Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is an RPG developed by the French studio Sandfall Interactive. The game combines classic elements of the JRPG genre (such as turn-based combat) with a western touch, offering a unique blend of influences and suggestions. After the recent announcement at Summer Game Fest (which created some hype among genre enthusiasts), we got to check it out in a preview at gamescom 2024 in Cologne at the Xbox booth. After our hands-on, we think that “Expedition 33” is definitely a game to keep an eye on, and we’ll be sure to let you know once we have a release date!
Mission: Stop the Painter
The game follows the protagonists, members of Expedition 33, on a desperate mission to break a cycle of death and despair, with only one year of life remaining for the characters. Once a year, The Painter awakens atop her monolith to paint a cursed number, and anyone with an age corresponding to that number turns to smoke and vanishes. Year after year, the numbers decrease, and… soon she will rise to paint the number “33”. In the game, we join Gustave and his expedition companions on their desperate mission: to destroy the Painter’s cycle of death once and for all. We will walk in the footsteps of dozens of Explorers who have already tried – failing miserably – overcoming powerful enemies and trying to save the world. In this dreamlike universe, story, art, and fantasy converge to leave one in awe, with an enchanting soundtrack in the background.
In the presentation we saw at gamescom, Lune and Gustave are searching for their companion Maelle, showcasing epic battles to reunite. The narrative focuses on the development of the team and their relationships, enriching the adventure with a deep and engaging plot. The turn-based combat system seems quite interesting and often deviates from classic RPGs (and JRPGs), especially as the gameplay alternates between “turn-based” moments and typical action game actions. Some concerns arose from the too many quick-time events, with such actions possibly being overly repetitive.
And it is precisely about dreams and atmospheres that Guillaume Broche, founder of Sandfall Interactive and creative director, speaks:
“We have poured our heart and soul into creating the game of our dreams; we wanted to create something fresh and new, so we sincerely hope you will be excited to discover the world and characters we have lovingly created. With an incredible and deep story, a dynamic turn-based combat system, and a vast handcrafted world to explore, we have done our best to make the journey awaiting you on ‘Expedition 33’ unforgettable. We cannot wait to share more with you as we approach release!”
The game allows players to manage a group of 6 characters, each with unique abilities and personal stories. The demo highlights the importance of synergy among the members of Expedition 33 and offers customization options to adapt the group to one’s play style. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 introduces a combat system that combines real-time actions with turn-based combat elements. Players can perform dodges, parries, and counterattacks, and chain combos through precise timing of attacks.
Check out the reveal trailer and if you enjoyed this preview, be sure to peruse the vaults here at vgmag.co.uk!
Clair Obscur Expedition 33, despite not giving us the chance to get our hands on it, still showed us a deep narrative and an innovative combat system that integrates traditional elements with new mechanics. The images showcased spectacular battles and an engaging plot, creating high expectations for the full game, which is set to arrive on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2025.