Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 first appeared with an intriguing trailer as part of Microsoft’s summer showcase, teasing a fantasy world in which bands of adventurers battle to defeat “The Artist,” who is gradually chipping away at the maximum number of years people can live.
This is a very JRPG sounding original. This is the first title from new French studio Sandfall Interactive, set in a dark, ethereal world inspired by Belle Époque France (cue the twisted Eiffel Tower), adding a little more reason to battle this powerful, mysterious Artist. You’ll play as a team of Expeditioners exploring fantastical landscapes and battling monsters to defeat the Artist. It sounds vague because, well, I don’t quite understand what’s going on. I went back to the trailer – maybe that will help clear things up.
Clean as mud. But that’s okay, it’s a fantastic RPG — I didn’t expect to understand the story from the start. I recently watched some hands-on gameplay with Creative Director Guillaume Broche Clair Obscur: Expedition 33and François Meuriss, the game’s producer.
We’ve gone through several levels and locations as well as introduced several party characters. You will start the game with Gustav. Each party member has a unique combat mechanic that loads during battles. You can increase your charge speed with careful shielding, dodging, and evading. With Gustav’s robotic arm, for example, he can set up a shock attack that he can launch early for extra damage, or power up for an extra aggressive strike.
Gustav’s adoptive sister Maelle, who disappeared early in the game, has a stance technique that can increase her combat stats after a fencing sword attack. The game is turn-based, with enemies and allies able to attack (or recover) in a predetermined order. This is augmented by some action RPG touches and QTEs (quick time events) where you have to defend with precise timing. Get enough fighters in a row and the characters will deal serious damage to the enemy. I had to watch a boss monster hit my entire party – luckily, you only have to run once to avoid or parry the entire team. It reminds of the battles themselves Personality 5with a focus on dramatic camera angle changes, intricate, paint-themed special effects, and beautiful character (and monster) design. Special attacks and spells use skill points, which are replenished by successful saves and QTE timing. In short, you will still have to pay attention during battles. Excuse me.
Along with Maelle and Gustave, the party in the show was probably completed by Lune, the mage of the team. You’ll encounter the rest of your expedition party in typical JRPG style during your adventure. Broch told me this from the beginning Expedition 33 It was a tribute to the classic RPGs of the 90s, even if it didn’t look like them. outside pixelated Switch adventures, turn-based RPGs have long fallen out of favor, even being replaced by action RPGs revised titles. This is Sandfall Interactive’s attempt to revive the turn-based RPG for the year 2024.
Each character has a special type of weapon that can be gradually upgraded and strengthened, adding new abilities as the character grows. I took a look at the complex skill tree that players can chip away at. Elemental attacks will depend on the weapon your character has, which means careful party building (or customization) will be required later in the game.
In addition to elemental weaknesses, some enemies will also have shields that will protect them from your attacks. As you progress, some will have visible weaknesses that players will have to shoot at – usually with visual cues, such as the weak points of early anchor enemies. This free target system is also used in environments. I’ve seen a few “throw” puzzles used to unlock treasure and other rewards. Expedition 33 will be divided into different themed areas, each offering alternate paths (some may offer additional treasure or tougher enemies) and visual cues that will provide more insight into the world and lore. The developers said that most of the story will have to be revealed by players themselves, hunting for collectible records from the shells of failed expeditions of the past.
The first environments I saw Expedition 33 it was beautiful. One of the first areas is covered with curtains of plankton, coral and seaweed as if you are walking on the bottom of the ocean. In fact, the beautiful world is only surpassed by the character models. The team seems to have put a lot of effort into making their heroes emote and react in a way you don’t see in older RPGs.
I’m wary of how many epic RPGs Sandfall Interactive can create given the size of the team. When I can’t play Expedition 33 At this point, I wonder how much exploration will be possible in the finished game, and whether it will reward players’ interests beyond plot lore and sad letters from dead expeditions.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 It will be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC in 2025.
