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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 ≼| OT |≽ La Belle Fantaisie

Got a late start and haven't read all 36 pages so sorry if I'm just repeating things others have said.

I'm neck deep into Act 2 right now and I've really enjoyed the game thus far but the more I play the more frustrated I get.

With every party member having their own unique mechanic you have to micromanage plus having to manage everyone's AP, multiple types of parries, and the whole block/parry system being different for each individual enemy, I feel like the game is trying to do too much at once.

It's funny because I never felt overwhelmed with Persona games which, arguably, have far more micromanagement but for some reason the combination of things in Expedition 33 are beginning to wear on me.

It's still a solid 8/10 for me so far (and Square Enix could take a whole lotta notes from this).
 
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With every party member having their own unique mechanic you have to micromanage plus having to manage everyone's AP, multiple types of parries, and the whole block/parry system being different for each individual enemy, I feel like the game is trying to do too much at once.

It's funny because I never felt overwhelmed with Persona games which, arguably, have far more micromanagement but for some reason the combination of things in Expedition 33 are beginning to wear on me.
I kind of felt this too, but I think it's the game's way of telling you that your builds are wrong. I personally found that when I took the time to set up my character's skills to compliment each other and have synergy, this became far less of an issue. For example, both Lune and Maelle are easy to spec for Fire builds (Maelle can make enemies weak to fire, Lune can stack fire) and I had that rounded out by giving my third party member pictos and luminas that gave their free aim burn stacks (combined with things that gave them extra AP). For me, when I felt like my team was actually moving as a team (as opposed to each character just doing their own thing) then feeling of tedious micromanagement went away.

Of course, your individual results may vary.
 
I'm probably getting this today (FOMO BABY)

Any 3070 impressions? I just want to be able to run it with a stable 60fps @1080p

I run it at 1440P with my RTX 3070 and a AMD Ryzen 5 5600. It's constant 60fps save for some odd scenarios where it may dip. Also, cutscenes are locked to 30 fps and sometimes the game may stutter for half a second or so during cutscenes (which is apparently related to the game itself). So, you're in for a treat :D
 
Finished Act I
I'm confused and intrigued.

Game is still a banger. You do see the lower budget/smaller team stuff show up every so often. I'm terrible at directions and orienting myself in video games. So lack of an objective marker or area map has been rough for me at times, I back track way too much. Just less play testing than other higher budget games, and a few qol things I've maybe taken for granted in other games, are missing.

These are miniscule complaints though. If this isn't in my top 3 GOTY then it was an all timer year for games.
 
Got a late start and haven't read all 36 pages so sorry if I'm just repeating things others have said.

I'm neck deep into Act 2 right now and I've really enjoyed the game thus far but the more I play the more frustrated I get.

With every party member having their own unique mechanic you have to micromanage plus having to manage everyone's AP, multiple types of parries, and the whole block/parry system being different for each individual enemy, I feel like the game is trying to do too much at once.

It's funny because I never felt overwhelmed with Persona games which, arguably, have far more micromanagement but for some reason the combination of things in Expedition 33 are beginning to wear on me.

It's still a solid 8/10 for me so far (and Square Enix could take a whole lotta notes from this).
It did feel overwhelming and frustrating at times having to memorize every single elemental weakness, skill set up, and parry timing, yes. Even on the easier settings, which even acg pointed out in his review.
 
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geez the pontifice sulyvahn fight is amazing and the ost...

Stick Around Bob Ross GIF by Originals
 
Okay dude. I just fought a rock optional boss that did like 10+ aoe attacks in a row with tons of health. I could probably do it with dodge, but im not wasting 30+ min on this one. Coming back later :D

Oh, you mean Grosse Tete right? If that's the case, there are a few optional bosses throughout the game that actually have their own rules, and this is one of them. The fight isn't that long. If you're interested in spoilers for that particular boss:
You just need to survive all the way until he has bounced 24 times (which happens on his 12th turn). On the turn after, he dies.

For the other optional bosses that have their own rules, it's things like you can only damage the boss through counter attacks, or they don't take any real damage until you've ruptured them (this is what happens with Mimes) and so on.

