The latest game shaking up the video game world is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. With extremely positive reviews, this game is showing up AAA studios the same way Baldur’s Gate 3 did in 2023 through its story, score, and combat while remaining at a reasonable price.
Plot
The people living on the isolated island of Lumiere cannot live past the age of 33. This is thanks to a goddess known as the Paintress. Through a ritual, the Paintress dictates the age at which humans disappear. However, the island of Lumiere sends volunteers to her land in hopes that one of them will slay her before she decrees a lower number.
Combat
As someone whose video game library is 80% turn-based JRPGs, this game pushes gameplay standards with its real-time battle interactions. In any other turn-based game, I find myself clenching my buttcheeks, hoping my characters dodge enemy attacks. I also find myself turning off my brain and going on autopilot when I know the combat loop in these games.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 makes players focus on combat. It allows players to dodge or parry enemy attacks in real-time. If players successfully parry, they can launch a counterattack. Like in many other games, a parry requires perfect timing, so players need to lock in and properly time their inputs. Adding these combat elements keeps players on their toes and allows them to remain engaged with the game.
It doesn’t end there. When players launch an attack, they also have to successfully input commands through a quick time event to ensure the maximum amount of damage lands. If they miss, the attacks hit for a lot less damage.
Some enemies also have weak points that players can attack by aiming. Attacking these points can stun an enemy or break enemy defenses, depending on the enemy type.
I find the addition of these features revolutionary. While turn-based RPGs can be fun for other reasons, combat engagement is rarely a reason. While UIs can be stylish, they don’t significantly impact gameplay itself. The only other game that has made me consider the battlefield and my surroundings in a turn-based game is Baldur’s Gate 3. While Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 doesn’t have the vast customization of Baldur’s Gate 3, it offers a fresh perspective into what the next turn-based RPGs can look like. Imagine how cool Persona 5, a game about flashy phantom thieves, would’ve looked if we could dodge attacks and counter with style in real time.Â
I hope more turn-based games that seamlessly weave these concepts into their games come through in the future.
Builds
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 doesn’t offer much in terms of versatile builds. However, what it lacks in versatility, it makes up for with strong, centralized builds using stats, weapons, pictos, and luminas.
Each character has preferred builds, but there is some space for customization. However, for the best chances at survival, it’s recommended to look up a build to follow for each character.
Each build focuses on a weapon and certain stats, skills, pictos, and luminas. Weapons and stats are leveled throughout the game, like most traditional games. However, skills are accessed via a skill tree, and these abilities are boosted by pictos and luminas.
Pictos? Luminas?
Pictos are equippable items that grant players a passive ability known as a lumina and a bonus to two stats. Pictos are scattered all around the world, and they can also be bought from merchants. Once a player uses a picto in four battles, the entire party can use the lumina if they meet the prerequisites to use it.
Seriously, Play This Game
If you’re someone who doesn’t like turn-based RPGs because the combat is boring, I recommend picking this game up just for the combat. The story is dark and well written, so you will have a fun time as you run through the mainland on your journey to slay the Paintress.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is now available on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation.
