Clair Obscur: Expedition 33was one of the surprises of the last Xbox Games Showcase. This release came out of nowhere with a spectacular trailer that presented us with a fantasy universe inspired by France in the 1900s. At that first moment we could see that it was a turn-based RPG, although it had a much greater dynamism than is usual in the genre.
In addition, we quickly discovered a moving story where death is a fundamental element. Every year, a mysterious painter draws a number. At that time, all the people who reach that age die. As a result, expeditions are launched to try to end this cycle of life and death. Our protagonist, Gustave, has only one year left to live, so he decides to go on an adventure with his companions on Expedition number 33.
We’ll delve deeper into what we thought of this promising title in a Exclusive preview what we could see during our stay at the last Gamescom.
Much more than a classic turn-based game
That said, the first thing that catches your eye Clair Obscur: Expedition 33It is the graphic and artistic quality that the French studio possesses Sandfall Interactive. The game, which uses photorealistic cutting, features an astonishing level of detail. In addition, its universe is built with absolute care and takes us to settings rarely seen in the world of video games. During the demo, the team presented us with an underwater scenario where we could see the different aquatic animals moving in a completely natural way. Visually, it was quite a spectacle.
However, the most surprising thing about this version is its combat system. The studio has made fantastic use of different mechanics such as to adorn or dodge it to make your fights more fluid. Mechanics that are not usually common in a turn-based game. However, they have been integrated in a very natural way, creating extremely dynamic and interactive battles. But let’s start from the beginning. During our turn, we can perform classic actions such as attacking, using items or using skills. All these actions consume action points, so we will have to take them into account in order to optimize our turns.
When attacking or using skills, a series of Quick Time Events that we will need to master certain skills to have the desired effect. In addition, There are many skills with powerful synergies that we will have to discover as we progress through our adventure. In the demo, for example, we were shown the different interactions related to elemental attacks. If an enemy we are attacking is on fire, this can trigger our next abilities to generate additional effects. This allows us to perform powerful combos and interactions.
On the other hand, during the opponent’s turn we will have several interaction options. As we have already mentioned, we can achieve paradeswhich will have a very small window of action but, if done correctly, will have a devastating effect on the enemy. If, on the contrary, we want to perform a safer action, we can dodge, where the window is much larger. Likewise, we will also have to jump to be able to escape certain attacks. As you can see, despite the turn-based system, we will not stop doing things.
Persona as inspiration for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Without a doubt, one of the main references of this adventure is the saga Character. According to the developers themselves, the story of this version would have the duration of a game from the famous saga of Atlus. Additionally, its menus and even some aspects of the combat system feel familiar.
That said, what we were able to see Clair Obscur: Expedition 33It was simply spectacular. After being able to see this title in motion, I have to say that it has become one of my most anticipated releases for next year, having wood to be a potential GOTY. From there, we look forward to getting to the controls.
Unfortunately, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 There is no release date set yet.but we know we can enjoy it on Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PC. Also available day one on Xbox Game Pass at no extra cost.
Psychologist who enjoys cooperative games, RPGs, and shooting anything that moves.
