Many moments in Sandfall Interactive’s debut role-playing sport caught with me, even after the credit rolled, however maybe probably the most poignant is from Sciel, a member of the so-called Catastrophe Expedition. “Dying is a buddy that can welcome me dwelling.” At first, this will likely come throughout as accepting demise earlier than it even arrives, acknowledging the so-called nice equalizer. Nevertheless, from Sciel’s perspective, it provides two potential outcomes, each affording a reunion along with her family and friends.
But as ever-present as demise might 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 components; the combo of tragedy and pleasure; the impeccable homage to old-school RPGs in a recent shell. Briefly, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a wonderful title. That Sandfall Interactive might ship an expertise of this weight and magnitude is as spectacular as it’s exemplary.
“Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a wonderful title. That Sandfall Interactive might 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 primary continent after the devastatingly mysterious Fracture. Its inhabitants know nothing of the surface world, save for the Monolith and the Paintress, who awakens annually to color a brand new quantity, after which each and every one among that age dies, dissipating into petals in an occasion referred to as 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 demise.
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 12 months 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 exterior Lumiere. Nevertheless, as quickly as their expedition lands on the seashore of the continent, they’re accosted by Renoir, an previous man who summarily slaughters all of them (with some assist from terrifying monsters referred to as 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 trainer. Journeying by 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 far more. To say any extra would spoil 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 quantity of levity with seriousness. Some components can really feel a bit odd tonally, and by the point it’s all mentioned and completed, there are quite a lot of burning questions left unanswered. There are even components that could be divisive amongst some gamers, however I really feel that they swimsuit 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 appearing. Charlie Cox is superb 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 solid can also be one thing to behold, whether or not they reminisce on the trials to date, course of grief, or attempt to make sense of the whole lot taking place. 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 solid for voicing the voice logs of different Expeditions found all through the continent. They’re a pleasure to hearken to, and, on high of offering extra context on what led to their demise, some genuinely poignant moments lay ready to be found. Lore is at all times a difficult endeavor, however Clair Obscur’s logs paint an unbelievable 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 consistently making an attempt to regulate to new enemies and patterns – and there’s a venerable smorgasbord to cope with.”
After all, you may chat up social gathering members again at camp and improve bond ranges, although the system might have used a bit extra oomph past merely deciding on one among two dialogue decisions and watching the extent improve. These interactions often unfold as exchanges with minimal animation, although some distinctive moments often emerge.
The English lip-syncing additionally felt off once in a while, which took me out of a few of the interactions (although the standard of the voice appearing introduced me again). Fortunately, that is much less widespread throughout cinematics, which boasts unbelievable cinematography and animation work.
A lot has been made concerning 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 easy 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 Abilities, however you can even use them for Free Purpose photographs. Enemies might be shocked after receiving sufficient Break injury. To this point, so good.
The place Clair Obscur diverges from most different titles is in its use of real-time components. Manually aiming to hit weak spots. Dodging assaults and parrying, resulting in counters. Timed button presses for abilities (although you may flip this off if it will get too obnoxious). You can too soar over sure strikes and assault an enemy. Generally, all the social gathering could also be focused and upon parrying, they unleash a devastating triple counter. On high of this are Gradient Counters, used in opposition to particular enemy assaults, and Gradient Assaults, which unleash highly effective methods after consuming sufficient AP and constructing expenses.
All of this combines right into a fight system that feels dynamic and concerned. You’re consistently making an attempt to regulate to new enemies and patterns – and there’s a venerable smorgasbord to cope with. 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 implies they’re vulnerable to several types of elemental injury. Use the improper sort, and also you’ll deal much less injury; use the identical sort of aspect and so they’ll take in your assault, regaining well being. Not solely will it’s a must to contemplate which weapons to make use of (particularly since their passives are integral to sure set-ups), however the Abilities 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), optionally available 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 further AP on parrying; and Virtuose, which will increase injury by a whopping 200 %. Early on, the loop appears straightforward sufficient to know – Offensive stance, then ignite an enemy and change to Virtuose earlier than dispensing extra injury.
Nevertheless, chances are 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 distinct ability. You can change to Virtuose with one other ability (which additionally recovers some AP) and use one other ability, which consumes these Burn stacks, for large injury. Or you could possibly provide you with one thing utterly completely different.
And that’s just one character. Lune encourages pondering rigorously about your outfitted abilities since every generates a Stain that may be consumed for various results. Wish to solid 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 completely different strategy – utilizing a weapon that generates random Stains on Free Purpose photographs (and two on a base assault). If the chances have been in my favor, I might devour them to extend the injury of abilities or activate Mayhem, which consumes all 4 Stains for large injury and probably breaks an enemy. Was it super-practical to attempt to get 4 completely different coloured Stains to activate Elemental Genesis, one among her highest-damaging abilities? Perhaps not, however when it labored, it was a blast.
You then throw within the Pictos and Lumina, additional diversifying your builds. Pictos are objects 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 Purpose shot. You possibly can equip as much as three, however when you’ve performed 4 battles, the passive impact might be outfitted as a Lumina by anybody (when you’ve got the Lumina Factors).
It’s harking back to Remaining Fantasy 9’s system, and the choices are in depth, from elevated break injury on base assaults and Free Purpose photographs to well being restoration every spherical, further AP on Parry, and even +1 AP on Parry, however injury acquired is doubled.
“The general variety can also 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 must be seen to be believed, or a battlefield suffering from big swords.”
There may be quite a lot of selection obtainable, 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. It’s possible you’ll not have sufficient sources early on to completely stage 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 vital as properly since weapons can scale off of two for extra injury. Nevertheless, you’ll wish to diversify, particularly since investing sufficient factors in a stat might supply will increase for others. By the endgame, your min-maxing route turns into clear however I nonetheless discovered it gratifying to steadiness how a lot crucial hit probability I wanted and the place I might compensate with Pictos.
The opposite core pillar of Clair Obscur is exploration, which brings us to one of many extra widespread 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), optionally available 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 a fantastic backdrop the place you accumulate a document to play again at camp), nevertheless it’s an upward curve of complexity. Degree layouts and mechanics turn into richer and extra complicated as you progress. The general variety can also 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 must be seen to be believed, or a battlefield suffering from big swords.
Which brings us to the overworld exploration. When the event group boasted about 30 hours of facet content material to go along 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 optionally available areas teeming with difficult bosses – there’s a deceptively great amount to find.
“It’s possible you’ll baulk at some twists as a lot as benefit from the thrilling encounters and emotional moments. Both method, it is a unbelievable 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 consequence of discovering a brand new area, boss or facet story. You shouldn’t count on Remaining Fantasy 7 Rebirth ranges of playtime, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a meaty expertise that fortunately doesn’t overstay its welcome or pile on meaningless duties.
Concerning 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 beautiful particle results, atmospherics and textures (barring the uncommon low-res instance). Character fashions look glorious, however the environments are on one other stage fully by way of 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. No less than 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 are not any complaints in anyway. 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 perfect within the style is so that you can determine, nevertheless it actually deserves a spot in that tier. It’s a disgrace, then, {that a} bug can often trigger the music in a combat to chop out, leading to an ungainly silence. This isn’t as horrible as the 2 occasions I obtained caught within the surroundings, 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 value celebrating. A studio of this scale delivering such unbelievable manufacturing values, fight, story-telling, characterization, and world design is actually one thing particular and I solely hope it isn’t misplaced within the shuffle of big-name releases. It’s possible you’ll baulk at some twists as a lot as benefit from the thrilling encounters and emotional moments. Both method, it is a unbelievable RPG expertise that deserves your consideration.
This sport was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.