And about optional content, I'd caution those coming now to the game to not get *too crazy* with doing optional content or you risk vastly overpowering the story bosses (unless that's what you want to do). I mention this because everyone's praising the fight with the first boss of Act II (Dualliste) and I didn't get to see any of the awesomeness because I roflstomped him before he had three turns in my save :messenger_grinning_sweat:
 
Oh, you mean Grosse Tete right? If that's the case, there are a few optional bosses throughout the game that actually have their own rules, and this is one of them. The fight isn't that long. If you're interested in spoilers for that particular boss:
You just need to survive all the way until he has bounced 24 times (which happens on his 12th turn). On the turn after, he dies.

For the other optional bosses that have their own rules, it's things like you can only damage the boss through counter attacks, or they don't take any real damage until you've ruptured them (this is what happens with Mimes) and so on.

And about optional content, I'd caution those coming now to the game to not get *too crazy* with doing optional content or you risk vastly overpowering the story bosses (unless that's what you want to do). I mention this because everyone's praising the fight with the first boss of Act II (Dualliste) and I didn't get to see any of the awesomeness because I roflstomped him before he had three turns in my save :messenger_grinning_sweat:
lol yeah i killed that boss without seeing all his movesets :D
 
Elaborate?

I tried several different combinations including going two turns with two base attacks, but its really hard to get to even rank B on the first turn.

The way I set it up works in Free Aim stuff too. It's still a work in progress but I have it like:

Base Attack Hits Twice
Base Attack Gives an Extra Turn
Each Hit of Base Attack Gives +1 AP
Base Attack Applies Defenceless
Base Attack Applies Powerful
Then some buffs on Free Aim Shots too (which are usually cheap Lumina, can't remember exactly)

I can usually pop off 3 Free Aim shots, base attack x2, then another 3 free aim shots gets me to at least B rank, sometimes even A rank with decent AP leftover. Then I can use the skill that buffs depending on the # of free aim shots used that turn, or the big time damage one if I have enough AP / got lucky with critical hits, or just hit again with base attack x2. Even if it doesn't kill the enemy it usually gets me to S rank for the next turn.
 
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The way I set it up works in Free Aim stuff too. It's still a work in progress but I have it like:

Base Attack Hits Twice
Base Attack Gives an Extra Turn
Each Hit of Base Attack Gives +1 AP
Base Attack Applies Defenceless
Base Attack Applies Powerful
Then some buffs on Free Aim Shots too (which are usually cheap Lumina, can't remember exactly)

I can usually pop off 3 Free Aim shots, base attack x2, then another 3 free aim shots gets me to at least B rank, sometimes even A rank with decent AP leftover. Then I can use the skill that buffs depending on the # of free aim shots used that turn, or the big time damage one if I have enough AP / got lucky with critical hits, or just hit again with base attack x2. Even if it doesn't kill the enemy it usually gets me to S rank for the next turn.
thanks. i never thought to do free aim after using my first base attack. interesting.
 
It did feel overwhelming and frustrating at times having to memorize every single elemental weakness, skill set up, and parry timing, yes. Even on the easier settings, which even acg pointed out in his review.
i think what this game could use is a load out system that allow you to switch builds on the fly. Like a lightning attack build and a fire attack build etc, that would have been really useful.
 
Finished ACT II and now I understand why ending is not for everyone. Almost everything I thought how the game would end turned out to be wrong :pie_roffles: I don't like these types of twists usually, but I'm ok with how Sandfall delivered.
Moreover, if I'm right that the sequel would be in that opposite style, the art could be even better.
 
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So still early in the game but Maelle absolutely destroys compared to Lune and Gustav so far.

Also, DEF seems a lot more impactful for survival than VIT?
 
Lune feels like a bit of a deadweight outside of healing. There are only so many abilities you can equip that will guarantee a hard hit due to elemental weaknesses. Mayhem is good though.
 
