A Belle Epoque Turn-Based Beauty

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been on my radar for a while now, ever since I first caught a glimpse at one of the many Microsoft and Xbox showcases. I think it was the combination of a beautiful art style and stunning turn based combat that made me sit up and pay attention. 

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, is the product of Sandfall Interactive and Kepler Interactive, but I guess the main question that needs answering in this review then, is whether the game has kept those features that first attracted me all those months ago. And if it has, what accompanies proceedings. 

Well, at risk of minor spoilers, the answer is yes – to pretty much everything. So, come with me to the world of The Paintress as we try to figure out what she is doing. Best make sure you’re 32 or under, though!

A Glimpse into Brilliance: First Impressions of Expedition 33

I have to go straight to the presentation first of all, as the news here is stunning. 

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is absolutely beautiful to look at, with so many French influences on display that I’m amazed the main character isn’t wearing a stripy jumper, smoking a Gauloises. The game gives many nods to the Belle Epoque period of history, and the way the buildings and even the outfits for the characters are designed just oozes style. 

The cutscenes that we watch (and if anything, there are slightly too many: it’s a bit Metal Gear Solid IV in here) are amazingly well directed and animated, and the voice acting is among some of the best I’ve heard. The various locales that are visited all have a strong identity and look wildly different too, from the cityscapes of the prologue to a weird upside down sea (it’ll make sense when you see it). There’s no debating that the design and implementation of the artistic vision is bang on. 

And then, the enemies we fight are well done too, with very different looks and weak points. All in all, the graphics and look of the game is on point. 

A Symphony of Sound

Sound is also worthy of extreme praise. The voice acting is brilliant, yet a special mention has to go to the music, which again fits the game perfectly. I’ve wasted many minutes just listening to the music on the gramophone at the campsite, it is that good. Battle sounds are also great, and getting battered by an enemy or unleashing a crunching counter both are wince inducing. Everything here is top notch. 

The Paintress’s Curse

But, we need a narrative to be equally as strong, and luckily it is. The Paintress, once a year, awakens and paints a new number on her monolith: when she does, everyone who is older than the number disappears in a ceremony called “The Gommage”. She has been doing this for over 70 years, and has now painted “33”. 

Each year, a new expedition is launched to try and put an end to this, but none has succeeded so far; and the world is starting to run out of people. We form Expedition 33 and set off, and while the prologue has some surprisingly emotional moments (even a cynical old sod like me was moved at the beginning), it is when we reach the continent that things really kick off. 

In a few words, the story is excellent and really keeps you guessing through to the conclusion. But, as always, no spoilers here. 

Strategic Exploration and Turn-Based Tactics

Now, onto the game itself, and here the news continues to be fantastic – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 plays extremely well indeed. 

The game is primarily an exploration-based affair, with turn-based combat thrown in, and the juxtaposition between the two is very well judged. As we roam around, enemies can be seen, either on the world map or in any of the locations that we explore, and running up to them with a swift poke of the RB button will let us engage in combat with the upper hand. Alternatively, you can get around the enemies without fighting, but where’s the fun in that?

Exploring around the place will let us find new things to equip, mainly weapons, but also Pictos, which allows the opportunity to learn new skills. They also give each character a passive effect. Being able to equip up to three Pictos means it is worth tweaking your loadout to ensure you are as buff as possible. Once you unlock the camp, then weapons can be strengthened, and as we battle and level up, there are not only skill points to spend, but also attribute points to make your character stronger. Each attribute also affects the weaponry, scaling with certain attributes, so you can make your attacks more powerful if you pick the right attributes to level up. The system is deep, but very simple to pick up, thanks to some well placed tutorials. 

Dodging, Parrying, and Tactical Timing

The other side of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the combat, and again, this is amongst some of the best I’ve seen in recent years. 

The basic system allows you to pick either an attack, a skill, or an item, and if you have played a turn based game before, these should be pretty self explanatory. However, it is in the finer details where this one shines. For instance, if an enemy attacks you, you can choose to dodge the attack or to try and parry it: dodging is easier, and if you time it just right, you’ll execute a perfect dodge. The timing for this is the same as it is for parrying, so once you are happy with the enemy’s timings (and they are all different, obviously) then a successful parry will not only negate damage, but can also trigger a powerful counterattack. This is amazing to watch and pull off, especially when the whole team counters. 

Further, while attacking, there are button prompts to follow, and getting the timing right there can make all the difference; a perfect timing will do more damage and even more attacks, so it is worth practicing. Honestly, there is so much more to the battle system than this, but I’ll just leave it there and confirm that everything is great fun.  

A Stunning and Captivating Turn-Based Adventure

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a stunning game. It is emotional, beautiful and utterly captivating. And that all means it is an absolute no-brainer as to whether you should be playing.

Important Links

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Launches on Xbox, Game Pass, PlayStation and PC – https://www.thexboxhub.com/clair-obscur-expedition-33-launches-on-xbox-game-pass-playstation-and-pc/

Download Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (£41.74 or Game Pass) – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/clair-obscur-expedition-33/9ppt8k6gqhrz

There’s a Deluxe Edition if you want it – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/clair-obscur-expedition-33-deluxe-edition/9n2vxs6jvjw9