Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, developed by the French studio Sandfall Interactive, marks a revolution in the JRPG genre. Released on April 24, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, this game immerses players in a unique world where a mysterious Peintresse (Paintress) causes people to disappear based on a countdown on a monolith.
A Story Rich in Twists and Turns
Every year, the Peintresse awakens from her deep sleep to paint a number on her monolith. All those who are of that age are destined to disappear. Every year, an expedition sets out to try to eliminate the Peintresse.
In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the player accompanies the 33rd expedition. The adventure begins in Lumière, a city inspired by Belle Époque Paris. The city's beauty is deceptive, as everyone is in permanent mourning. The gommage (erasure) is imminent; the Peintresse will soon inscribe the number 33 on her monolith, and members of the 33rd expedition will lose loved ones forever. Deuil (mourning) is a central theme in the game.
The fracture has not spared Lumière.
After the gommage, the 33rd expedition sets out for the monolith. Things do not go as planned, and the team, composed of Gustave, Maelle, Lune, and Sciel, must explore the continent alone. The inhabitants of Lumière know little about the world of Clair Obscur beyond their city walls. The player and the characters discover the world together, leading to revelations that are hinted at but not immediately clear.
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The Characters
Gustave, Maelle, Lune, and Sciel are close friends who have trained together for the expedition. Their relationships are captivating. Gustave is a mentor to Maelle, who lost her parents early in a gommage. He is also close to Lune, with whom he seems to have a romance. Sciel is a friend with whom Gustave jokes. These relationships evolve throughout the story.
There is a critique about the characters and their relationships: everything goes through Gustave. The three women are friends and fight for a common cause, but their relationships with each other are not developed enough.
The characters are discovered through the main story and in the camp, which can be opened at any time on the world map. The camp is where optional dialogues take place. The story is not always serious and includes funny moments.
Esquie, a mystical creature resembling a chicken, provides amusement. While trying to recruit him, he serves as a means of transport on the world map and argues with François, a turtle who allegedly stole one of his favorite stones for swimming. Esquie and François share a cave, and it is funny that a giant stone turtle accuses a large fabric chicken of sending hooligans. This absurdity leads to a fight against François.
Later in the game, other characters join the expedition, such as Monoco the Gestral. The Gestrals are among the few beings kind to humans on the continent. They enjoy fighting as a form of meditation, which is useful in an environment where the Nevrons are always on the lookout. Monoco joins the expedition after the promise of many exciting fights.
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The game also includes minor characters, but their role is less significant than in other RPGs. This reinforces the impression that the world of Clair Obscur is desolate and sparsely populated, allowing more time to develop the main characters and their relationships.
A Visual Masterpiece
The name Clair Obscur speaks for itself, and Sandfall Interactive's artistic direction plays with shadow and light. Strong contrasts are prevalent, and many landscapes resemble paintings. Some regions are surreal, such as the Eaux Volantes, which are both underwater and above water. It is beautiful and disturbing.
The regions are varied. The optional Gestral beaches have a Caribbean atmosphere, while the Falaises de Rochevague feature shipwrecks floating in the air. In Cœurs gelés, a winter landscape is explored, and Sirène offers an oriental atmosphere and a giant dancer. Getting lost in the game's desperate but beautiful landscapes is common.
The opponents are varied, appearing as if they came from a children's picture book or a nightmare. Some are knee-high, while others are hundreds of meters tall.
The game has some flaws. In the test version, popping was common. The cinematics are well-animated, but the dialogues in the camp make the characters seem rough. The lip synchronization in English and French is sometimes asynchronous. Sandfall Interactive promises to fix these issues in a patch upon release.
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The voices are great in both versions. Ben Starr, known for his role in Final Fantasy XVI, plays a main role, and Andy Serkis as Renoir brings Hollywood talent to the game. The French version is preferred for its colorful language.
A Captivating Soundtrack
The soundtrack, by French composer Lorien Testard, matches the game's visual beauty. The French influence is evident. In Lumière, the music evokes the Champs Élysées, and the combat music is powerful, especially during boss fights.
Innovative Combat System
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's gameplay shares elements with classic JRPGs:
- Characters are equipped with weapons and armor called pictos.
- Experience points are gained after battles, allowing characters to level up.
- Points are distributed, and new attacks are learned.
- Battles are turn-based.
However, Clair Obscur integrates real-time interactions. When launching an attack with Maelle, the player must press the A button at a precise moment to increase the chance of a critical hit. Responding to enemy attacks is more important than one's own attacks.
Dodging or parrying is done by pressing the corresponding button at the right moment. Enemy attacks often consist of multiple attacks, requiring memorization of their sequences. Even on normal difficulty, enemies inflict significant damage, and the timing for dodging and parrying is short. Successfully parrying each hit leads to counterattacks.
This adds a new dimension to turn-based combat, requiring precision and speed.
Even outside of real-time actions, the combat system is enjoyable. Each character has unique combat characteristics. Monoco obtains skills by collecting Nevron bones, from which he can replicate attacks. Characters can wear masks to enhance their attacks. Lune collects elemental stains that strengthen attacks.
For those who dislike combat, there is a story mode where characters take less damage and do not need to parry. For those who enjoy challenges, there is an "Expert" mode or a "New Game +" mode after completing the first playthrough.
The exploration has some issues. Some platforming levels are not well-designed, especially in the mini-games. Some early dungeons are long, corridor-like. These are minor details that do not detract from the enjoyment of the game.
tags: #enfant #gestral #expedition #33 #développement