Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 -OT- - PlayStation 5 (PS5) Forum

LtSarge · 2025-04-27T16:56:22+00:00

Very surprised to see no thread for this game yet. I've played the game for six hours now and I'm just lost for words. This is the most modern take on a turn-based RPG yet. It feels like a typical RPG from the 90s, such as Final Fantasy. It's turn-based, it has an overworld map, you have party members, you get new equipment and all that. Everything you come to expect is here but fused with modern mechanics. In the turn-based Final Fantasy games, you can't avoid attacks. In Clair Obscur, you can either avoid them or parry them during turn-based fights. Getting hit and receiving damage is not a big deal, but if you're good then you can avoid damage altogether. One thing I'd like to make clear is that this is a turn-based RPG with Souls-like elements. The dodging/parrying mechanics, a steep initial difficulty curve, checkpoints where you can rest, which will also respawn all enemies, elixirs that will heal you and are refilled when resting at checkpoints, leveling up nets you points which you can put towards different stats and so on. But it's still a forgiving game. Like I mentioned, it's initially very challenging, especially when it comes to dodging/parrying attacks. But once you level up and use your stat points towards health as well as defence, then the game becomes much more manageable. Not to mention you'll get even better at dodging/parrying and you'll find really good items as well as equipment which will make battles more doable. The amount of experience points you receive is also quite generous, so I haven't felt a need to grind thus far at all. This is when the game starts to truly shine, on top of the phenomenal story, engrossing lore, exceptional soundtrack, varied locales and creative character designs. It's been a very long time since a turn-based RPG has made me this engaged in it. It's like I'm a kid when I'm playing this game, I'm just enthralled by everything that I'm seeing and hearing. You have no idea what to expect, everything is just so new and interesting. You absolutely HAVE to play this game. It's a strong contender as my GOTY already.

81
Tjuz
Yesterday, 10:39am

@Metonymy I have to concur. It seems I was slightly too hasty in my assertions regarding the narrative. Right after the point I was at, all the big stuff started happening at the end of Act II/start of Act III. Much like you've said, it elevated everything that came before. I'm a lot more positive on the narrative now than I was just a week ago as a result of all those revelations! I would still hold the fact that Act I and Act II doesn't really give you enough to latch onto against it, but taken as a whole, it's a fantastic journey. I'm eager to see the finale unfold, but a week later and... I'm still cleaning up all the optional Act III content.

It shocks me especially how the Reacher area was optional content. The whole ending to that with Maelle gommaging painted Alicia was incredibly powerful, as were the conversations in camp with Verso afterwards. That felt like it should've been a main game mission for sure. It's also one of the few tasks I undertook that had fully crafted cutscenes, which goes to show me that that might've been the intention at one point in development. Not sure why they switched gears if so, because it was definitely worthy of unmissable status. For now, I'm making my way through the Flying Manor, have only the last stage of Endless Tower left and still need to enter Verso and Renoir's drafts. I think after that... I can finally head to the final boss, despite likely being totally overleveled at this point. It'll be a cakewalk compared to everything else!

As for Resident Evil: Requiem, you're right that you saw I finished it and that I haven't really talked about it yet on the forum. I think it's one of those cases where I'm not eager to write about it as I don't have much to add to the conversation beyond what's already been said, but I'll put some thoughts over in the appropriate thread later today and give you a tag!

[Edited Yesterday, 10:39am by Tjuz]

Tjuz

82
Metonymy
2 hours ago

@Tjuz The game didn’t truly click for me, at least not on the level that it eventually did, until I took it as a whole, which evidently is a hard thing to describe to someone playing the game in a way that isn’t annoying! Especially when there’s a chance that the reveals still may not work for them, I appreciate your graciousness.

Honestly, I share some of your earlier feelings. The big twist at the end of Act 1 was, for me, less mind blowing and more a sad reminder as to how safe storytelling has become in a lot of mainstream art.

Yeah, that bit is very powerful. I’ll wait on saying too much more until you’ve finished it as I’d hate to spoil anything at all for you. One character in particular became something achingly beautiful once the full context was revealed. Oh, and rest assured, there is some endgame content that is insanely difficult. One encounter in particular had me min-maxing my entire party’s build in order to overcome it 😄

“Reason is the natural order of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning.” -C.S. Lewis

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Topic: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 -OT-