After hearing so much good buzz about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and checking out a little bit of gameplay for myself (to avoid spoilers), I finally decided to just jump in and see what exactly it is about the game that’s got so many people so excited. I’ve only had time enough to play through the prologue (about 30 – 45 mintues), but I am, already, seeing that this is going to be something special.

I’m not going to relay to you exactly what happens in the prologue or even what exactly the scenario is in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. After playing through it, I’m convinced that this is one of those rare games where it’s actually much better to go in completely blind. So don’t worry, there won’t be any spoilers as far as the story, scenario and characters go. I might mention one element of the combat system. but that’s it. Okay, so with that out of the way, what is it that sets this game apart right from the get go? Atmosphere. Atmosphere and emotion.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was able to almost instantly establish a very heavy and emotionally complex atmosphere thanks to a combination of moving music, immediately charming and well-acted characters, and dialog that respects the intelligence of the player. “Show, don’t tell,” is the rule in this game, from establishing the world and scenario to expressing just who these people are that you’re following.

Whereas in other games there would be all kinds of exposition or lengthy journal/codex entries about everything, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (just Clair Obscur from now on),constantly lets you fill in the blanks for yourself. You have to read into the things left unsaid, take cues from the music, pay close attention to the tones of characters’ voices and just look around the world. If you make even just a little effort, it’s all laid out plain before you, and it leads to empathize with the characters right away.

I’ve had games pull into their worlds and get me to empathize with their characters, but I’ve never been drawn in so quickly before! What takes most games several hours to do, Clair Obscur manages in just a few minutes! It’s absolutely masterful what Sandfall Interactive has accomplished here, and it’s only the opening act!

Gameplay-wise, so far, we’re looking at a turn-based action RPG with elements of exploration and linear progression. Whether that holds true for the whole of Clair Obscur, I don’t know but that’s the impression I’m getting so far. The battle system is distinctly turn-based, but offers a modernized version of cut-in actions seen in games like Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga.

That is, you can used timed button presses to enhance attacks, dodge or even parry for a chance at a devastating riposte. All these actions feed into each other too, so you’re constantly either building momentum or spending it for special use. I don’t know how deep it truly is yet, but it’s enough to keep you engaged here at the beginning, and there seems to be enough room for party and character builds, so there must be enough for them to be fun to play around with.

This is all to say that I went into Clair Obscure: Expetition 33 with fairly high expectations only to have them, to my great surprise, exceeded in just about every way. If the kind of experience I’ve had in the prologue manages to be maintained throughout, then I think we’ve definitely got something truly special on our hands here, the sort of master work that every developer should be striving for.

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Have you played much of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 yet? What’s your impression of it so far?

Image from the Steam page