I'm guessing I'm nearly the end of act 1 I've started to switch in the Merv or whatever her name is with the cards. She feels like she has potential to be the biggest hitter but needs longer fights to stack and get going. She seems shit for trash mobs
 
Lune feels like a bit of a deadweight outside of healing. There are only so many abilities you can equip that will guarantee a hard hit due to elemental weaknesses. Mayhem is good though.
I use the weapon that gives you a constant 2 stains and that has worked well for me

EDIT: There's also a weapon that gives you a random stain for every ranged attack, so you can build those up quickly with like some ap picto/lumins
 
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Just wanted to say ranged attacks are very powerful especially stacked with the right pictos/lumins, do not neglect ranged attacks, great for stacking fire debuffs and marking.
Also most of you that have been playing for awhile should already know, but any enemy that has like a glowing orb on their body is a weak point, destroy that with a ranged attack for big damage.
 
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Tbf compared to the united states every country with legit democratic elections is woke and radical left.
This is simply not true. The US is the source of wokeness, it emanates from here. Most of the rest of the developed world has a much stronger tradition of class-first left politics stemming from social democracy and communism. In the US the workers' movement was crushed by the Red Scare and the assault on the unions. Wokeness arises out of that specific context, as an alternative to class-based politics in a society that has no concept of class consciousness.
 
Tbf compared to the united states every country with legit democratic elections is woke and radical left.
Lmao I'm not trying to be insulting this is what someone who absolutely knows nothing about the world would say

Also this is politics LOL

The rule about no politics in GAF is clear and everyone tries to break it every day???
 
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lol I kept getting LOST today trying to find old luminaire think I spent 3 hours turning around in circles grinding up levels on accident
 
geez the pontifice sulyvahn fight is amazing and the ost...

Stick Around Bob Ross GIF by Originals


I beat this guy on first try a few hours ago. Amazing feeling.

This game is fantastique. The attention to detail put into every aspect of it is top notch.

I'm amazed by its writing and storytelling as well. Imagine HZD with Maelle instead of Aloy. It would improve the game x10.
 
I beat this guy on first try a few hours ago. Amazing feeling.

This game is fantastique. The attention to detail put into every aspect of it is top notch.

I'm amazed by its writing and storytelling as well. Imagine HZD with Maelle instead of Aloy. It would improve the game x10.
i m stuck at him for an hour cause i want to do a no damage run and i keep messing some of his attacks

Edit: ah fuck, missed one attack

zhKYrXg.png
 
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Yo, out the gate, l ain't even leave Lumière yet. My kids came sliding out their rooms in pajamas, bare feet, cause I yelled "WHOEVER this bitch is, I'M ON HER ASS FOR THIS!!"

Caught me on the couch lookin like this nigga
hjx2xDn.gif
 
Yo, out the gate, l ain't even leave Lumière yet. My kids came sliding out their rooms in pajamas, bare feet, cause I yelled "WHOEVER this bitch is, I'M ON HER ASS FOR THIS!!"

Caught me on the couch lookin like this nigga
hjx2xDn.gif

They really crafted the perfect intro to get you up to speed, emotionally invested, and completely on board for killing DAT BITCH
 
lol I kept getting LOST today trying to find old luminaire think I spent 3 hours turning around in circles grinding up levels on accident
Happens to me all the time. So much that I think that not giving us any mini map or any way to navigate in the areas was intentional. A compass would've been nice though.
 
i m stuck at him for an hour cause i want to do a no damage run and i keep messing some of his attacks

Edit: ah fuck, missed one attack

zhKYrXg.png

For Mid Game you need to actually make specialized builds

Have fun obliterating everything:




 
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Pretty sure I'm at the Act 2 boss (no guides first playthrough, ever) so I left the stage before engaging to take on every single optional enemy/boss I'd previously found but was way underleveled to take on. Think I got them all, discovered a handful of items I'd missed despite thorough exploration too.

Chromatic Chappelier was probably the toughest, Rock Bro was hilarious. The only one I couldn't beat was the giant in the water, this fucker is a menace, maybe once I can do more than 9999 DMG per hit.

Lune, Maelle and Sciel are the A Team, I've got crazy DMG picto synergies on all 3 and it's a beautiful thing. Team B has swooped in multiple times though once the ladies fell in battle to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, "we continue" 👌
 
Finished act 1

Sad Doctor Who GIF

Holy shit, didn't think the game would go there, at least not at this point in the story.

This is right up there with some of the most memorable and iconic deaths in gaming.

It's been years since I've been this invested in the plot of an RPG. Can't wait to see where it goes next
 
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