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In the vast landscape of upcoming RPGs, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerges as a fascinating collaboration between Sandfall Interactive and Kepler Interactive, with promotional support from Bandai Namco. This preview of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 doesn’t start from the beginning but instead dropped us into a later section where the protagonist Gustave has already survived a devastating incident that claimed most of his crew. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 blends traditional combat with responsive real-time elements, all wrapped in a hauntingly beautiful narrative about mortality and sacrifice.
A World Living on Borrowed Time
Clair Obscur takes place in the fantasy city of Lumière, where existence itself hangs by a thread. The city’s fate is controlled by a mysterious entity known as the “Paintress,” who systematically erases numbers on a stone monument, marking the end of each “cycle.” The game begins as the 34th cycle approaches its conclusion—a moment when all residents who have reached 34 years of age will perish.
As the 33rd cycle commences, protagonist Gustave and his companions embark on a desperate expedition into the Paintress’s domain. Their mission: to defeat her and break this deadly cycle that has plagued Lumière for generations. What appears as a beautiful fantasy adventure masks a deeply tragic premise—each expedition crew fights not only for their own survival but for the future of their entire civilization.
The emotional stakes couldn’t be higher. If the cycles continue uninterrupted until reaching lower numbers, Lumière faces an existential crisis where only children would remain—unable to mount expeditions and lacking the knowledge to even maintain basic survival.
Combat: Where Turn-Based Strategy Meets Real-Time Precision
The true brilliance of Clair Obscur lies in its combat system. While it maintains the familiar framework of traditional turn-based RPGs—complete with commands for normal attacks, special skills, and item usage—it distinguishes itself by seamlessly integrating real-time mechanics that demand player engagement even outside their turn.
When not actively commanding a character, players must remain vigilant for incoming enemy attacks, executing either Dodges or Parries. While Dodging simply avoids damage, successfully Parrying not only negates the attack but enables a powerful counterattack. This risk-reward dynamic adds significant depth to combat encounters, as Parrying offers greater benefits but requires more precise timing.
The real-time elements extend beyond defensive maneuvers. Special skills involve rhythm-based timing indicators that, when executed perfectly, grant bonus damage and maximum recovery effects. Additionally, each character carries a ranged weapon requiring manual aiming to target enemies’ weak points—a well-placed shot can potentially reduce an enemy’s HP by half.
Rather than a traditional mana system, Clair Obscur implements an AP bar that fills through normal attacks, successful Dodges, and Parries. This design choice prevents players from immediately unleashing their strongest abilities, instead encouraging strategic buildup during the early phases of combat.
Progression and Exploration
Character progression moves quickly at lower levels but gradually slows as you advance. At Rest Points, players can allocate points earned through leveling to enhance core attributes: Vitality, Might, Agility, Defense, and Luck.
The equipment system revolves around “Pictos,” which offer three main enhancement slots per character. Complementing this is the “Lumina” system—special effects that, unlike Pictos, apply to the entire party rather than individual characters. While these systems work together cohesively, the Lumina mechanics in particular may require hands-on experience to fully appreciate.
The weakest aspect of Clair Obscur appears to be its exploration. Despite the game’s expedition-focused premise, the preview revealed relatively linear map structures that don’t fully capitalize on the discovery aspect. What saves the exploration experience is the breathtaking world design that makes simply moving through environments visually rewarding.
Given the narrative’s focus on dangerous expeditions, the game may offer limited downtime in settlements or cities, potentially restricting these experiences to the opening portions of the story.
Final Impressions
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 shows tremendous promise as a potential standout title for 2025. Its emotionally charged narrative provides compelling stakes for its characters, while the innovative combat system successfully blends turn-based strategy with real-time action elements. Though exploration could benefit from greater depth, the overall package—from visuals to gameplay—leaves a strongly positive impression.
For RPG enthusiasts seeking fresh mechanics without abandoning the genre’s traditional framework, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 represents an exciting evolution worth watching closely as it approaches release.
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