Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the debut title by Sandfall Interactive, paints an irresistible portrait of an irreparably doomed world. From the moment it was revealed, it's presented itself as an homage (or should I say Gommage) to classic RPGs like the early Final Fantasy series, as well as more modern takes on the turn-based genre like Persona. Clair Obscur wears its inspirations on its sleeve, borrowing thoughtfully from just about every genre-defining RPG you can name.

But at the same time, it's also shockingly original, with avant-garde turn-based gameplay innovation. With a snappy combat system, memorable characters, a gut-wrenching story, evocative music, and gorgeous environments, Clair Obscur took me on a journey I won't soon forget.

A Hopeless Mission To Save A Doomed World

Clair Obscur Follows "The Disaster Expedition"

Clair Obscur begins with an irresistible premise: every year, once a year, a mysterious entity called The Paintress emblazons an ever-shrinking number on her Monolith in the sky. A year later, in an event known as the Gommage, everyone of that age fades to dust. And immediately after, an expedition sets off in hopes of defeating her, "so she can never paint death again," according to its reveal at Xbox Games Showcase last year.

As a whole, Clair Obscur's story is as operatic as those of the best Final Fantasy games, with an eclectic blend of heroism, humor, and heart. Emotions are big, strongly felt, and rashly acted upon, often causing further regrets. But it all plays out with a surprising degree of subtlety that steers clear of melodrama. It often introduces philosophical conundrums without overanalyzing them, leaving them for the player to puzzle out. However, as a result, it does sometimes skim over the more interesting aspects of its fantasy races.

But every character has a defined role within the Expedition and relation to their peers: Gustave the leader, Maelle the rookie, Lune the researcher, et cetera. In a peculiar move for an RPG, most of the playable characters already know each other when they set out on their expedition, which gives them deeper connections than most RPG parties can forge in a 60-hour game.

Character backgrounds are explored extensively in optional scenes you can view while resting at camp. I sometimes wish they were a little better integrated into the main story, but they're easy to find if you want them. And trust me, you will want them - the more you learn about their pasts, their internal lives, their hobbies, and their goals, the harder their failures will hit, and the higher their triumphs will soar.

It all culminates in a shocking twist that'll leave your mouth agape and your eyes teary. Clair Obscur's ending presented me with the most difficult choice I've ever had to make in a video game: I won't spoil it here, so you'll have to see it for yourself. I also want to give honorable mention to the game's voice acting, with an all-star English voice cast featuring the likes of Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings' Gollum), Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Jennifer English (Baldur's Gate 3's Shadowheart) and Ben Starr (Final Fantasy 16's Clive and Balatro's Jimbo Joker).

Clair Obscur Reaches New Heights In Turn-Based Combat

Persona, Meet Dark Souls

Clair Obscur employs a turn-based combat system that also draws on the dodge and parry systems of From Software games like Dark Souls and Sekiro. Characters' speed stats decide turn order, and, once they're up, you can select from a menu of options that include melee attacks, special combos, spells, and more. Performing timing-based inputs increases the efficacy of your attacks, Mario RPG style.

It's all standard (but well-executed) RPG stuff - that is, until the enemies start hitting you back. There are QTEs for these, too, and you can avoid most incoming damage by either dodging or parrying in time. But the dodge timing is tight, the parry timing even more so, and the penalties for missing the window are steep. It gets to the point where you have to play through certain boss battles multiple times until you master the cadence of their attacks. And many enemies attack in odd, arrhythmic patterns, expertly calculated to throw you off.

I played Clair Obscur on Expeditoner difficulty, which is the recommended level. Dodge and parry timing is significantly less important in the easier Story mode.

Clair Obscur's combat is an unlikely marriage of what seem to be two disparate genres of RPGs, but the result is undeniably brilliant. It can lead to the same kind of hair-tearing, controller-chucking frustration as a Sekiro boss, but that makes every triumph all the sweeter. Every blow feels impactful, accompanied by frenetic camera transitions and flashy attack animations. And it's underscored by epic, inspiring music to remind you of the life-altering stakes of every single fight.

