Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Historical Roots and Innovations

Sandfall Interactive's creative director, Guillaume Broche, recently unveiled key details about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, highlighting its historical inspirations and innovative gameplay mechanics. This article delves into the game's rich background and unique battle system.

Historical Influences and Gameplay Revolution

Name and Narrative Origins

The game's name, "Clair Obscur," draws inspiration from a 17th-18th century French artistic and cultural movement, significantly impacting the game's visual style and overarching world.

"Expedition 33" directly references the in-game expeditions led by protagonist Gustave to defeat the Paintress. Each year, a new expedition is launched to achieve this goal. The Paintress uses a monolith to erase people from existence, a process Broche terms "the Gommage." The reveal trailer depicts the death of the protagonist's partner after the Paintress targets age 33.

Broche also cited La Horde du Contrevent (The Wind's Horde), a fantasy novel about explorers, as a narrative influence. He further stated his affinity for stories of perilous journeys into the unknown, referencing Attack on Titan as a prime example.

Reimagining Turn-Based RPGs

Broche emphasized the game's high-fidelity graphics, noting the relative scarcity of such visuals in modern turn-based RPGs. This inspired the team to create a title that filled this gap in the market.

While real-time elements have appeared in past turn-based RPGs (e.g., Valkyria Chronicles, Project X Zone), Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 introduces a reactive turn-based combat system. Players strategize during their turn, but must react in real-time to enemy actions during the opponent's turn, dodging, jumping, or parrying to unleash powerful counterattacks.

Broche revealed that action titles like the Souls series, Devil May Cry, and NieR inspired this innovative approach, aiming to incorporate the rewarding gameplay of those franchises into a turn-based setting.

Future Outlook

Broche detailed the game's lore and narrative, drawing connections to real-world influences. The combination of high-fidelity visuals and the reactive battle system promises a fresh take on turn-based combat. Players will need to plan carefully between turns while also reacting instantly to enemy attacks.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is slated for release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2025. Despite the time until launch, Broche expressed excitement about the positive reception and eagerness to share more details leading up to the release.