Clair Obscur: Exploring the Past and Redefining the Future in Expedition 33

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 Inspiration and Narrative:

The game's name itself draws inspiration from the 17th and 18th-century French artistic and cultural movement, Clair-obscur, influencing both the game's visual 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 individuals from existence by painting a number on her monolith. The number 33 signifies the Paintress' current age, as revealed in the death of Gustave's partner in the game's trailer. Broche also cited the fantasy novel La Horde du Contrevent and works like Attack on Titan as narrative influences, highlighting the appeal of stories about perilous journeys into the unknown.

Reimagining Turn-Based RPGs:

Broche emphasized the game's commitment to high-fidelity graphics within the turn-based RPG genre, a relatively unexplored area. While acknowledging past real-time turn-based titles like Valkyria Chronicles, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 introduces a reactive turn-based combat 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 trigger powerful counterattacks. This innovative system draws inspiration from action games such as the Souls series, Devil May Cry, and NieR, aiming to integrate the rewarding gameplay of those titles into 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 received and promised further reveals leading up to its launch. The game's unique blend of historical context, stunning visuals, and innovative reactive turn-based combat promises a fresh and engaging experience for players.