Expedition 33

[Cayman]

Now that the game has been out for a few months, it's time to talk about it. Please, keep spoilers minimum for those who might not have played the game yet, and for those of you in that category: play this game!

I think this is a contender for game of the year, easily. A new studio's first work, and one of the best RPGs in recent memory. As traditional JRPGs go action-oriented, it was really cool to get something that's straight up turn based, with the challenge coming from the dodging/parries that (for better or worse) get compared to Dark Souls.

The technical competence is impressive; the game is beautiful, balanced, tight, and still gives the player the feeling of free exploration. I've seen complaints about the lack of a minimap, quest log and markers, etc, but I feel like that's both a throwback to JRPGs of old and a conscious choice to make this game stand out in the modern age. It's nice feeling lost sometimes.

I won't comment too much on the story to avoid spoilers. As someone who's both finished the game myself and watched my boyfriend beat the secret bosses for additional insight into the narrative, there's a lot to chew on.

And the music...goddamn. The soundtrack reached #1 on international classical music charts the week it released, and is a shockingly good oeuvre from a brand-new artist. I've beaten the game but I still can't stop listening to it, from it's more subtle moments to the epic orchestrations of major bosses.



I'd love to know your thoughts on this game, and if you haven't played it, what would encourage you. I think it breaks new ground by being a throwback; while so many other RPGs are going action and open-world, E33 really feels like an old game with all its jank and exploits and secrets that you have to find out for yourself.

[JarylGaren]

that reminds me that I still need to continue with Clair Obscur eventually! I got it on Steam, and my playtime shows 7.3 hours already, but then I just kinda got in the mood for other games and I'm kinda waiting for them to add an option to make the game less blurry.
because ngl, even though the game looks pretty, it also looks pretty blurry, tbh, which does detract a bit from the experience for me.

As traditional JRPGs go action-oriented, it was really cool to get something that's straight up turn based, with the challenge coming from the dodging/parries that (for better or worse) get compared to Dark Souls.

I still think it's way more comparable to the Mario & Luigi games in that regard, but of course every games media goes for the Dark Souls comparison, because Dark Souls has basically become shorthand for "extremely tough and reflex-based" online, it feels like.

[Loosf]

Definitely my game of the year.
The best goddamn soundtrack I have experienced since Nier.

A bit tainted tho, since they did have that ai generated placeholder with the newspapers. Bleghhhh