Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review

A Belle Epoque Flip-Based mostly Magnificence

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been on my radar for some time now, ever since I first caught a glimpse at one of many many Microsoft and Xbox showcases. I feel it was the mixture of a ravishing artwork model and beautiful flip primarily based fight that made me sit up and listen.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, is the product of Sandfall Interactive and Kepler Interactive, however I assume the primary query that wants answering on this assessment then, is whether or not the sport has stored these options that first attracted me all these months in the past. And if it has, what accompanies proceedings.

Properly, liable to minor spoilers, the reply is sure – to just about every thing. So, include me to the world of The Paintress as we strive to determine what she is doing. Finest ensure you’re 32 or beneath, although!

Heading off on Expedition 33?

A Glimpse into Brilliance: First Impressions of Expedition 33

I’ve to go straight to the presentation to begin with, because the information right here is beautiful.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is completely stunning to take a look at, with so many French influences on show that I’m amazed the primary character isn’t sporting a stripy jumper, smoking a Gauloises. The sport provides many nods to the Belle Epoque interval of historical past, and the way in which the buildings and even the outfits for the characters are designed simply oozes model.

The cutscenes that we watch (and if something, there are barely too many: it’s a bit Metal Gear Solid IV in right here) are amazingly nicely directed and animated, and the voice appearing is amongst among the greatest I’ve heard. The varied locales which can be visited all have a powerful id and look wildly completely different too, from the cityscapes of the prologue to a bizarre the other way up sea (it’ll make sense if you see it). There’s no debating that the design and implementation of the creative imaginative and prescient is bang on.

After which, the enemies we battle are nicely carried out too, with very completely different seems to be and weak factors. All in all, the graphics and look of the sport is on level.

A Symphony of Sound

Sound can also be worthy of maximum reward. The voice appearing is good, but a particular point out has to go to the music, which once more matches the sport completely. I’ve wasted many minutes simply listening to the music on the gramophone on the campsite, it’s that good. Battle sounds are additionally nice, and getting battered by an enemy or unleashing a crunching counter each are wince inducing. All the pieces right here is prime notch.

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Review 2 — A little bit of a curse…

The Paintress’s Curse

However, we want a story to be equally as robust, and by chance it’s. The Paintress, yearly, awakens and paints a brand new quantity on her monolith: when she does, everybody who’s older than the quantity disappears in a ceremony known as “The Gommage”. She has been doing this for over 70 years, and has now painted “33”.

Every year, a brand new expedition is launched to attempt to put an finish to this, however none has succeeded thus far; and the world is beginning to run out of individuals. We type Expedition 33 and set off, and whereas the prologue has some surprisingly emotional moments (even a cynical outdated sod like me was moved initially), it’s once we attain the continent that issues actually kick off.

In a couple of phrases, the story is superb and actually retains you guessing by to the conclusion. However, as at all times, no spoilers right here.

Strategic Exploration and Flip-Based mostly Techniques

Now, onto the sport itself, and right here the information continues to be improbable – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 performs extraordinarily nicely certainly.

The sport is primarily an exploration-based affair, with turn-based fight thrown in, and the juxtaposition between the 2 could be very nicely judged. As we roam round, enemies might be seen, both on the world map or in any of the areas that we discover, and working as much as them with a swift poke of the RB button will allow us to interact in fight with the higher hand. Alternatively, you may get across the enemies with out combating, however the place’s the enjoyable in that?

Exploring across the place will allow us to discover new issues to equip, primarily weapons, but additionally Pictos, which permits the chance to study new abilities. Additionally they give every character a passive impact. With the ability to equip as much as three Pictos means it’s price tweaking your loadout to make sure you are as buff as doable. When you unlock the camp, then weapons might be strengthened, and as we battle and degree up, there should not solely talent factors to spend, but additionally attribute factors to make your character stronger. Every attribute additionally impacts the weaponry, scaling with sure attributes, so you may make your assaults extra highly effective if you happen to choose the suitable attributes to degree up. The system is deep, however quite simple to select up, due to some nicely positioned tutorials.

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Review 3 — A shocking recreation

Dodging, Parrying, and Tactical Timing

The opposite facet of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the fight, and once more, that is amongst among the greatest I’ve seen lately.

The essential system permits you to choose both an assault, a talent, or an merchandise, and you probably have performed a flip primarily based recreation earlier than, these needs to be fairly self explanatory. Nevertheless, it’s within the finer particulars the place this one shines. As an example, if an enemy assaults you, you’ll be able to select to dodge the assault or to attempt to parry it: dodging is less complicated, and if you happen to time it good, you’ll execute an ideal dodge. The timing for this is identical as it’s for parrying, so as soon as you might be pleased with the enemy’s timings (and they’re all completely different, clearly) then a profitable parry won’t solely negate injury, however may also set off a robust counterattack. That is wonderful to observe and pull off, particularly when the entire workforce counters.

Additional, whereas attacking, there are button prompts to comply with, and getting the timing proper there could make all of the distinction; an ideal timing will do extra injury and much more assaults, so it’s price working towards. Actually, there’s a lot extra to the battle system than this, however I’ll simply go away it there and ensure that every thing is nice enjoyable.

A Gorgeous and Charming Flip-Based mostly Journey

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a surprising recreation. It’s emotional, stunning and completely charming. And that every one means it’s an absolute no-brainer as as to whether you need to be taking part in.