Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: A Blend of History and Innovative Gameplay
Sandfall Interactive's founder and creative director, Guillaume Broche, recently unveiled key details about their upcoming title, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, highlighting its historical inspirations and unique gameplay mechanics.
Historical Influences and Gameplay Innovation
The game's name itself is steeped in history. "Clair Obscur," Broche explains, references the 17th and 18th-century French artistic and cultural movement, influencing both the game's visual style and overarching world. "Expedition 33" refers to a series of expeditions led by protagonist Gustave to defeat the Paintress, a being who uses a process called "Gommage" to erase entire generations by painting numbers on a monolith. The trailer depicts the death of Gustave's partner after the Paintress paints the number 33, her current age. The narrative also draws inspiration from La Horde du Contrevent, a fantasy novel about explorers, and the spirit of adventure found in works like Attack on Titan.
The game innovates the classic turn-based RPG genre by incorporating high-fidelity graphics, a rarity in the genre. Broche notes a lack of high-quality turn-based RPGs and aims to fill this gap. Clair Obscur goes beyond existing real-time turn-based titles like Valkyria Chronicles by introducing 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 trigger powerful counterattacks. The design is inspired by action games such as the Souls series, Devil May Cry, and NieR, bringing their rewarding combat feel to a turn-based context.
Looking Ahead
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is slated for release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2025. While the release date is some time away, Broche expresses enthusiasm for the positive fan response and promises more reveals leading up to launch. The game's unique blend of historical inspiration, high-fidelity visuals, and innovative reactive combat system promises a fresh take on the turn-based RPG genre.
