Sandfall Interactive's founder and creative director, Guillaume Broche, recently unveiled fascinating details about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This article dives deep into the game's historical influences and groundbreaking gameplay innovations.
Real-world Influences and Gameplay Innovation
Inspiration Behind the Name and Narrative
On July 29, Guillaume Broche shared the real-world influences shaping **Clair Obscur: Expedition 33**. The term "Clair Obscur" draws inspiration from the French artistic and cultural movement of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, which not only influenced the game's artistic direction but also embodies the overarching world of the game.The "Expedition 33" part of the title refers to the annual mission led by the protagonist, Gustave, aimed at destroying the Paintress. The Paintress, a central antagonist, paints a number on her monolith each year, erasing everyone of that age through an event Broche calls "the Gommage." The reveal trailer poignantly shows Gustave's partner dying after the Paintress paints the number 33, signifying her current age.
Broche also drew narrative inspiration from the fantasy novel La Horde du Contrevent, which chronicles a group of explorers journeying through the unknown. He further mentioned that stories about venturing into perilous unknowns, such as the anime/manga Attack on Titan, have always captivated him.
Innovating Classic Turn-based RPG
Broche also highlighted the significance of graphics in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, stating, "There hasn’t really been any attempt at making a turn-based RPG with high-fidelity graphics for a good while. 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 unique 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." The team drew inspiration from action games like the Souls series, Devil May Cry, and NieR, aiming to bring their rewarding gameplay into a turn-based setting.
Looking Forward
Broche's insights reveal a rich tapestry of lore and narrative deeply influenced by real-world history and literature. The game's high-fidelity graphics and innovative reactive battle system promise to deliver a fresh take on the turn-based RPG genre, blending strategic planning with real-time reactions during enemy turns.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is slated for release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2025. While the release date is still on the horizon, Broche expressed excitement about the game's reception, saying, "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."
