Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: A Blend of Historical Influence and Gameplay Innovation
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 innovative gameplay mechanics.
Historical Roots and Narrative Inspiration
The game's name itself carries significant weight. "Clair Obscur," Broche explains, references the 17th and 18th-century French artistic and cultural movement, influencing the game's art 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 a number on her monolith. The number 33 signifies the Paintress' current age, as tragically demonstrated in the reveal trailer depicting the death of Gustave's partner.
Broche cites La Horde du Contrevent, a fantasy novel about explorers, and works like Attack on Titan as key narrative inspirations, emphasizing the appeal of stories about perilous journeys into the unknown.
Reimagining Turn-Based RPG Combat
Broche highlights a significant gap in the market: high-fidelity graphics in turn-based RPGs. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 aims to fill this void. While acknowledging predecessors like Valkyria Chronicles and Project X Zone, the game introduces a reactive turn-based battle 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.
The inspiration for this innovative system? Action games like the Souls series, Devil May Cry, and NieR, whose rewarding combat systems inspired a fresh take on turn-based gameplay.
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 still some time away, Broche expresses enthusiasm for the positive reception and promises to share more details leading up to launch. The game's unique blend of historical inspiration, stunning visuals, and innovative reactive combat system promises a fresh and engaging experience for RPG fans.
