Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – This “French Revolution” Could Redefine Turn-Based RPGs

PREVIEW – In the 1990s, turn-based RPGs enjoyed their golden age. From the runaway success of Pokémon to the multimillion-selling PlayStation Final Fantasy titles, nothing was cooler than defeating pixelated monsters through menu-based combat. Then came the new millennium. As technology advanced at a rapid pace and Western-developed games gained traction, traditional Japanese RPGs gradually lost their appeal. Now, an ambitious French epic inspired by 20th-century surrealist painters and the Belle Époque era aims to redefine the turn-based RPG genre.

 

“What Final Fantasy used to represent – a more grounded, realistic take on the turn-based genre – is something nobody is doing anymore. And that’s exactly what we want to bring back,” says Guillaume Broche, CEO of Sandfall Interactive and creative director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Referring to the 2007 Xbox 360 classic Lost Odyssey as the last true high-budget turn-based RPG, the former Ubisoft developer founded a studio with a mission to breathe new life into the genre.

The result is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. While the title might be a bit of a tongue-twister, this ambitious French creation draws heavily from France’s 20th-century Belle Époque and surrealist painters. The game features a meticulously crafted party of adventurers moving through a dreamlike world, ranging from an Ariel-like underwater kingdom to grandiose, gothic mansions.

 

 

Refined Battles and a Dynamic Gameplay Experience

 

What sets Expedition 33 apart from its peers isn’t just its setting and aesthetic, but also its fast-paced, fluid combat system. “I’ve played way too many turn-based RPGs, and frankly, I’ve burned out on them,” Broche admits. “For players like me, we wanted to ensure that turn-based battles felt more interactive, requiring skill, and delivered a fresh experience.”

Each attack demands precise timing with button presses, while dodges and parries occur in real-time during enemy assaults. Successful defensive maneuvers restore health and unlock counterattack opportunities. Midway through the demo, jumps were introduced, adding another layer of dynamism as party members leap to avoid incoming strikes.

“The Belle Époque and Art Deco influences are present throughout,” Broche explains. “From the costumes to the decor and environments, we wanted to integrate this aesthetic into every aspect of the game.”

 

 

A Dark and Mesmerizing Narrative

 

While the developers are keeping many story details under wraps, the central plot revolves around an expedition team with only one year left to live. Each year, a mysterious painter marks a new number on a distant tower, and everyone of that age turns to ash. In search of answers, the party embarks on a journey to find and eliminate the painter, encountering the lifeless remains of previous expeditions along the way.

“The tone of the story, the writing, and the characters are much darker than traditional JRPGs,” Broche states. “[Games like] Sea of Stars and Octopath Traveler are, in my opinion, love letters to the past because they are steeped in nostalgia. We don’t see ourselves as a love letter at all. While we draw inspiration, our approach to art style, presentation, and gameplay takes a completely different path.”

The stunning visuals and somber tone evoke comparisons to Lost Odyssey – an impressive feat considering it’s the product of a team of only 30 people. While the opaque cutscenes showcased so far have left me with questions, the world’s irresistible flair and dynamism are captivating. If you have even a passing interest in the genre, Expedition 33 is a title worth keeping on your radar.

 

 

New Features and Characters Unveiled

 

During the Xbox Developer Direct, Sandfall Interactive shared details about the development process of Expedition 33, along with new gameplay features that are sure to excite fans. Recorded at the studio’s Montpellier headquarters, members of the team discussed the game’s emotionally charged story, its breathtaking art direction inspired by Belle Époque France, and the innovative reactive turn-based combat system, which blends traditional RPG mechanics with real-time defensive and offensive abilities.

The presentation introduced two new characters that players will meet during their adventure: the friendly yet bloodthirsty Monoco (voiced by Rich Keeble) and the larger-than-life Esquie (voiced by Maxence Cazorla). Monoco the Gestral is a fully playable party member capable of mimicking enemy abilities and turning them against foes. Meanwhile, Esquie is a unique character who aids the team in exploring the newly revealed overworld map, allowing them to climb, swim, and even fly across the game’s diverse environments.

Inspired by the classic RPG worlds that influenced Expedition 33’s turn-based gameplay, the overworld offers players the freedom to discover new locations and secrets as they progress toward defeating the enigmatic Paintress. Beyond rich level-based areas like the Ancient Sanctuary and Gestral Village, the overworld features unique caves and optional side quests that challenge players’ skills and test their mastery of the game’s deep character-building systems. Players can also set up camp in the overworld, upgrade weapons, listen to the original soundtrack through an in-game record player, and engage in meaningful conversations with their teammates to uncover their backstories and motivations.

 

 

Pre-Order Options and Editions

 

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is now available for pre-order and will launch on April 24th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S (day one with Xbox Game Pass), and PC. The pre-order lineup is expansive, so here’s a breakdown of the options.

The physical Standard Edition is priced at $49.99, while the Collector’s Edition for PlayStation 5 ($149.99) includes:

  • The base game
  • A 20.3 cm hand-painted Monolith music box
  • Steelbook® case featuring Gustave, Maelle, and the Paintress
  • The Expeditioner’s Journal 48-page hardcover artbook
  • The “Flowers” Collection (six DLC outfits and hairstyles inspired by Lumière’s flowers, plus six Gommage DLC variations)
  • “Clair” custom outfit for Maelle (DLC)
  • “Obscur” custom outfit for Gustave (DLC)

The Digital Deluxe Edition ($59.99) includes:

  • The base game
  • The “Flowers” Collection
  • “Clair” and “Obscur” custom outfits

Physical editions in North America will be available exclusively via GameStop, while Laced Records will handle distribution in Europe and select global markets. Visit the official Expedition 33 website for more details.

-Gergely Herpai „BadSector”-

Spread the love
Avatar photo
BadSector is a seasoned journalist for more than twenty years. He communicates in English, Hungarian and French. He worked for several gaming magazines - including the Hungarian GameStar, where he worked 8 years as editor. (For our office address, email and phone number check out our impressum)

No comments

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

theGeek TV