Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s breakout success has sparked fraught conversations on social media regarding the future of the Final Fantasy franchise.
Some fans feel that Square Enix’s decision to transition the series in a more action-oriented direction, in search of attracting more mainstream players, has irreparably damaged the franchise forever.
They’re arguing that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s surprise reception – with an impressive Metacritic and one million sales already in the bank – showcases how turn-based combat is very much alive and well.
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But it’s worth noting that Square Enix has never outwardly criticised turn-based combat systems, although various comments from the company have attempted to justify its gradual transition to more action-based mechanics.
For example, during the promotional cycle for Final Fantasy 16, director Naoki Yoshida told Famitsu magazine (via VGC) that younger audiences “may not understand the attraction of selecting commands in video games”.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake obviously opted for a blend of character action and strategic commands, mixing modern combat mechanics with the original game’s more traditional scheme.
But it’s important to note that Square Enix hasn’t abandoned turn-based combat systems entirely. For example, franchises like Octopath Traveler and Dragon Quest still use these tried-and-trusted systems, and don’t seem likely to abandon them any time soon.
And various other popular titles from other publishers, like HoYoverse’s Honkai: Star Rail and Falcom’s Trails series, still utilise turn-based combat systems as well.
So, while it’s true that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is certainly helping underline the continued appeal of turn-based combat, it’s never really gone away entirely.