Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Explores Historical Innovations

Sandfall Interactive's founder and creative director, Guillaume Broche, recently shared fascinating insights into the development of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, highlighting its historical influences and innovative gameplay features. Dive into the details to understand what makes this game a unique addition to the gaming world.

Real-world Influences and Gameplay Innovation

Inspiration Behind the Name and Narrative

On July 29, Guillaume Broche provided a deep dive into the real-world influences shaping Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The game's title itself is steeped in history. "Clair Obscur" draws from the French artistic and cultural movement of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, which has significantly influenced the game's artistic direction and overarching world. Broche explained, "It influenced the game’s artistic direction, and also refers to the overarching world of the game."

The second part of the title, "Expedition 33," is tied directly to the game's narrative. It represents the annual expeditions led by the protagonist, Gustave, aimed at destroying the Paintress. This villainous character paints a number on her monolith, erasing everyone of that age in a process Broche calls "the Gommage." The reveal trailer poignantly showed the protagonist's partner dying after the Paintress painted the number 33, symbolizing her current age.

Broche also cited La Horde du Contrevent, a fantasy novel about explorers traversing the world, as a key narrative influence. He added, "In general, stories about venturing into the unknown despite incredible risks, like the anime/manga Attack on Titan, have always been very appealing to me."

Innovating Classic Turn-based RPG

Broche emphasized the importance of graphics in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, noting a gap in the market for turn-based RPGs with high-fidelity graphics. "There hasn’t really been any attempt at making a turn-based RPG with high-fidelity graphics for a good while," he said. "That left a deep hole in my gamer heart. We took it upon ourselves to make something to fill that void."

While real-time turn-based RPGs like Valkyria Chronicles and Project X Zone have existed, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 introduces a reactive turn-based battle system. Broche explained, "You can take time during battles to establish your strategies, but during the enemy’s turn, you will have to react in real-time to dodge, jump, or parry enemies to trigger a powerful counterattack." This system draws inspiration from action games such as the Souls series, Devil May Cry, and NieR, aiming to bring their rewarding gameplay into a turn-based setting.

Looking Forward

Broche's insights into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 reveal a game rich in lore and narrative, influenced by real-world history and literature. The game's use of high-fidelity graphics and the innovative reactive battle system promise to offer players a fresh and engaging experience. Players will need to strategize between turns and react in real-time to enemy attacks, adding a new layer of excitement to battles.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is slated for release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2025. Despite the wait, Broche expressed enthusiasm about the game's reception, stating, "We’re glad to see so many fans are excited for the world of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33! As our first title, we’re thrilled with the reception we’ve seen so far, and we can’t wait to show more in the lead-up to launch next year."