Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Thread starter elidib
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Lanx
<Prior Amod>
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Ambiturner
Ssraeszha Raider
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They do structure it in a weird way to make it seem like it's pretty much done after act 2, and act 3 being so short without all the optional stuff doesn't help. Wasn't until after I took a break from the game and came back and finished it all that I realized "Oh, that's why people are calling it an all timer"
RobXIII
Urinal Cake Consumption King
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Yeah I skipped most of Act 3 with no intention of going back. At that point even though I loved most of the game, I was over the whole memorization of attack pattern part of the game, and they definitely cranked it up for Act 3. It was like the old QTE games loved in the early 2000s but just one button and 3 frames you can do it in
Kirun
Buzzfeed Editor
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Yeah, the way they handled side content, particularly in the latter stages of the game, was a bit odd. For the first two acts, there's a striking lack of meaningful optional content. It almost feels as though the game is deliberately keeping you on rails. Then, once you hit Act 3, the dam suddenly bursts and you're flooded with side quests, activities, and optional encounters all at once.
It creates an odd pacing problem: instead of being integrated naturally into the rhythm of the main story, the bulk of the side content gets relegated to the endgame, where it comes across less as an organic extension of the journey and more like a checklist the developers drop in your lap with a casual "take it or leave it." I think the experience would have benefitted greatly from spreading these activities more evenly across the earlier acts. Doing so would have not only given the world a greater sense of life and variety from the outset, but also prevented the feeling of being overwhelmed with optional content right as you're approaching the climax of the story.
It creates an odd pacing problem: instead of being integrated naturally into the rhythm of the main story, the bulk of the side content gets relegated to the endgame, where it comes across less as an organic extension of the journey and more like a checklist the developers drop in your lap with a casual "take it or leave it." I think the experience would have benefitted greatly from spreading these activities more evenly across the earlier acts. Doing so would have not only given the world a greater sense of life and variety from the outset, but also prevented the feeling of being overwhelmed with optional content right as you're approaching the climax of the story.
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Goonsquad Officer
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i wasn't fond of the parry system at all. i play jrpgs to stat crunch and decide in battle. i don't need to be watching the man in the bunnysuit's fist spinning to judge when he's going to stagger then kick me. i'd of disabled them after the early part of the game and just experienced a randomizer like what FF3 had and been happy as a clam.Yeah I skipped most of Act 3 with no intention of going back. At that point even though I loved most of the game, I was over the whole memorization of attack pattern part of the game, and they definitely cranked it up for Act 3. It was like the old QTE games loved in the early 2000s but just one button and 3 frames you can do it in
yea. i understood i could beat the game or go experience story and i came to the decision that i'd do everyone's special story stuff, and that i'd find great weapons for my squad, then did the things that required, before fighting the end dungeon. i felt like that gave me enough cool story stuff without having to fight bosses with a thousand attacks laced with weird fakeouts. It's the path i reccomend when people ask me.
Caeden
Golden Baronet of the Realm
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I’m also the type lately that when I see the end in site it’s hard to stop and smell the roses. Particularly if I’m at 40 hours+. That’s where I was because I had painstakingly explored plus had random kid pauses. Too many great games. Too little time.
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Noodleface
A Mod Real Quick
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Leadsalad
Cis-XYite-Nationalist
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The combat system kills my desire to both replay it and complete the side act 3 content. It’s just too exhausting. I also would need to actually build Verso and Monoco, which I never did in my campaign. So that hard locks me from completing several boss encounters straight out.
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Metalhead
Vyemm Raider
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I did a basic attack build with verso, where he got additional attacks and mark/bleed on basic attacks and with aimed shots he did stupid damage.
I beat act 2, did some optional bosses but didn't really have the umph to finish it up. Prior to that I was locked in on the story.
I beat act 2, did some optional bosses but didn't really have the umph to finish it up. Prior to that I was locked in on the story.
Noodleface
A Mod Real Quick
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Ch 3 takes like 3 hours tops to beat
Last boss took me 2 attempts and I was only level 52 or 53
Last boss took me 2 attempts and I was only level 52 or 53
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Rude
Potato del Grande
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I thought the story twist was god awful, skipped the endgame content and got my money's worth. I'll likely never replay it either though. Game is good but likely received elevated praise due to how much garbage gets released now.
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I don't have a watched some reviews and read some stuff out of this thread sparingly because I didn't want to spoil anything, but is it really that bad, or just not your cup of tea?
I have been eyeballing the game but I don't like the whole fast time whatever the fuck it's called system, QuickTime events?
Tasty The Treat
Molten Core Raider
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For me this was easy to skip simply because I am not a fan of turn based RPG's. I'll get into them once in a while, but the themes and characters really need to appeal to me. When it came to this, nothing about it really appealed to me. It got a lot of hype and praise, but I find that pretty easy to dismiss these days.
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sakkath
Trakanon Raider
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This game is excellent, it's definitely GOTY material. Story, gameplay, music, atmosphere, setting, visuals, all top shelf. I could nitpick it here and there because of course it's not perfect (nothing is) but plenty of that has been done in this thread already.
I actually haven't read any reviews for it so out of curiosity I just googled a bunch of review sites and review aggregators and to nobody's surprise Expedition 33 is at the #1 slot for 2025 on most of them.
I actually haven't read any reviews for it so out of curiosity I just googled a bunch of review sites and review aggregators and to nobody's surprise Expedition 33 is at the #1 slot for 2025 on most of them.
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kroenen
Regimen Morum
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Recently started this one after finishing up the Wuchang game.
I’m in Act 2 of Clair Obscur right now, and honestly, I’m really enjoying it. The world is gorgeous and weird in the best way, and the story has kept me hooked so far.
I was a bit skeptical about the combat system at first. It blends turn-based mechanics with timed inputs, but once I got the rhythm, it added a layer of engagement I didn’t expect. It’s actually pretty fun and satisfying when you pull off a perfect parry. Player attacks are more QTE-based but can be set to auto, while the dodge/parry mechanic feels more like something out of an action game.
I get that it’s not for everyone, but if you’re into unique settings and want something that feels fresh, I’d say it’s worth checking out.
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