Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

[Colorblind]

Let's get the obvious out of the way first. Clair Obscur is French for 'Twilight'.

Twilight: Expedition 33 for the westerners, as I am one. I'm not going to get into any spoilers, as this game has one of the best narratives I have ever experienced, but it is a very apt name.

For those of you who have already played it, I salute you. I myself am on a slow burn due to life. C'est la vie. That being said, I've just started my Act 2 campaign and will leave it at that.

If you're looking for a game to play, this is it. Flat out. OST, narrative, gameplay, voice acting. It actually is the full package. It's hard to believe in a time like this where most gaming studios 'lather rinse repeat,' that we get a genuinely refreshing experience. And it is an experience. It has one of the most compelling stories I've seen. Period.

Gameplay is engaging. It's turn-based, but it's not. Sure, your stats dictate which character goes at what point, as well as the enemies you fight. However, it keeps you locked in. You select an attack, and have to stay on point for button commands to make sure your selected action gets the full effect. Additionally, when it's the enemy turn, you must also be aware to dodge or parry during their attack. Netting successful parries rewards you, not only with 0 damage taken during the enemy phase, but also massive damage to the enemy during their turn as a result. The parry window is really tight, though. Tight, but very doable. Sure, you can more easily dodge, but as the saying goes, no risk, no reward. Get the parry locked down.

This game takes a lot of influence from Final Fantasy, and JRPGs as a whole. The ways you can build your characters for stringing together combos and team attacks is expansive. You're not pushed into the droll of doing this or doing that. There is great freedom to experiment and find your own style along the way. At the same time, it's simple enough where, if you just want to experience the story, then you're in a safe place. Sandfall studios really thought of everyone when making this game. The casual and the hardcore alike. As well as everyone in between.

This is one of the best games I've played. One of the best soundtracks I've heard. One of the best stories I've experienced, and I'm only just starting Act 2.

Anyway. Just wanted to share my thoughts on this. Don't take my word for it, though. Check it out for yourself.

[Minorikawa]

I tend to wonder how well-versed in JRPGs some folks tend to be when describing the combat, because it's weird not to see people reference Mario RPG, Paper Mario, or the Mario & Luigi games, which all have used the button-timing mechanics. Even pressing a specific button for a menu command is pulled right from them. What Clair Obscur does is tighten up the timings and dash a bit of Sekiro into knowing when to use each defensive maneuver. There's also some Persona 5 mixed in there.

Which isn't to dismiss what the game's doing. Anyone can imitate, few can make it feel fresh like this team did. I'm only in Act 1, also a late start, but I've been enjoying it greatly. I'm so glad to see someone make a game that feels both traditional and fresh while also living up to what the genre used to be known for: beauty and story-telling.