Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wears Its FF and Persona Influences on Its Sleeves

Sandfall Interactive's upcoming turn-based RPG, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, is making waves with its unique blend of classic and modern RPG elements. Following a successful demo, the game's director has shed light on its key inspirations.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – A Fusion of Turn-Based and Real-Time Gameplay

Drawing inspiration from the Belle Epoque era of France and beloved JRPGs, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 innovatively merges turn-based combat with real-time elements. Heavily influenced by the Final Fantasy and Persona series, the game aims to create a fresh, distinctive experience within the genre.

Following a positive reception at SGF, creative director Guillaume Broche discussed the game's design philosophy with Eurogamer. He emphasized his passion for turn-based combat and the desire to create a high-fidelity title in this style, citing Persona and Octopath Traveler as stylistic inspirations.

The game's narrative centers on preventing a mysterious antagonist, the Paintress, from unleashing death once more. Its environments, including the gravity-defying Flying Waters, promise to be as captivating as its story.

Combat demands quick reflexes. While commands are input in a turn-based manner, players must react in real-time to enemy attacks. This system echoes the engaging combat of Persona, Final Fantasy, and Sea of Stars.

Broche was surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response. While anticipating interest from turn-based fans, he didn't expect such enthusiastic reception.

In an interview with PC Gamer, Broche clarified the game's influences, highlighting the significant impact of Final Fantasy VIII, IX, and X. While acknowledging these classics as major inspirations, he stressed that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is not a direct imitation but rather a reflection of his personal gaming history. The game also borrows elements from Persona's dynamic camera work and menus, but with a distinct art style and overall design.

The open world allows for seamless party member switching and unique traversal abilities used to solve environmental puzzles. Broche expressed a desire for players to experiment with character builds and combinations.

The development team, in a PlayStation Blog post, expressed their hope that the game will resonate with players in the same way classic titles impacted them.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is slated for release on PC, PS5, and Xbox in 2025.