Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - 3 hour review

Gameplay/Combat: 7/10

The combat system is a refreshing take on traditional turn-based RPGs, incorporating a timeline view reminiscent of Final Fantasy X and requiring a bit of player timing. The system uses AP for skills, which are generated by attacking, parrying, or using special "pictos." While the system shows promise, the depth in skill selection feels limited in the early stages, and character roles feel somewhat set in stone. The combat is cool, but it has not yet fully opened up to allow for true player expression.

Story/Narrative: 6/10

It's clear that a tremendous amount of effort went into building the world and its backstory. However, the narrative delivery is a stumbling block. The game front-loads a huge amount of exposition without providing many immediate answers, which can make it hard to feel engaged outside of combat. The voice acting is a significant issue, with performances ranging from the excellent work of Charlie Cox as Gustave to other characters who sound like they belong in a soap opera or a Hallmark movie. This inconsistency is jarring and undermines the serious tone the game is trying to establish. There are moments when the dialogue is superb, but the inconsistent delivery made me wish I could turn off the audio and rely solely on subtitles.

Art/Visuals: 5/10

This is a tough category to score. The creative ideas behind the world's aesthetic—a blend of dark art deco, runic patterns, and a Belle Époque timeframe—are genuinely thoughtful. However, the execution is lacking in two key areas. First, technical issues like pop-in, blurry textures, and stuttering on a high-end PC are disappointing for a 2025 release aiming for a high level of graphical fidelity. Second, the art direction, while interesting, struggles to commit to a single vision. This results in a style that feels a bit like "kitbashing," where disparate elements are combined in a way that can feel monotonous or, worse, completely out of place. The game visually juxtaposes things that don't always mesh, creating a sense that the world was built from borrowed assets rather than a single, cohesive vision.

Audio: 7/10

The orchestral score is excellent and does a fantastic job of setting a grand, serious tone. However, it can sometimes feel a bit overdone or out of place given the context. The overall audio quality is crisp, but the delivery of the dialogue is all over the place, which ultimately brings the score down.

Summary: A game of great ideas and inconsistent execution. The engaging combat and deep lore are enough to warrant another session, but the technical and narrative stumbles are hard to ignore.

Should You Play It?

Yes, if you enjoy turn-based RPGs and mystery-heavy narratives reminiscent of shows like Lost, then absolutely. Just be prepared to lower your expectations for everything else.