parry so you can later use more powerful attacks? Players who master this system could finish the whole game without ever taking damage.

Not that the game will make it easy. Some of these enemies have some wild attack patterns. Plenty of bosses (of which this game has many) can kill you in one hit, especially if you’re playing on the highest difficulty. Skill can carry you far, but only in mastering the numbers game can you truly succeed.

Luckily, that doesn’t mean hours of tedious grinding. Instead, it comes down to something far more enjoyable: build variety. Each character has their own unique skill set, from Lune’s magic to Verso’s ranking system, with dozens of abilities to choose from. Weapons have passive effects that alter how they play, which can be upgraded throughout your journey. Finally, there are the Pictos, equipables that provide passive buffs and large stat boosts. If you get experimental, you can create some game-breaking combos.

There are also guns, if you just want to turn your characters into assault rifles. While shooting doesn’t do as much damage as a skill or basic attack, you can fire as many shots as you have energy for without ending your turn. Some enemies have unique mechanics tied into the shooting; you can blast a weak spot to weaken them, or complete a puzzle mechanic to prevent a dangerous attack.

Act 3 is where the game stops holding your hand. You get the option to remove the damage cap, sending your party’s power level into the stratosphere! Which is good, because it’s also where the world opens up completely, giving you access to the many, many, many optional levels and super bosses.

Speaking of the world, Expedition 33 has brought back a feature I have sorely missed in RPGs: an isometric overworld. Like the maps of RPGs old, the world of Clair Obscur is divided into multiple segmented zones and levels connected by an overworld map. Unlike the classics, however, there are no random encounters in this game. Every enemy to fight can be seen on the overworld, from basic mobs to bosses to mimes. There are even minigames!

This is where my biggest gripe with the game lays: navigation. The overworld map is fine, but barebones; a marker system would be exceedingly helpful. Worse, the levels themselves don’t have maps at all, which can make navigating them a huge pain in the rear. Especially in the late game, when branching paths have branching paths and the dungeons take upwards of an hour to complete.

One quality-of-life improvement I love is in the item system. In most RPGs, items are expendable and need to be bought. Unfortunately, this means that especially rare items become too valuable to waste. Megalixirs can’t be bought, so you don’t use them unless you need to. Which often translates to never using them at all. Expedition 33 fixes this issue by making items limited, but replenishable. If you use a lot of potions, you’ll need to rest at a checkpoint or go back to camp to get them back. You can even upgrade them as you level.

Is the game’s dour tone getting you down? Partake in some side quests and mini-games. Not only are these a fun change of pace, they reward you with cosmetic items. Whether it be with new hairstyles, cool costumes, or a funny baguette, there’s no shortage of options for players who love dress-up. You can even take these into cutscenes if you’re feeling silly.

All of this comes together into an incredibly addicting and rewarding gameplay loop. The dodge/parry system makes combat completely fair, which encourages the player to improve without being frustrating. The sheer variety in enemies and their attack patterns keeps things fresh; hour fifty of my playthrough was just as much fun as hour five. Even with my complaints over exploration, I still spent hours exploring the world, transfixed by every fresh and bizarre sight it had to offer.

‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33‘ is close to what I would call a perfect game. Everything here is polished to a mirror sheen. The writing is phenomenal, the visuals jaw-dropping, the gameplay satisfying in every regard. This $50 gem makes competitors priced at $70-80 look embarrassing by comparison.

Sandfall Interactive is a shining example of how a game studio should be run. A small team of talented and passionate artists making a game they’d want to play. They’ve shown the world that they’re a studio worth following, and this is only their first release! I can’t wait to see what they’re cooking up next!

Expedition 33 is my favorite game of the year so far. With GTA VI delayed to next year, I’d be shocked if this doesn’t win GOTY. It would take a massive surprise release to top it. If you’re even slightly interested, I would highly recommend giving it a shot.

Thank you all very much for reading. I’ve absolutely loved my time with this game, and I’m glad I could share some of that with you all. Hope you enjoyed it.

For those who come after.