Games

Bargain RPG ‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’ Packs a Punch with Grand Ambitions

BBG News

Over the past few years, there’s been much discussion about the high costs of video games and game development in general. Publishers and creators often point to escalating production expenses in the era of 4K graphics as a significant hurdle for the industry. On the other hand, consumers argue that some parts of the industry exhibit excessive profit-seeking behavior. All this is happening during a time when people are struggling with rising living costs. It appears that these two perspectives don’t easily coincide.

In an unusual twist, Sandfall Interactive’s first game, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, stands out as something different. It’s not just because it’s a turn-based game or has a somewhat melancholic title – another game, Metaphor: ReFantazio, already claimed that territory! We’re referring to its status as a budget title, yet boasting high-quality production values and original concepts.

In Expedition 33, you’ll find yourself taking on the role of the 33rd expedition in Lumiere, a city reminiscent of Paris during the ‘Belle Époque’. Lumiere is situated in a pivotal period of Clair Obscur, an era where annual journeys head northwards with the aim of ending the reign of the deity-like ‘Paintress’, whose turbulent decades of genocide persist.

The storyline begins vigorously, offering engaging plot points and a good dose of mystery, but as it progresses, the storyline seems to lose direction, becoming somewhat disorganized. Although Expedition 33 is an exciting journey, its narrative veers into complexity that’s reminiscent of The Matrix, making it a bit too confusing at times. We won’t give away any spoilers, but you’ll understand what we mean once you play it. It’s unlikely to win any awards for the best narrative, that much is clear!

As a gamer, I’d say it’s quite possible that Expedition 33 could impress with its cinematography and animation. The overall aesthetic and atmosphere of the game is exceptional, from its design to its artistic style. Sometimes, it even feels like a high-end Western version of Final Fantasy. And amazingly, this level of quality comes from a budget title developed by a small French studio.

Fundamentally, “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” is a classic turn-based role-playing game, but what sets it apart is the abundance of additional features that keep the battles engaging. You can trigger Quick Time Events to intensify your attacks or dodge and parry incoming ones, making the turn-based mechanics more dynamic. However, it’s the unique abilities of each character that give the combat depth and variety, enhancing the overall brilliance of “Expedition 33“.

Each character boasts a distinct specialty that can be leveraged for optimal performance. Monoco conquers foes and absorbs their skills; Maelle switches between various battle stances; Lune collects Stains to amplify her magic’s potency; Sciel navigates an intricate Twilight system, and there are many more. The charm lies in the fact that once you grasp one character fully, a new one emerges for you to learn from scratch again.

In the game, I’ve discovered the Pictos system, where I can attach Pictos for unique bonuses. After four fights, these perks become mine permanently, making it clear that Expedition 33 offers a rich and tailored gaming experience.

Regardless of its affordable cost, Expedition 33 delivers an abundance of content and diverse activities that will keep you engaged for quite some time. It’s not only the approximately 30-hour campaign that catches your eye. The expansive open-world map allows you to explore to your heart’s delight. Whether you fancy attempting the Endless Tower, participating in the Gestral games, assisting Nevrons with their issues, unraveling the enigma of the Painting Workshop, or simply battling colossal enemies such as the Serpenphare, there are numerous activities to engage in within Expedition 33.

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One aspect where the game seems to falter slightly are certain design choices. One specific issue that was frustrating was when some boss enemies have the ability to make your characters disappear from battle, which would be acceptable if it happened occasionally or only affected one character as a disadvantage. However, I’ve found situations where they eliminated my entire party in an instant, leading to an immediate game over.

In many of the big battles against bosses in Expedition 33, it appears that instead of being enjoyable and innovative, some can feel slightly unbalanced – for instance, an affliction that hinders healing throughout the entire fight. To create a compelling turn-based RPG, boss fights should incorporate unique systems or quirks specific to each boss, otherwise they may seem commonplace. For illustration, P-Studio and Studio Zero demonstrate how developers should approach this issue. Unfortunately, this seems to be one of Expedition 33’s shortcomings. With a dash of creativity and boldness in the design of its boss fights – and I’m afraid “this boss can charm” doesn’t cut it as creative – with just a bit more effort, they could have rivaled games like Persona and Metaphor.

Additionally, the game struggles somewhat with handling brightness in dark regions, and it would greatly benefit from a manual save feature, along with some user-friendly enhancements like mini-maps for dungeons. To put it simply, these additions could help elevate the gaming experience. However, it’s worth noting that all of these issues could potentially be addressed through updates.

Expedition 33 seems to signify a significant shift in the video game industry. On the surface, it’s an economically priced game that delivers the intricacy and panache typically associated with triple-A titles. The music, visuals, and gameplay mechanics are all impressive, leaving one wondering how such a small team could have achieved this – might this be a glimpse of what the future holds for Unreal Engine 5?

Although Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 may not be flawless, it’s hard to make a mistake considering its price point. In fact, it outperforms many games priced around $70/£70, which is quite an impressive achievement. That’s one of the highest compliments I can bestow.

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2025-04-23 13:43

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