Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Overly Dramatic Review in One Sentence

The most confusing storyline with the best turn based fighting system you'll ever play, if you keep your FPS at 60.

The Actual Review

Game time:

PC: 41 hours

Gameplay

So you have to know going into this that this game is turned-based. That means that you go, the next person goes, then another person. That order is based on everyone's stats. Specifically speed, which you can't modify directly. However, unlike Baldur's Gate 3 and other traditional turn based games, you are in control of your perries and dodges. That is a complete game changer.

For turn based games, having that kind of control makes this more action really allows you to feel that you have more control over the game rather than relying on having the "meta" stats build for the character to survive. I mean it might take a long time, but technically you could win most fights with this as long as you don't get hit.

The fights are very good. For the most part the mechanics of the monsters, Nevrons, that you fight make complete sense. Some boss fights though are just stupid. Any of the boss fights dealing with Clea and her peeps make no sense to the story at all and are outrageously powerful. There is such a disparity between them and the final boss in the game that I am not sure how they are making the connection of why you should look for them.

The game has 3 legitimate acts built into it. As a seasoned open world game player, I know the inclination to explore the world as much as you can in each act is like the innate draw of a moth to the flame. For the most part, your Story takes place all in Act I and Act II, with 3 being about 20 - 30 minutes of played story time and another 20 minutes cutscene that just drags on. Act III is mainly about exploring in my opinion and if I could make a recommendation of how to play each act, it would be this.

• Act I - Play and explore to your hearts delight. You are land based, and it is a good way to learn the triggers for the fights.
• Act II - Play only the missions for the Act. Exploring take a long time as you can swim, but there is so much space that it takes an outstanding amount of time to cover the area, and you still can't get everywhere.
• Act III - This is where you get flying and this is where I tell you to explore. You'll run into "Danger" areas that you might be able to survive, but I'd avoid until you reach the right level. When you do, the "Danger" sign goes away.

The other thing that I will talk about within the gameplay is their Pictos, think power ups or trinkets, and the Lumine, are redundant and some of them are absolutely annoying. Specifically, very minor gameplay mechanic spoiler here, and you should skip to "Graphics and Sound" if you don't want a spoiler, there is a Pictos that you get after Act II that allows you to do more than 9,999 damage. I don't understand why that is a thing to begin with. I understand why in the story it is a thing, but when all the bad guys can hit me for that kind of damage, why can't I?

Graphics and Sound

The music is so good. The game is visually beautiful. There is an early level that is the underwater visualization, however, you aren't swimming. You are running around, but it looks and sounds like you are underwater. I took like a 2/3 month break because Oblivion Remastered came out and something else, I can't remember. This level was my first thing come back, and it sucked me in visually. From that time I played so much, and I cannot tell you how much the rest of the level design and visuals really made this a unique game.

The sound design is right up there with it. I mean, for voice acting alone with Charlie Cox voice a character, this was just an epically well done game. The combat sound is immersive and unique for each attach and character. In fact, you could almost do every fight with your eyes closed just by listening for the attack sounds. That was actually easier for me to do to pay attention to than watching the attack as there were so many feints in the attack sequences that you'd miss and get hit.

Story and Characters

Chef's kiss. Absolutely outstanding. So throughout the game, you play as two different characters. During the downtime between running around the world, you can have these conversations with the characters. These conversations are so rich with emotion and just pummel you with the feelings. The characters in your party have all had a lot of loss and life. There are a couple characters that just are so well written that I am amazed they give you it so sparingly. You learn so much about them and feel so badly for them.

The story is outstanding. My in-laws are not big video game people, but I was playing while my wife was doing some studying and when I came out for a drink my Mother-in-law was at the kitchen island. We talked about it and I told her all about this game and story I knew at that time (As a side note, I had to change the story when I beat the game a couple of days later, but that made it so much better). I knew a couple of hours into the game that there was another layer to this story. However, I did not predict, could never have predicted what this game presented. The level of emotional pool is something that Sam and I could not stop talking about. It is a bit confusing if you don't pay attention to the long cutscenes, but it was amazing.

My Rating

I loved this game. I got sucked into it so hard after the underwater level and I could not be happier. This was an incredible game that really touches on a topic that is hard to describe and talk about without it being corny. This does that in a way to has layers upon layers of description and analogy that tell let a beautiful story breath. As you can see, I have loved playing this game. I only have 2 or 3 achievements missing and one of them I'd have to buy a new controller to get because the perry button is dying on mine and this is also where sticking your game at 60 FPS makes a huge difference. So this is, if you haven't seen from the plethora of game awards, an absolute must play. GET THIS GAME!

Parental Rating

The swearing was all in French, oh yeah this was a French game. So for that, my parents would miss that. The violence was more arcadey and not a lot of blood was there. I don't think they would hate it, knowing the story.

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