Seeing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Makes Me Wonder, Will I Ever Get Lost Odyssey?

If you ever wondered how a modern turn-based Final Fantasy would look like, you don’t have to just imagine any more. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has provided the answer, a AAA turn-based game with strong JRPG inspirations like Final Fantasy.

The Xbox showcase was full of surprises and strong reveals, but it was majorly titles you’ve heard about. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, however, came out of nowhere and shocked the hell out of me with its brilliant visuals and creative gameplay, reminding me of a 360-era JRPG I absolutely adore.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — Turn-Based With A Twist

First, let me just say how much of an intriguing concept the story looks like. You’re up against an evil painter, who’s up to some artistic mischief, and it’s up to you to stop her. How cool and bizarre is that? When this painting concept comes into the gameplay as well, that’s when things get even more exciting.

I Still Can’t Get Over How Expedition 33 Looks soo Good…
byu/Icy-Organization-901 ingaming

On top of that, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 splendidly upholds its artistic plot in the visual presentation and art direction as well. The game looks drop-dead gorgeous and the art style is stunning, filled with beautiful landscapes and picturesque environments.

Trust me when I say that I never expected this game to be turn-based when the trailer began. However, when the scenario cut to the combat, I was pleasantly surprised. 

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I genuinely adore turn-based games. I’m strictly against the misguided notion that the genre is a relic of the past and a remnant of the technologically-limited days. In fact, a modern game that makes use of the concept with finesse has limitless potential. This is why I was in favor of a turn-based Final Fantasy after the brilliant 16th entry.

Thus, I have high hopes for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. But wait, there’s more. The game has another trick up its sleeve. It combines turn-based mechanics with a sprinkle of real-time on top. Seems like it incorporates timed dodges and button presses that function in real-time. This sort of hybrid system adds a ton of depth to the core gameplay loop, opening creative possibilities.

Lost Odyssey, Where Have You Gone?

In the beginning, I mentioned that this game reminded me of a beloved 360-era JRPG. You must be wondering now “What game is that?” Why, it’s none other than Lost Odyssey.

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With Hironobu Sakaguchi writing the story and Nobuo Uematsu composing the music, a legend was waiting to be born. Lost Odyssey was a brilliant and heartwrenching plot that explored the concepts of Immortality, deteriorating human emotions, and the horrors of war and destruction. This soul-crushing plot deserves all the praise it can get.

When we move to the gameplay, Lost Odyssey believes in impactful simplicity. The game doesn’t stray too far from the conventional design choices of turn-based JRPGs it is inspired from. From exploration objectives, classic turn-based mechanics, and random encounters, it was an accurate representation of the experience it wanted to replicate, and I respect that.

Oh, and I’m strictly against the “old-fashioned and boring design choices” allegations it was splashed with back in the day. Lost Odyssey deciding to stick to conventional philosophies was by design, not a flaw. It was an adventure that embodied the glory days of turn-based JRPGs, and I do not consider that boring. Random encounters and “slow” combat mechanics were not out of place.

In a nutshell, Lost Odyssey was a brilliant JRPG and a highly creative adventure with a masterclass plot and character development. It’s still one of my favorite games on the Xbox 360. 

Lost Odyssey is one of those games that always have me in complete tears! Absolutely incredible game ❤️
byu/BillyJohnBob88 ingaymers

Turn-Based JRPGs Deserve More Love

Lost Odyssey is a reminder of a particular time when Xbox 360 JRPGs were at their peak. Lost Odyssey, Eternal Sonata, Blue Dragon, and The Last Remnant, I had an unforgettable time with these games, and still wish they return once again.

Unfortunately, the chances are still pretty slim. However, I’m glad that games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 still exist to let the world know that AAA turn-based games are not “old-fashioned.” Baldur’s Gate 3 proved it not too long ago, and now we’ve got another.

The lack of modern turn based games breaks my heart.
byu/JagoKestral inJRPG

Thus, I believe it’s important that we get more big-budget turn-based JRPGs. They were once among the best adventures around, they can still be. Here’s hoping Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 fills that Lost Odyssey void in my heart, and that it paves the way for more such games.