Many moments in Sandfall Interactive’s debut role-playing sport caught with me, even after the credit rolled, however maybe essentially the most poignant is from Sciel, a member of the so-called Catastrophe Expedition. “Dying is a good friend that can welcome me dwelling.” At first, this will likely come throughout as accepting loss of life earlier than it even arrives, acknowledging the so-called nice equalizer. Nonetheless, from Sciel’s perspective, it gives two potential outcomes, each affording a reunion along with her family and friends.
But as ever-present as loss of life may be all through Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, life shines all through. To show that it’s not for nothing – that it’s past merely present, even when it means scuffling with crushing sorrow.
The time period references the robust contrasts between gentle and darkish in portray to create a way of quantity, and this bleeds into each facet of the gameplay. The turn-based fight with real-time parts; the combo of tragedy and pleasure; the impeccable homage to old-school RPGs in a recent shell. In brief, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a superb title. That Sandfall Interactive may ship an expertise of this weight and magnitude is as spectacular as it’s exemplary.
“Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a superb title. That Sandfall Interactive may ship an expertise of this weight and magnitude is as spectacular as it’s exemplary.”
The story is compelling from the very get-go, beginning in Lumiere, an island metropolis separated from the principle continent after the devastatingly mysterious Fracture. Its inhabitants know nothing of the surface world, save for the Monolith and the Paintress, who awakens yearly to color a brand new quantity, after which each considered one of that age dies, dissipating into petals in an occasion often called the Gommage. The truth that it’s turn into a part of every day life within the metropolis additional leans into the ever-present nature of loss of life.
After all, its inhabitants aren’t taking this laying down…or at the least they haven’t been for a number of a long time. They ship Expeditions of these with one yr of life left to the continent within the hopes of destroying the Paintress and breaking the cycle as soon as and for all. Why is she portray within the first place? Why does everybody die? These are however a number of mysteries that Gustave has to reply upon setting out.
A form-hearted but typically timid engineer, Gustave is joined by Maelle, his foster sister. Regardless of having a number of years left, she yearns to discover the world outdoors Lumiere. Nonetheless, as quickly as their expedition lands on the seashore of the continent, they’re accosted by Renoir, an outdated man who summarily slaughters all of them (with some assist from terrifying monsters often called Nevrons). With solely a handful of survivors and little hope, Gustave units out to succeed in the Monolith and cease the Paintress.
Together with Maelle, he’s joined by the meticulous researcher Lune and the cheerful Sciel, a farmer turned instructor. Journeying via the continent, they meet the Gestrals, a race of picket doll-like beings who yearn for fight and different challenges; hunt down the legendary Esquie; and rather more. To say any extra would smash the shock past the obviousness of issues not being what they appear.
“There are a number of awkward bits of humor (and at the least one downright weird scene), however watching the group course of occasions, be it rolling with the punches or making sense of cataclysmic occasions, is enthralling.”
Regardless, the plot is well-paced and tout, mixing the correct amount of levity with seriousness. Some parts can really feel a bit odd tonally, and by the point it’s all stated and finished, there are quite a lot of burning questions left unanswered. There are even parts which may be divisive amongst some gamers, however I really feel that they go well with the larger image, including much-needed quantity to the proceedings.
Whereas the bigger battle and thriller are intertwined with the group’s interpersonal relationships and bonds (and typically overshadow them), the characterization is extraordinarily on level. A part of that is because of the pure dialogue, which lends extra weight to the emotional moments.
The opposite half is the voice performing. Charlie Cox is great as Gustave, balancing anxiousness with an earnest nature that makes him imminently likeable. Kristy Rider lends a refined sophistication and air to Lune, whereas Shala Nyx splendidly embodies Sciel, who, regardless of her cheery and relaxed demeanor, seemingly carries a pall of unhappiness.
Andy Serkis as Renoir, Ben Starr as Verso (a mysterious particular person who tracks the expedition for unknown causes) and Wealthy Keeble as Monoco (a Gestral who talks the discuss and clumsily walks the stroll) additionally shine all through. However regardless of the powerful competitors, Jennifer English is my favourite. She lends an aura of innocence and road smarts to Maelle, later tinged with the trauma of watching her expedition murdered.
The chemistry between the forged can be one thing to behold, whether or not they reminisce on the trials to date, course of grief, or attempt to make sense of all the pieces occurring. There are a number of awkward bits of humor (and at the least one downright weird scene), however watching the group course of occasions, be it rolling with the punches or making sense of cataclysmic occasions, is enthralling.
Additionally, shout out to the remainder of the forged for voicing the voice logs of different Expeditions found all through the continent. They’re a pleasure to take heed to, and, on prime of offering extra context on what led to their demise, some genuinely poignant moments lay ready to be found. Lore is all the time a difficult endeavor, however Clair Obscur’s logs paint an unimaginable portrait of the world whereas additionally getting me to care about these folks.
