Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – A Dark Fantasy Adventure
Death is a certainty, but the uncertainty lies in when it will come. In the world of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, death is a number drawn by The Paintress. Every year, a few brave souls undertake an expedition to thwart The Paintress from sealing their fate.
Gustave, an expeditioner who has just turned 32, is determined to make the most of his remaining time. Racing against time, Gustave is on a mission to break the cycle so that The Paintress can’t steal anyone else’s future. Among his fellow expeditioners are Lune, a researcher who functions as a mage-style player character, young Maelle, who’s determined to forge her own destiny, and Sciel, whose smile hides her painful past.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 plays like a blend of Final Fantasy XVI and the Persona series. The game’s name, Clair Obscur, is the French translation of the Italian term chiaroscuro, which refers to the technique of using strong contrasts between light and shadow to enhance the atmosphere, volume, and composition of a painting. Despite being made by a relatively small development team, the game is polished and richly detailed, with vivid colors, an intricate environment, and a distinct design identity given to both the monsters and characters.
Set against a backdrop of a dark fantasy Belle Époque setting, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has a very French aesthetic. The game’s soundtrack, composed by Lorien Testard, has topped Billboard’s Classical Album charts. The expressions given to the characters, especially in the cutscenes, are impressively executed, adding weight to their dialogue. The combat in this game is a unique blend of turn-based and real-time mechanics, offering a variety of ways to approach a fight depending on your playstyle.
Items, weapons, and materials can be purchased from vendors on your journey. Defeating them gives you access to secret and valuable goods. No two playable characters have the same fighting style, skills, or weapons, allowing you to customize your playstyle. The combat in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is both exciting and challenging, with a strong plot, well-fleshed-out characters, breathtaking graphics, and a dramatic soundtrack.
