Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG with stunning creative aptitude

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 first appeared with an intriguing trailer as a part of Microsoft’s summer season showcase, teasing a dream world the place squads of adventurers struggle in a bid to defeat “The Paintress” who’s steadily shaving years off the utmost life that individuals may reside.

It’s a really JRPG-sounding premise. It’s the primary title from new French studio Sandfall Interactive, set in a bleak, ethereal world impressed by Belle Époque-era France (spot the twisted Eiffel Tower), including barely extra purpose to battle this highly effective, mysterious Paintress. You’ll play a group of Expeditioners, exploring fantastical landscapes and preventing monsters to defeat the Paintress. It sounds imprecise as a result of effectively, I don’t fairly perceive what the hell is occurring. I went again to the trailer – maybe that may assist make clear issues.

Clear as mud. However that’s positive, this can be a fantasy RPG — I did not anticipate to grasp the story from the outset. I not too long ago watched some hands-off gameplay with Guillaume Broche, Inventive Director for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and the sport’s producer, François Meurisse.

We toured a handful of ranges and areas, additionally introducing a handful of the get together characters. You’ll begin the sport with Gustave. Every get together member has their very own distinctive battle mechanic, which prices up throughout battles. You’ll be able to enhance the cost velocity with considered guarding, dodging and parrying. With Gustave’s robotic arm, for instance, he can construct up a shock assault that he can unleash early for additional injury, or cost up additional for an additional aggressive strike.

Maelle, Gustave’s adoptive sister who goes lacking early within the recreation, has a stance method that may increase her battle stats after an assault from her fencing saber. The sport is turn-based, with enemies and allies in a position to assault (or get well) in a predetermined order. That is augmented with some motion RPG touches and QTEs (quick-time occasions) the place you’ll have to defend with precision timing. Get sufficient parries in a row, and characters will injury the enemy closely. I acquired to see a boss monster strike my complete get together — thankfully, you solely should nail the dodge as soon as for the complete group to dam or parry. The fights themselves are harking back to Persona 5, with dramatic camera-angle shifts, inky, paint-themed particular results and a deal with the attractive character (and monster) design. Particular assaults and spells use potential factors, that are additionally replenished from profitable guarding and QTE timing. Briefly, you’ll nonetheless have to concentrate throughout battles. Sorry.

Alongside Maelle and Gustave, the get together within the demo was rounded out by Lune, apparently the group’s mage. You’ll come throughout the remainder of your expeditionary get together through the journey, in typical JRPG type. Broche informed me on the outset that Expedition 33 was a tribute to the traditional RPGs of the ‘90s, even when it seems nothing like them. Exterior of pixelated Change adventures, turn-based RPGs have lengthy fallen out of favor, changed by motion RPGs, even for remade titles. That is Sandfall Interactive’s try and reinvigorate the turn-based RPG for 2024.

Every character has a devoted weapon kind that may be steadily enhanced and strengthened, including new talents because the character grows. I caught a glimpse of a sophisticated ability tree that gamers will get to chip away at. Elemental assaults will rely on the weapon your character is wielding, probably that means some cautious get together creation (or customization) can be wanted later within the recreation.

Past elemental weaknesses, some enemies can even have shielding that may defend them out of your assaults. As you progress, some could have seen weaknesses that gamers should shoot at – normally with visible tells, just like the weak spots on early anchor enemies. This free-aim system can also be used within the environments. I noticed a number of ‘capturing’ puzzles used to unlock treasure and different rewards. Expedition 33 can be separated into totally different thematic areas, every providing various routes (some could provide additional treasure or more durable enemies) and visible landmarks that may provide extra perception into the world and lore. The builders stated that a lot of the story should be unearthed by gamers themselves, searching down collectible notes from the husks of failed expeditions of the previous.

The early environments I noticed of Expedition 33 had been attractive. One of many preliminary areas is constructed as for those who’re strolling alongside the underside of the ocean, laced with plankton, coral and curtains of seaweed. In truth, the attractive world is simply outdone by the character fashions. The group appears to have put plenty of effort into making its heroes emote and react in a means you wouldn’t have seen in RPGs of outdated.

I’m cautious of how a lot of an RPG epic the Sandfall Interactive group will have the ability to make, given its measurement. Whereas I did not get to play Expedition 33 at this level, I ponder how a lot exploration can be doable within the completed recreation and whether or not it’s going to reward gamers’ curiosity past plot lore and mournful letters from lifeless expeditions.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 can be launched in 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Collection X and S and PC.