“All of this combines right into a fight system that feels dynamic and concerned. You’re continuously trying to regulate to new enemies and patterns – and there’s a venerable smorgasbord to take care of.”
After all, you may chat up celebration members again at camp and improve bond ranges, although the system may have used a bit extra oomph past merely choosing considered one of two dialogue selections and watching the extent improve. These interactions often unfold as exchanges with minimal animation, although some distinctive moments sometimes emerge.
The English lip-syncing additionally felt off now and again, which took me out of a number of the interactions (although the standard of the voice performing introduced me again). Fortunately, that is much less frequent throughout cinematics, which boasts unimaginable cinematography and animation work.
A lot has been made in regards to the fight. The way it’s dynamic and interesting, and absolutely the spotlight of the expertise. No matter you’ve heard or seen, excellent news – it’s even higher than that. The basics are simple sufficient – turn-based with a flip order decided by Pace, which additionally influences how typically you act, which additionally applies to enemies. Motion Factors are spent on Expertise, however you may as well use them for Free Goal photographs. Enemies may be surprised after receiving sufficient Break injury. Thus far, so good.
The place Clair Obscur diverges from most different titles is in its use of real-time parts. Manually aiming to hit weak spots. Dodging assaults and parrying, resulting in counters. Timed button presses for expertise (although you may flip this off if it will get too obnoxious). It’s also possible to bounce over sure strikes and assault an enemy. Typically, the whole celebration could also be focused and upon parrying, they unleash a devastating triple counter. On prime of this are Gradient Counters, used towards particular enemy assaults, and Gradient Assaults, which unleash highly effective strategies after consuming sufficient AP and constructing fees.
All of this combines right into a fight system that feels dynamic and concerned. You’re continuously trying to regulate to new enemies and patterns – and there’s a venerable smorgasbord to take care of. It’s not lengthy earlier than you’re coping with enemies who combine in sweeping assaults to leap over and should use Gradient Counters out of nowhere to outlive devastating hits. The frenzy of parrying a number of hits, accompanied by the pause in music and punch of a counter is as dopamine-inducing the primary time as it’s the hundredth.
Some enemies even have elemental affinities, which suggests they’re inclined to several types of elemental injury. Use the flawed sort, and also you’ll deal much less injury; use the identical sort of factor they usually’ll take up your assault, regaining well being. Not solely will you must think about which weapons to make use of (particularly since their passives are integral to sure set-ups), however the Expertise and synergies.
“Whereas early areas really feel extra “linear” and don’t supply as many facet areas, that’s fortunately not the case all through. Subsequent environments open up with extra distinctive foes (like Mimes and Petanks), non-obligatory bosses, gentle puzzle fixing, platforming, and ranging elevations.”
When it comes to character kits, Clair Obscur does an outstanding job of outlining the fundamentals and slowly including layers of complexity. For instance, Maelle has three stances – Offensive, which offers and takes 50 % extra injury; Defensive, which reduces injury taken by 50 % and grants extra AP on parrying; and Virtuose, which will increase injury by a whopping 200 %. Early on, the loop appears straightforward sufficient to grasp – Offensive stance, then ignite an enemy and swap to Virtuose earlier than shelling out extra injury.
Nonetheless, it’s possible you’ll determine to spec into Burn injury, thus leveraging a ability, which inflicts Burn stacks whereas additionally dealing extra injury with every stack. It additionally switches you into Offensive stance, permitting you to achieve extra Burn stacks with a special ability. You could possibly swap to Virtuose with one other ability (which additionally recovers some AP) and use one other ability, which consumes these Burn stacks, for giant injury. Or you possibly can give you one thing fully totally different.
And that’s just one character. Lune encourages considering rigorously about your geared up expertise since every generates a Stain that may be consumed for various results. Wish to forged an Ice assault and obtain 4 AP if the enemy is burning? How about taking one other flip as a result of two inexperienced Stains have been consumed?
I opted for a totally totally different strategy – utilizing a weapon that generates random Stains on Free Goal photographs (and two on a base assault). If the percentages had been in my favor, I might devour them to extend the injury of expertise or activate Mayhem, which consumes all 4 Stains for enormous injury and doubtlessly breaks an enemy. Was it super-practical to attempt to get 4 totally different coloured Stains to activate Elemental Genesis, considered one of her highest-damaging expertise? Perhaps not, however when it labored, it was a blast.
Then you definitely throw within the Pictos and Lumina, additional diversifying your builds. Pictos are gadgets containing stats and a passive impact, like dodging to acquire an Motion Level or a proportion probability to inflict a Burn stack on a Free Goal shot. You may equip as much as three, however when you’ve performed 4 battles, the passive impact may be geared up as a Lumina by anybody (you probably have the Lumina Factors).
