Are you familiar with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? If not, you should be, as the RPG is turning heads, and what developer Sandfall Interactivehas shown so farlooks quite impressive.
At first glance, you might assume classic JRPG classics like the Final Fantasy games inspired the developers. While the legendary RPG franchise is indeed one of Sandfall’s inspirations, it’s not the only one.
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Takes Inspiration From a Souls-Like
In an interview withGamesRadarat theGame Developers Conference, producer and studio co-founder François Meurisse shares some of the studio’s inspirations in crafting Clair Obscur.
Meurisse shares, “Final Fantasy 10: and the “the earlier ones on PlayStation, like 7, 8, and 9,” were some of the biggest inspirations for their in-development RPG.
Not only those games, but even one title from developer FromSoftware is an inspiration too, and it’s one of the Japanese studio’s hardest games. Nope, it’s not Elden Ring.
“Those are big childhood games for Guillaume [Broche], our game director. He wanted to have like kind of feeling that he imagined would have remained in modern Final Fantasy-like games, if they had kept doing turn-based stuff. But he mixed also lots of different inspirations. Definitely Final Fantasy and JRPGs are the preeminent gameplay heritage we have. The defense system is more inspired by Sekiro and From Software games. It has this kind of rhythm element and a more real-time component in it. More skill-based,” Meurisse adds.
The Final Fantasy series and even Sekiro aren’t a bad set of games to take inspiration from. However, I do hope it doesn’t try and mimic Sekior’s hair-pulling difficulty.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Collector’s Edition Already Sold Out; PC Requirements Revealed
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s Collector’s Edition restocks are not guaranteed, as Sandfall is caught by surprise by the demand.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is due for release next month, and we already managed to get some hands-on time with it.Our preview was quite glowing, where it also said, “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is showing all the right things leading into release. Sandfall is crafting a world that looks like it can stand toe-to-toe with the biggest blockbuster games out there, but at a reduced cost of $49.99”
The game’s premise, straight from publisher Kepler Interactive notes,: “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a ground-breaking turn-based RPG with unique real-time mechanics, making battles more immersive and addictive than ever. Explore a fantasy world inspired by Belle Époque France in which you battle devastating enemies.”
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 releases on April 24 on the PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Has Quickly Become My Most Anticipated Game
The beautiful era of France marred by a genocidal omniscient artist.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
WHERE TO PLAY
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a ground-breaking turn-based RPG with unique real-time mechanics, making battles more immersive and addictive than ever. Explore a fantasy world inspired by Belle Époque France in which you battle devastating enemies.In this evolution of JRPGs, real-time actions enhance the heart of turn-based combat. Craft unique builds for your Expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and character synergies. Open an active dimension in combat - dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free aim system.With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, and their fellow Expeditioners as they embark upon a desperate quest to break the Paintress’ cycle of death. Follow the trail of previous expeditions and discover their fate. Get to know the members of Expedition 33 as they learn to work together against impossible odds.Explore an enchanting realm populated by surreal adversaries. Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from the Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield, discovering secrets and hidden quests along the way. Find allies of fortune in creatures of legend and recruit special companions, access new travel methods and discover secret areas in the World Map.
