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 innovative gameplay mechanics.

Historical Roots and Narrative Inspiration

The game's name itself draws inspiration from the 17th and 18th-century French artistic 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 erases ages by painting numbers on a monolith – a process Broche calls "the Gommage." The reveal trailer depicts the death of Gustave's partner after the Paintress paints the number 33, her current age.

Broche cited La Horde du Contrevent (a fantasy novel about explorers) and the anime/manga Attack on Titan as narrative influences, 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 past real-time turn-based titles like Valkyria Chronicles and Project X Zone, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 introduces a reactive turn-based 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 initiate powerful counterattacks.

The design draws inspiration from action games such as the Souls series, Devil May Cry, and NieR, aiming to integrate their rewarding combat mechanics into a turn-based framework.

Future Outlook

Broche's insights reveal a game deeply rooted in historical and literary influences, while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of turn-based RPG combat. The combination of high-fidelity visuals and the reactive battle system promises a unique and engaging experience.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is slated for release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2025. Broche expressed his team's excitement about the positive reception and their eagerness to share more details leading up to the launch.