From Square-Enix’s legendary Final Fantasy VII through to Larian’s superlative Baldur’s Gate 3, the turn-based RPG genre has seen its fair share of heady, high-calibre offerings that have in turn (pun intended) redefined and elevated the concept of the humble turn-based RPG. The debut title from Sandfall Interactive, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 looks to add its name to such well-regarded genre stablemates and in doing so, is shaping up to be the next must-have turn-based RPG. Here’s why you shouldn’t sleep on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Stunning Visuals Without Peer In The Turn-Based Genre
If you were lucky enough to catch the debut trailer for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 during the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase, it’s also likely that you, along with many others, believed that Sandfall Interactive’s unexpected debut effort stole the show – a train of thought that was absolutely merited and then some. From a technical perspective, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 finds its world and characters brought to life by Epic’s Unreal Engine 5. Of course, there are plenty of Unreal Engine 5-powered titles on the market, but it’s also true to say that none of them exude the visual swagger and sheer spectacle that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has in spades.
Underpinned by the cutting-edge visual feature set that Unreal Engine 5 provides, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 looks every bit like the next-generation turn-based RPG, with stunning lighting effects, particle effects work and detailed character models that beautifully texture and flesh out its game world. Beyond its seemingly stellar technical implementation, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 also makes a firm case for being one of the most singularly stylish genre efforts to come along in a good long time. Taking generous cues from French art and culture, particularly the Belle Époque period, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 proudly boasts an aesthetic that at once feels otherworldly and yet, feels oddly grounded in history. A consummate mixture of elegance and surrealism, for sure.
A Fresh, Compelling Storyline And Setting Unlike Any Other
Much more than just some easy-on-the-eyes window dressing, the visual presentation of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 serves a greater purpose, namely to establish its setting and narrative. Taking place in a dark fantasy world through which the visual inspirations of the French Belle Époque ooze from every digital pore, the plot of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 focuses on the Paintress, a diabolical entity that commands a unique power whereupon she can erase anyone from existence simply by painting their age on a towering, mysterious monolith.
Where matters have become dire, however, is that the Paintress writes a new number onto the monolith every year, causing everyone unfortunate to be of that age to disappear into the ether immediately. Think Thanos but with a paintbrush and you start to get the gist. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 begins as the Paintress is about to scribe the number 33 on the monolith, resulting in humanity having nobody older than 32 years old still breathing.
Naturally keen to avoid the end of the world, humanity throws together a motley crew of individuals to try and take down the Paintress – no less than the thirty-third expedition of heroes to do so. Not only tasked with destroying the Paintress and laying waste to their legions of her ‘Nevron’, Art Deco painting-inspired monstrosities which unfailingly carry out her bidding, our heroes must also uncover the fate of the previous thirty-two expeditions as the fate of humanity hangs precariously in the balance.
One Of The Best Voice Actor Line-ups To Date
As stunning as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 looks, it’s equally exciting to find that its audio is just as impressive – especially when it comes to the voice acting. That’s thanks in large part to one of the most star-studded casts we’ve seen in years. With talents like Ben Starr (fresh off his breakout role as Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy XVI), the legendary Andy Serkis, and Charlie Cox—yes, the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen himself – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 arguably features one of the most prestigious voice lineups in any video game, RPG or otherwise.
A Deft Blends Of Real-Time Elements And Classic Progression
While a glance at the gameplay for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 immediately reveals its turn-based combat design, there’s also much more going on under the surface than a cursory glance might initially suggest. Indeed, while Sandfall Interactive’s debut effort does adhere to many design touchstones of turn-based combat, including turn orders and more, it’s really in how the French studio has managed to deftly blend in real-time elements into this system that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 truly soars.
Taking some inspiration from other giants in the genre that have previously attempted a similar hybrid of systems, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 does a great job of maximising the agency players have in any given encounter. Certainly, the biggest way in which this manifests is through several ‘active’ mechanics that are available during battle. From a defensive standpoint, each member of the titular expedition can actively dodge, leap and outright parry enemy attacks mid-action in addition to their usual turn-based commands. Much more than just a one-note ability, a successful parry won’t just mitigate much of the incoming damage, it’ll also leave the enemy open to a follow-up attack, too. Brilliantly, if the entire expedition parries an attack that is intended to hit all of them, then likewise, the whole expedition strikes back as one. It’s a neat use of the active mechanics seen in other titles, not least because it expands it to the whole party which seems like a natural progression for mechanics such as these.
On the progression side of things, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 strives to keep things streamlined, yet compelling. Each character within the expedition has their own class and thus entirely different ways of playing from one another. Likewise, not only can weapons be levelled up alongside each character, providing various stat buffs and ability boosts as a result, but a range of passive abilities can also be applied to each character and the group as a whole as our heroes progress.
Ultimately, there shouldn’t be any surprise when Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 ends up being a genre-defining masterpiece – melding breathtaking visuals, a refreshingly original narrative, an all-star voice cast, and a combat system that seamlessly blends real-time finesse with strategic depth. Sandfall Interactive’s debut isn’t just another turn-based RPG; it’s a bold artistic statement that elevates the genre to thrilling new heights. With its richly imagined world and compelling gameplay innovations, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn’t just one to watch – it’s one to experience.
Don’t miss your chance to dive into this unforgettable journey – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available on the Green Man Gaming store. Secure your spot on the thirty-third expedition today and prepare to challenge fate in style.
