Expensive reader, I am contemporary off every week’s vacation—and whereas I want I may inform you that I spent it tidying my condo, getting again into drawing, or socialising with my mates, I as an alternative spent round 50-odd hours glued to my display screen enjoying Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a sport I had no thought was going to be such a banger. Which is why I am delighted to additionally report that it is achieved very, very properly.
As introduced by Kepler interactive on X, Expedition 33 offered over 1 million copies within the span of three days—just a little slower than one thing like Metaphor: ReFantazio, thoughts, however nonetheless—even being in the identical weight class as an Atlus sport is spectacular, given they made Persona, and all.
Much more spectacular is the truth that, regardless of it being on Sport Cross, Expedition 33 has additionally eaten Metaphor: ReFantazio’s lunch relating to Steam gamers. On the time of writing, ol’ 33 has an all-time peak of 121,422 gamers, whereas ReFantazio’s rating capped out at a decent, however nonetheless very a lot smaller, 85,961.
It is a critical testomony to how good this sport is, and whereas it did not fairly hit proper with our reviewer who gave it a 70 (which I might wish to remind everybody remains to be a great rating, the opposite 69 numbers aren’t there for nothing) it appears to’ve taken the general public by storm.
Earlier than you rush to the feedback to ask me why “I” scored it a 70 (I did not) I might wish to remind you that PC Gamer is just not a hivemind, and that we’re all particular person individuals with wealthy inner lives and ranging tastes. Additionally, we’re not able to roll out our Borg dice for an additional yr—funds cuts, you perceive.
I am among the many raving plenty. Whereas the sport has its occasional (sometimes charming) jank, I’ve discovered it to be in any other case laser-focused on all the great bits of an RPG with not one of the chaff. I’ve loved the actual fact I can nullify injury with good timing and muscle reminiscence—which has allowed me, somebody who’s normally just a little exhausted by high-difficulty JRPGs (or ought to I say, Je-RPGs) to get pleasure from its hardest challenges.
It is also only a breath of contemporary air. Its unapologetically French stylings are combo’d with a whole scrapping of typical JRPG hallmarks like MP or stock administration. Additionally, its soundtrack is totally absurd—Expedition 33 may not all the time really feel AAA, however its OST is each an all-timer and obscenely lengthy. I can not start to fathom how drained its composers are, and I hope they’ve an extended, well-earned nap.
I am additionally not alone—if we take a look at Metacritic, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 at the moment has a person rating of 9.7. In the meantime over on Steam, it is garnered 92% optimistic evaluations on the time of writing. As somebody who has completed it, and is at the moment within the clutches of its endgame? I can verify this is not simply early-days hype. If something, my opinion of the sport solely improved throughout my playthrough: For those who like RPGs, when you can abdomen parrying, and in order for you one thing completely different, you owe it to your self to play this factor.