Unique Character Mechanics & Pictos Create Infinite Possibilities

Customization Is King In Clair Obscur

You'll unlock six different playable characters as you make your way through Clair Obscur: the of the titular Expedition 33. Crucially, each character has its own unique mechanics. You're forced to play every character differently, to consider the resources available to them at the beginning of every turn, as you slowly build your way up to bigger and bigger attacks.

That's normally enough to keep a turn-based RPG strategically engaging, but to take it a step further, the synergy between characters in Clair Obscur is especially well-thought-out. In most turn-based RPGs, there's at least one character who lags behind; in Clair Obscur, every character was just as viable as the next one, and I found endless joy in experimenting with new party compositions, seeing how different combinations of characters could and empower one another. In turn, the camaraderie and trust the characters build felt that much more real.

For progression, Clair Obscur combines a traditional skill tree and leveling system with something a lot more customizable: Pictos. Sort of like Guardian Forces (GFs) in Final Fantasy 8, you can slot these into each of your characters' equipment to grant them a variety of different stat bonuses and special effects. Once you level them up enough, they turn into Luminas, which means you can apply their special effects without having to equip them. They're fairly quick to learn and easy to swap around (albeit with some clunky menuing), which makes character customization a breeze.

And the effects of your characters' Pictos are more than just "+10% fire resistance" or "earn more money from battles" - they can be truly game-changing, doing things like giving you extra Action Points for perfect parries, or removing your ability to heal in exchange for greater damage. You need to think about your preferred playstyle for each character when doling them out, and it's easy to create powerful - if not overpowered - interactions.

The fact that you're constantly unlocking new characters with new mechanics to discover, combined with increasingly challenging enemies, ensures combat stays thrilling throughout the entirety of Clair Obscur. But there's so much more to its gameplay, all embodied in the richness of its fully fleshed-out world.

Explore A Tragically Beautiful World

Clair Obscur Boasts Gorgeous, If Confusing Maps

Clair Obscur does an excellent job of making the stretch of land and sea between Lumière and the Paintress, called simply The Continent, seem a strange and otherworldly place. The Continent balances wonder and terror in equal measure: you'll explore underwater ruins, cities populated by sentient paintbrushes, and floating islands in the sky as you journey across it. It's graphically stunning and, at least visually, impeccably well-designed. Enemy design can be a little inconsistent, but when it's at its best, it soars.

However, many areas are laid out rather confusingly, which can be both a pro and a con. Part of the problem is Elden Ring approach to mapping, where the most obvious path often isn't the way forward. That's a noble effort, but it doesn't work as well in a turn-based game where you're constantly shifting back and forth between separate field and battle screens. In certain places, this contributes to the general unease and tension inherent in the narrative. In others, it makes exploring feel like a chore.

Still, exploring The Continent is duly rewarding, even if navigating it is a little clunky. Most areas are constantly offering up side paths, usually culminating in some sort of optional enemy or treasure. The reward is usually a new Pictos, which, as I've already mentioned, are consistently useful and always expand your options in combat. There's also an overworld dotted with the occasional point of interest for those who want to explore more deeply. That includes a couple of simple mini-games - nothing as mechanically complex or addicting as FF7 Rebirth's card game, but still worthy little distractions.

Final Thoughts & Review Score: 9/10

Clair Obscur Achieves What It Set Out To Do

Clair Obscur is an all-you-can-eat buffet for RPG lovers, serving up one brilliantly executed combat mechanic, a uniquely designed area, or crushing boss fight after another. It never failed to remind me why I love the genre, especially the wonder of delving into their worlds and the satisfaction of cracking their combat mechanics for the first time. It nails that classic RPG feeling in every conceivable way, while also going firmly in its own direction.

It has its flaws, but they're relatively minor, and rarely distract from its undeniable originality and obvious quality. If I were to make a wishlist of everything I wanted out of a turn-based RPG, it would tick every box. I suspect that's precisely what Sandfall Interactive set out to do, and its ion for the genre shines through in every aspect of the game. For anyone who shares even a fraction of that ion, then Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is not to be missed.

ScreenRant was provided with a Steam code for the purpose of this review.