Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - DF Review - PS5/PS5 Pro/Xbox Series X|S - An Exceptional Achievement

Summary

Clare Obscure's *Expedition 33* is a highly praised turn-based RPG that blends beautiful Unreal Engine 5 graphics with engaging combat. The game features unique and fantastical environments, immersive battle sequences, and solid narrative pacing. While the PS5 and Series X versions deliver impressive visual quality with stable performance, the Series S suffers from significant downgrades. Despite minor graphical issues and a tough difficulty curve, *Expedition 33* is a visually stunning and captivating RPG, recommended for fans of the genre.

Takeaways

• 😀 Expedition 33 has received critical acclaim, becoming one of the top-rated turn-based RPGs in recent years.
• 🎮 The game showcases impressive graphics, with great art, ray tracing, and Unreal Engine 5 at its core, delivering stunning visuals.
• 🌍 The game offers a variety of visually distinct environments, from conventional city streets to fantastical, underwater coraline settings and a crimson forest populated by mechanical dolls.
• 💡 Unreal Engine 5's key rendering features—Lumen, Nanite, and Virtual Shadow Maps—are used to enhance lighting, shadow quality, and asset detail throughout the game.
• 🌟 Despite some minor issues with lighting and shadow rendering, the game's visuals remain top-notch and often rival AAA games despite being developed by a small team of 30 people.
• 🕹️ The turn-based combat is visually engaging, featuring fiery particle effects, slick animations, and smooth menus, making it one of the most visually dynamic turn-based systems ever seen.
• 📉 Performance mode runs at a steady 60fps, but it sacrifices some visual quality, particularly with lighting and shadow maps, while quality mode maintains a locked 30fps.
• 🖥️ The game is visually similar across PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X, but Series S experiences noticeable graphical downgrades, particularly in reflections and lighting.
• 🎬 Some cutscenes suffer from poor FMV quality and inconsistent frame rates, especially during the first few hours of gameplay, but the overall narrative and presentation remain solid.
• ⚖️ Series S offers only a 30fps mode with reduced visual quality, making it the weakest option in terms of graphical fidelity and smooth gameplay compared to other platforms.
• 🎶 Expedition 33 features a well-composed soundtrack with over 8 hours of music, enhancing the game’s atmosphere and minimizing repetition during gameplay.

Q & A

What is the core graphical engine behind *Expedition 33*?

The game uses Unreal Engine 5 (UE5), which provides advanced rendering features such as Lumen, Nanite, and Virtual Shadow Maps (VSSM). These technologies contribute to the game's impressive lighting, reflections, and shadowing effects.

How does the game's visual fidelity vary between different console modes?

On PS5 Pro, the game offers two modes: Quality Mode (30 fps with 1440p resolution) and Performance Mode (60 fps with 1080p resolution). The PS5 version is similar but with slightly lower resolution. On Series X, it is comparable to the PS5 Pro, while Series S sees significant graphical downgrades, including reduced reflections and global illumination.

What are the main visual advantages of Unreal Engine 5 used in *Expedition 33*?

The main visual advantages are the advanced lighting system (Lumen), high-quality mesh rendering without LOD popping (Nanite), and accurate shadowing through Virtual Shadow Maps. These features help the game maintain consistent visual quality, with smooth reflections and realistic environmental lighting.

How does *Expedition 33* handle reflections on different surfaces?

Reflections in *Expedition 33* use Lumen, and while they are effective on smooth surfaces, they can appear as blobby or imprecise on rougher surfaces. The reflections are generally diffused to avoid noticeable inconsistencies.

Are there any notable performance issues or limitations in the game?

While the game generally performs well, there are some minor issues. In Quality Mode, performance is stable at 30 fps, but cutscenes can experience frame rate instability. In Performance Mode, the frame rate is mostly stable at 60 fps, but occasional dips may occur during intense moments. The Series S version faces substantial performance compromises, such as no 60 fps mode and degraded graphics.

How does *Expedition 33* balance its narrative and gameplay?

The game strikes a balance by delivering a concise narrative within the first hour, followed by well-paced story beats. The RPG's narrative is effective without being overly long, focusing on delivering a strong experience in a more streamlined fashion compared to other, more ponderous RPGs like *Persona 5*.

What are the key gameplay mechanics in *Expedition 33*?

The gameplay is centered around turn-based combat, with a blend of strategy and action. Players must use timing-based elements for parries and dodges, and the game features complex ability sets and combo systems that vary between characters.

What makes the battle sequences in *Expedition 33* stand out visually?

The battle sequences in *Expedition 33* are highly engaging, featuring fiery particle effects, bold camera movements, and excellent attack animations. The slickly designed menus and Persona-inspired elements further elevate the visual experience, making it one of the most visually stunning turn-based combat systems seen in recent years.

What is the performance of *Expedition 33* on Series S?

On Series S, the game runs at a consistent 30 fps, but with significant graphical compromises. Reflections are downgraded, and global illumination (GI) is simplified, affecting the overall visual experience. Additionally, shadowed regions exhibit unusual light artifacts, which were fixed by restarting the game.

How does the game's resolution and image quality vary across different consoles?

On PS5 Pro, the game runs at 1440p in Quality Mode and 1080p in Performance Mode, with both being upscaled. On base PS5, resolutions are slightly lower. Series X shows similar resolution ranges to the PS5, but Series S operates at 900p, with noticeably worse image quality due to a lower upscale target and simplified graphical features.