It’s paying homage to Ultimate Fantasy 9’s system, and the choices are in depth, from elevated break injury on base assaults and Free Goal photographs to well being restoration every spherical, extra AP on Parry, and even +1 AP on Parry, however injury acquired is doubled.
“The general variety can be one thing to behold – every location brimming with an unmistakable ambiance, whether or not it’s the deceptively laid-back Gestral Village, a location with an oceanic ceiling that needs to be seen to be believed, or a battlefield suffering from big swords.”
There may be quite a lot of selection accessible, but, it’s streamlined and simple to allow. Even leveling up weapons to unlock their higher-level passives (since every has three) doesn’t really feel grindy. You might not have sufficient assets early on to totally degree up all of the weapons, however later sport threats supply extra plentiful improve supplies and even some free weapon level-ups.
Contemplating your stats is essential as nicely since weapons can scale off of two for extra injury. Nonetheless, you’ll need to diversify, particularly since investing sufficient factors in a stat may supply will increase for others. By the endgame, your min-maxing route turns into clear however I nonetheless discovered it pleasurable to steadiness how a lot crucial hit probability I wanted and the place I may compensate with Pictos.
The opposite core pillar of Clair Obscur is exploration, which brings us to one of many extra frequent factors in previews – linearity. Whereas early areas really feel extra “linear” and don’t supply as many facet areas, that’s fortunately not the case all through. Subsequent environments open up with extra distinctive foes (like Mimes and Petanks), non-obligatory bosses, gentle puzzle fixing, platforming, and ranging elevations.
Granted, some stretches supply little greater than going from level A to level B (to say nothing of the levels, that are little greater than an attractive backdrop the place you accumulate a document to play again at camp), but it surely’s an upward curve of complexity. Stage layouts and mechanics turn into richer and extra complicated as you progress. The general variety can be one thing to behold – every location brimming with an unmistakable ambiance, whether or not it’s the deceptively laid-back Gestral Village, a location with an oceanic ceiling that needs to be seen to be believed, or a battlefield suffering from big swords.
Which brings us to the overworld exploration. When the event workforce boasted about 30 hours of facet content material to go together with the 30-hour story, it wasn’t kidding. Platforming challenges (together with one which’s a transparent homage to Solely Up), Chromatic Nevrons (a lot harder variations of foes who yield higher rewards), Misplaced Gestrals, and non-obligatory areas teeming with difficult bosses – there’s a deceptively great amount to find.
“You might baulk at some twists as a lot as benefit from the thrilling encounters and emotional moments. Both manner, it is a incredible RPG expertise that deserves your consideration.”
Whereas some mini-games really feel rougher than others, the sheer vary of content material remains to be spectacular. I used to be delayed for hours from ending the story merely as a result of discovering a brand new area, boss or facet story. You shouldn’t anticipate Ultimate Fantasy 7 Rebirth ranges of playtime, but it surely’s nonetheless a meaty expertise that fortunately doesn’t overstay its welcome or pile on meaningless duties.
Relating to the presentation, what can I say about Clair Obscur’s visuals that screenshots and video haven’t already? Unreal Engine 5 is in full impact with gorgeous particle results, atmospherics and textures (barring the uncommon low-res instance). Character fashions look wonderful, however the environments are on one other degree fully when it comes to element.
It’s a disgrace that the PS5 model has such extreme pop-in whereas traversing the overworld, particularly on Esquie. You gained’t discover it as a lot whereas exploring ranges on foot, although HDR can really feel a bit too darkish in some locations, necessitating changes. A minimum of Efficiency Mode is a constant 60 frames per second, and there are alternatives to show off movement blur.
In the case of the music, there aren’t any complaints by any means. The sheer selection in preparations, from jazz and piano-backed items with high-range vocals to techno, is breathtaking. Whether or not it’s higher than the easiest within the style is so that you can determine, but it surely actually deserves a spot in that tier. It’s a disgrace, then, {that a} bug can sometimes trigger the music in a battle to chop out, leading to an ungainly silence. This isn’t as horrible as the 2 instances I received caught within the atmosphere, however in any other case, the extent of polish is pretty robust.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has a number of nagging points, particularly on PS5, however the positives are overwhelming and price celebrating. A studio of this scale delivering such unimaginable manufacturing values, fight, story-telling, characterization, and world design is really one thing particular and I solely hope it isn’t misplaced within the shuffle of big-name releases. You might baulk at some twists as a lot as benefit from the thrilling encounters and emotional moments. Both manner, it is a incredible RPG expertise that deserves your consideration.
This sport was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.
