Videogame Review: ‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’

“Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” (Kepler), the debut title from French studio Sandfall Interactive, follows a cohort of citizens desperate to save a large number of people from imminent death. As it does so, the role-playing game also explores themes of grief, family and community.

Given a few forays into vulgarity in the dialogue as well as some intense visuals, however, it’s an experience best restricted to mature gamers.

For the last 67 years, a terrible event called the “Gommage” has plagued the island city of Lumiere. An entity known only as “the Paintress” (voice of Tracy Wiles) draws an ever-decreasing number on a stone monolith on the mainland, causing everyone who is that age or older in Lumiere to disappear.

After every Gommage, the city sends out an expedition team to try to defeat the Paintress before she can trace a new number. But every such effort has so far failed.

The titular outing is the latest to embark. Its members include engineer Gustave (voice of Charlie Cox), brainy Lune (voice of Kirsty Rider), warrior Sciel (voice of Shala Nyx) and Gustave’s foster sister Maelle (voice of Jennifer English). At 16, Maelle is the youngest of the band; her comrades are all 32 — and are thus facing impending doom.

Among the others making the journey are the mysterious Verso (voice of Ben Starr) and his sidekick, a creature called Monoco (voice of Rich Keeble). Allied with the Paintress is the dangerous Renoir (voice of Andy Serkis).

In a return to classic RPG mechanics, combat is turn-based, but real-time reactions provide a refreshing twist to the genre. Additionally, each character has unique abilities rather than being boxed into an archetype of mage, warrior or rogue.

Combat is not overly bloody. But there are some splatter effects as well as such grisly images as the corpses of those who set out on earlier expeditions.

Problematic content is infrequent. Yet there’s enough of it to preclude endorsement for kids. Among these elements are two fleeting and easily skippable moments of sexual innuendo. One involves examining the doorway to a brothel and briefly hearing giggling and moaning inside. Another is a text reference to a “passionate” final night together.

The environment design is influenced by the Belle Epoque period of French and European history. This era began with the end of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871 and drew to an abrupt close with the outbreak of World War I in 1914.

Players are presented with graceful architecture set against backdrops of floating rocks and ethereal lights. It’s an imaginary world as full of whimsy as of menace. Additionally, composer Lorien Testard’s stunning original soundtrack succeeds in elevating the gaming experience while also complementing the narrative and the artwork in a unique manner.

“Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” also manages to explore bereavement without its mood becoming too heavy. Thus moments of levity and joy are interspersed with scenes of tragedy and loss. Gameplay concludes with two alternate endings, each of which bears thinking about long after the action is over.

Playable on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and Windows PC.

The game contains mostly stylized combat violence with some bloody effects, gruesome images, brief rough language in English and occasional crude talk in French. The OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Entertainment Software Rating Board rating is M — mature 17+.

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