Clair Obscur: Exploring the Past, Innovating the Future

Sandfall Interactive's creative director, Guillaume Broche, recently unveiled key details about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, highlighting its historical inspirations and innovative gameplay mechanics. Discover the rich tapestry of influences behind this upcoming title.

Historical Influences and Gameplay Revolution

Name and Narrative Origins

The game's name, "Clair Obscur," draws inspiration from a 17th- and 18th-century French artistic and cultural movement, significantly impacting the game's visual style and overarching world.

"Expedition 33" directly references the in-game expeditions led by protagonist Gustave to defeat the Paintress. Each year, a new expedition attempts this perilous task. The Paintress uses her monolith to erase people from existence, a process Broche calls "the Gommage." The reveal trailer depicts the death of Gustave's partner after the Paintress marks her current age, 33.

Broche cites La Horde du Contrevent (a fantasy novel about global explorers) and works like Attack on Titan as narrative influences, highlighting his fascination with stories of daring exploration in the face of overwhelming odds.

Reimagining Turn-Based RPGs

Broche emphasizes the game's commitment to high-fidelity graphics within the turn-based RPG genre, a largely unexplored territory. He explains this decision as a response to a perceived gap in the market.

While acknowledging predecessors like Valkyria Chronicles and Project X Zone, Clair Obscur introduces a reactive turn-based combat system. Players strategize during their turns, but must react in real-time to enemy actions during the opponent's turn, dodging, jumping, or parrying to unleash powerful counterattacks.

The inspiration for this innovative system? Action games like the Souls series, Devil May Cry, and NieR, whose rewarding gameplay inspired the team to bring a similar sense of dynamism to the turn-based format.

Future Outlook

Broche's insights reveal a game deeply rooted in historical context while pushing the boundaries of turn-based RPG gameplay. The combination of high-fidelity visuals and the reactive battle system promises a unique and engaging experience. Players will need to combine strategic planning with real-time reflexes to succeed.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is slated for release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2025. Despite the time until release, Broche expresses excitement about the positive reception and eagerly anticipates sharing more details in the coming year.