Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG incorporating real-time elements, focusing on a unique journey to stop The Paintress from ever painting death again. In this early preview of the game’s initial stages, PlayStation fans will get a first look at gameplay in Flying Waters, a mysterious region where Gustave and Lune search for their missing companion, Maelle.
Each environment within Expedition 33 offers something distinctive. Flying Waters, for example, defies conventional physics, presenting a setting that is both underwater and not. This surrealistic approach is central to the game’s design, aiming to immerse you in a world where the impossible becomes possible. Inspirations from surrealist art are woven throughout, creating a striking experience that constantly keeps you on the edge of discovery.
In Flying Waters, you will navigate environments filled with remnants from past expeditions, such as destroyed structures, worn paths, and other telltale signs of previous groups that met untimely ends. Expedition 68 perished here, and by closely examining the area, you can piece together how they met their tragic end.
Making these environments fun to explore was something key for us. So, we built them to be nonlinear, with a layer of verticality and full of mysteries and secrets. There are multiple tools at your disposal to reach every hidden area: a grapple, climbing hooks left by previous expeditions, ropes… Exploring a level fully will always be very rewarding and you may find secret bosses, items or even entire secret levels by being meticulous in your exploration.
Combat in Expedition 33 blends traditional turn-based mechanics with reactive real-time elements. During battles, timing is key—whether initiating attacks or defending against incoming strikes. The battle system requires quick reflexes and strategic thinking. While commands are inputted in a turn-based format allowing you to take as much time as you need to establish your strategies, you must also react swiftly during enemy attacks to defend effectively.
Basic attacks in the game deal minimal damage, so you must rely on skills and special abilities to topple powerful enemies. Many skills come with timed commands that enhance damage or provide other bonuses. As battles progress, you will see the turn order displayed on the left side of the screen, giving you a clear understanding of when to expect attacks and when to prepare your counters. You will be able to dodge using Circle and parry with R1. Dodging allows for a larger timing window, letting you evade attacks completely, while parrying demands more precise timing. A perfectly executed parry not only negates damage but can also trigger a powerful counterattack if the entire combo of an enemy is parried. And yes, this means that in theory, you can beat any enemy of the game at level 1. Good luck with that.
Each party member in Expedition 33 has their own unique playstyle, featuring abilities that can change how you approach combat. Gustave can charge his mechanical arm, building up his Overcharge to unleash a devastating special move. The longer the charge, the more spectacular and damaging the resulting attack. Lune, on the other hand, can infuse skills with elemental affinities using her ability called Stains, enabling you to exploit enemy weaknesses with devastating effects!
In battle you can also use the Free Aim system to shoot at an enemy’s weak points. The Demineur, for example, is accompanied by floating sea mines, and targeting and detonating these before you approach them will cause a chain reaction.
After battle, you can level up and allocate points to various stats and customize each character’s build. Skill Points earned in battles can be spent unlocking new abilities in each character’s unique skill tree, allowing for further specialization and strategy customization. We also have other progression systems that allow you to make really crazy builds that we can’t wait to reveal in future updates.
Bosses in Expedition 33 are powerful and usually have an element that adds to their strength in combat. Goblu is surrounded by flowers that grant it potent buffs, which can quickly turn the tide against the party. In these cases, the free-aim system becomes crucial, allowing you to target and disable these flowers, weakening Goblu and shifting the battle in your favor. Identifying and exploiting these unique boss mechanics will be vital to your victory.
This preview has offered just a glimpse into the world of Expedition 33, and we’re excited to share even more in the future. Our team is small and incredibly passionate about games in this genre, and we are dedicated to creating an experience that both honors classic RPGs and pushes boundaries in new ways that haven’t quite been done before. Our dream is to make a game that will profoundly touch players as much as the classics impacted our lives. And hey, even if we fail, we lay the trail for those who come after, right?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launches on PS5 in 2025 – Follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.
See you soon, Expeditioners!
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Author: Guillaume Broche
