Clair Obscur: Exploring the Past and Future of Cave Exploration

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 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 cited La Horde du Contrevent (a fantasy novel about explorers) and 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 largely unexplored area. While acknowledging past real-time turn-based titles like Valkyria Chronicles, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 introduces a reactive turn-based battle system. Players strategically plan their moves, but must react in real-time during enemy turns to dodge, jump, or parry attacks, setting up powerful counterattacks. The design draws inspiration from action games like the Souls series, Devil May Cry, and NieR, aiming to replicate their rewarding combat within a turn-based framework.

Looking Ahead

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 and promised further reveals leading up to the launch. The game's unique blend of historical inspiration, high-fidelity visuals, and innovative reactive combat system promises a fresh take on the turn-based RPG experience.