It’s one thing to tip your hat to the greats, but it’s another to take those nods and weave them into something that stands tall on its own. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn’t shy about wearing its JRPG influences on its sleeve, and that’s a good thing. French developer Sandfall has taken everything from its magnificent turn-based combat system to its melodramatic, yet genuine, storytelling, and the result is an experience that feels both familiar and utterly refreshing. The game’s superb execution on its inspirations leaves a lasting mark, resulting in one of the most somber and hopeful journeys I won’t soon forget.
Clair Obscur drops you into the fractured reality of Lumiere. Here, a being known as The Paintress marks a tower with a number each year, counting down to the age when people will simply cease to exist. You lead a group of survivors, the latest in a series of annual expeditions, tasked with destroying The Paintress. But every expedition before yours has failed, with none ever returning, and decades of attempts behind you. This premise casts a heavy shadow over the entire story. Every member of your group has signed up for a death march, fighting against their own extinction, and this, combined with the mysteries of their world, makes it easy to become invested in their fate.
I finished the main story and a fair chunk of side content in around 35 hours, and that runtime speaks volumes about Clair Obscur’s pacing – there’s very little filler. Instead, you learn about its characters through their interactions, conversations, and expressions. While I love the downtime in RPGs that allows you to breathe and take in the world, the urgency here allows it to get straight to the point in a way that mostly works. This is a nice change of pace from long RPGs.
Combat That’s Both Familiar and Thrilling
Because of the shorter length (relatively speaking), the brilliance of the combat system never fades. You’ll instantly feel Persona vibes from its sleek battle menu and stylish flair. But, more notable is the active element, the real-time button inputs that boost potency in spellcasting and allow you to dodge attacks. This keeps you engaged during enemy turns just as much as your own. It’s reminiscent of the Mario RPGs or, more recently, Like A Dragon, and it makes turn-based combat more thrilling. The survival of your team will be in the balance of your ability to dodge and parry.
Against bosses and tougher enemies, you’ll need to pay close attention to audio and visual cues to create a rhythm. This is especially the case when you chain together combos that have a varied cadence between hits, and you will have to stave off a flurry of attacks to certain beats.
When learning these attack patterns, the trial and error can be frustrating, particularly in initial attempts. But once you nail the timing, it instills a level of intensity I don’t think I’ve felt in turn-based combat before. Dodging offers a wider window for execution, while parrying demands precision, and the rewarded slow-motion camera cut and counterattack of a well-timed parry are both extremely satisfying. Every party member has their own specific mechanics that revolve around building up their unique resource in battle and managing action points (AP) to execute the more powerful skills.
Diving Deeper into Character Customization
Even a card-dealing Scythe wielder has a light-dark mechanic where she manages phases and card stacks to use her skills, similar to a combination of the Astrologian and Reaper Jobs from Final Fantasy XIV. As if that wasn’t enough, two late-game characters take things even further: one uses a Devil May Cry-style grading system and the other takes spells from fallen enemies in the style of a Blue Mage.
All of this gives each character a distinct identity and function, which makes every turn in battle an exciting endeavor no matter who’s in your party. You are only given a handful of tools, but you have to have a strong grasp of how they work.
With an emphasis on meeting certain conditions and inflicting specific knock-on effects when lining up attacks, it reminds me of mechanics you’d see in a CRPG like Baldur’s Gate 3, but fine-tuned for a classic-style Japanese RPG. The skillsets are able to synergize and play off other party members shows an understanding of what makes a turn-based system sing. At first, you may fall into a routine, but as a fight goes on, it becomes more about adapting to the variables and earning the most satisfying moments of pulling off your most powerful attacks.
There’s also Pictos, attachments that boost stats and perks to change how you gain AP, what bonuses you get from dodging and parrying, and how status effects work. Using Pictos for long enough eventually allows you to stack their perks in what are called Lumina, letting you build a character in ways their skill tree cannot. Navigating these menus is tedious, but it’s something you can learn to deal with.
Early on, you may think you’re too powerful, but if you set the right loadout it will elevate your party members in ways that are crucial for the more challenging fights. All the pieces come together to create a rich and satisfying combat experience that rewards strategic thinking and skillful execution.
A Wonderful Overworld and Compelling Story
Clair Obscur has an old-school overworld that’s reminiscent of classic RPGs. The oversized character models navigate a map filled with optional locations and secrets that you can visit. This gives you a sense of wonder.
The main locations you visit function like dungeons, where you fight your way along a fairly direct track, with extra items tucked away in nooks and crannies off the beaten path. While these places can be fairly linear, the areas are visually striking and often display etheral beauty.
But what really elevates an RPG is its story.
My heart was all-in on Clair Obscur’s themes of facing mortality, making sacrifices for future generations, and the different ways we handle grief. The impeccable acting, voice performances, and script-writing made a story that was as real as it was fantastical. Its brevity does work against it at times, though, and it doesn’t dedicate quite enough time to fleshing out underdeveloped parts. Overall, the quality of what remains is still powerful and shows how we use art and fiction as coping mechanisms, and the dangers of getting lost in it.
Levity Amidst the Gloom
Despite its sad premise, Clair Obscur also injects some much-needed levity, mostly from wooden characters called Gestrals. Your party members will goof with each other and share parts of their personal lives at camp, which rounds out the human element in the story. At times, Clair Obscur over-embellishes in its sorrow, but always evokes a tone that you’d expect from a theatre production rather than a blockbuster.
Artistic Expression and a Soundtrack That Soars
Clair Obscur often feels like an expression of French art history, using its culture as an artistic foundation (even poking fun at itself with mime bosses and an accordion jig). This can be seen in its distinct Belle Epoque aesthetic and in the phrases the characters casually use. But, most importantly, the motifs of theatre, painting, dance, and music are woven into this fictional world and are the heart of the setting. There’s almost too much good music, in that tracks didn’t even get enough time to stick in my head, but at every turn are amazing songs that hype you up for battle or set a wistful mood. With a multifaceted approach that includes string quartets, symphonic rock, moving opera vocals, and atmospheric synths, Clair Obscur’s soundtrack is amazing, and it will be one of the reasons I won’t forget this game.
The Verdict
In so many ways, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 reminded me of numerous classic and contemporary RPGs I love, and the game will likely do the same for you. The creative turn-based combat system is amazing, and the impressive visual flourishes bring it all together. The story can be a touch messy at times, but it still strikes a deep emotional note with themes of morality, grief, and loss. And so, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stands strong alongside its inspirations, and will serve as an inspiration for those who come after.
