Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Historical Roots and Innovations

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 unique gameplay mechanics.

Historical Roots and Narrative Inspiration

The game's name itself draws inspiration from the French artistic and cultural movement, "Clair Obscur," of the 17th and 18th centuries. This movement significantly influenced 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 people from existence by painting a number on her monolith. The number represents her current age; the trailer depicts the death of Gustave's partner after the Paintress paints the number 33. Broche also cited La Horde du Contrevent (a fantasy novel about explorers) and Attack on Titan as narrative inspirations, highlighting his fascination with stories of perilous journeys into the unknown.

Reimagining Turn-Based RPG Combat

Broche emphasized the game's commitment to high-fidelity graphics within the turn-based RPG genre, a relatively unexplored territory. While acknowledging predecessors like Valkyria Chronicles and Project X Zone, Clair Obscur introduces a reactive turn-based combat system. Players strategize during their turn, but must react in real-time to enemy attacks during the opponent's turn, dodging, jumping, or parrying to unleash powerful counterattacks. The design draws inspiration from action games like the Souls series, Devil May Cry, and NieR, aiming to replicate their rewarding gameplay loop within a turn-based framework.

Future Outlook

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is slated for release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2025. Broche expressed enthusiasm for the positive reception the game has already garnered and promised further reveals leading up to its launch. The game promises a unique blend of historical influences, stunning visuals, and innovative turn-based combat, offering players a fresh take on the genre.