Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Preview—A Melancholy Mission

At a time when so many new games fall into a handful of overpopulated categories, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 immediately stood out from the crowd upon its reveal at last summer’s Xbox Games Showcase. Its gilded Belle Époque aesthetic was immediately captivating, while a rumbling voiceover established a unique premise: in a world where a magical sorceress can magically exterminate all citizens of a certain age, the latest mission to put an end to her tyranny sets out on a hopeless voyage.

Now having spent four hours embroiled in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33‘s world firsthand, I can safely say that Sandfall Interactive is living up to all of that promise.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a game that dodges definition, in many ways. At first blush, its turn-based combat looks like shades of Persona 5, with its stylish UI showcasing button prompts. Once the enemies start throwing devastating haymakers and hurling lightning bolts, a keen sense of dodge or parry timing... Read more