Kinda Funny Gamescast: Video Game Podcast Episode: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review
Release Date: April 23, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of the Kinda Funny Gamescast, hosts Tim Gettys, Greg “GameOverGreggy” Miller, Blessing Adeoye, and Andy Cortez dive deep into their comprehensive review of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Released less than a year ago during Summer Game Fest, this indie title has garnered significant attention for its ambitious scope and unique gameplay mechanics.

First Impressions and Expectations (00:00 - 05:00)

Tim Gettys opens the discussion with excitement about finally having the chance to review Expedition 33, highlighting the initial skepticism due to the game's small development team and the ambitious use of Unreal Engine 5. He shares his personal enthusiasm, mentioning, "I absolutely adore this thing so much." (05:00).

Barrett Courtney admits he was a vocal doubter initially, concerned about the game’s ability to live up to its inspirations like Final Fantasy 8, Persona, and Twitchy action games. However, after playing, he concedes, "This is a 9 out of 10 amazing game." (06:56).

Gameplay Mechanics and Combat System (06:54 - 25:00)

The hosts delve into the game's turn-based combat system, which uniquely blends traditional turn-based mechanics with real-time parrying and dodging, drawing comparisons to Mario RPGs and Action RPGs.

• Barrett Courtney praises the combat's satisfaction and depth, stating, "It's like one of the most satisfying combat systems I've interacted with in a long time." (08:18).
• Andy Cortez emphasizes, "They made turn-based combat good. Finally," highlighting the innovative parry system that feels almost like a rhythm game (09:38).

However, the hosts also note areas for improvement:

• Sound Design Issues: Multiple overlapping sound effects during intense combat can be overwhelming. "Sometimes it's like goddamn gonna go deaf..." (10:01).
• Climbing and Navigation: Comparisons to Final Fantasy 7 and Kingdom Hearts are made, pointing out that the simplified climbing mechanics can sometimes feel repetitive. "It's so PS5 but feels like PS1," (19:36).

Art and Visuals (25:00 - 35:00)

The art direction of Expedition 33 receives high accolades:

• Andy Cortez declares, "Art direction wise. I can't believe or just it needs to be nominated. It's an incredibly imaginative game." (10:02).
• Tim Gettys praises the fashion sense and character design, noting, "They have a sense of art design and character design and costume design that is so next level." (16:33).

The game’s pre-rendered cutscenes face criticism for their lower resolution, which contrasts sharply with the stunning real-time graphics: "When they render pre-rendered cutscenes at 480p, it breaks immersion." (24:40).

Story and Character Development (35:00 - 55:00)

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 offers a deep narrative interwoven with moments of humor and emotion:

• Roger Pocorn shares, "The emotional moments are what brought this game up from wherever it was and then to the stratosphere." (52:26).
• Barrett Courtney highlights the authentic character interactions, comparing them to Final Fantasy 10 and emphasizing the game’s ability to balance seriousness with humor seamlessly. "There's a moment where Charlie Cox's character cracks a joke right after a heavy event." (47:35).

The friendship system is discussed, with some critique on its lack of depth compared to titles like Persona:

• Barrett Courtney mentions, "The friendship system feels very flat and doesn't significantly impact the story." (53:44).

Customization and Ability Systems (55:00 - 60:00)

A significant portion is dedicated to the game's Luminas and Pictos system, a customization framework allowing players to tailor their abilities:

• Andy Cortez explains, "Lumina is an ability, a passive... once you equip it enough, it becomes a picto for everyone to use." (36:00).
• The complexity of the system initially felt overwhelming, but became a source of enjoyment as the hosts grew accustomed to it. "Once you get the hang of what the system is, it's so cool." (37:01).

However, the hosts agree that the user interface could use improvements to better organize the extensive customization options:

• Barrett Courtney suggests, "They needed to sort abilities into defensive, offensive, support categories." (40:57).

Performance and Technical Aspects (60:00 - 75:00)

Performance is generally praised, especially on the PS5, although some minor issues are noted:

• Tim Gettys shares frustration with the lack of in-game maps and directions, which led to wasted time and frustration. "I wasted at least three hours running around looking for the same portal." (21:02).
• Andy Cortez points out, "The jumping and climbing mechanics are charmingly simple, reminiscent of classic JRPGs." (19:36).

Final Impressions and Recommendations (75:00 - 90:00)

The consensus among the hosts is overwhelmingly positive, with minor critiques that do not overshadow the game's strengths:

• Barrett Courtney concludes, "This is a fantastic game. People should absolutely pick it up this week and support this studio." (07:10).
• Roger Pocorn emphasizes the game's depth and replayability, noting how experimenting with different party compositions enhances the experience. "I was so deep in it, unlike metaphor, which was just rolling the same characters." (35:07).

Tim Gettys wraps up by highlighting the unique blend of inspirations and the game's ability to stand out as its own entity, recommending it to both RPG enthusiasts and newcomers alike. "What's unique about Expedition 33 is how it takes inspirations and rises above to be its own thing." (16:33).

Notable Quotes

• Tim Gettys (00:31): "Hold me back, Tim."
• Barrett Courtney (06:56): "This is a 9 out of 10 amazing game."
• Andy Cortez (09:38): "They made turn-based combat good. Finally."
• Roger Pocorn (11:56): "I bet against this small team and I am so happy that I was completely wrong."
• Barrett Courtney (16:33): "I think that in almost every single one of those ways it rises above to be its own thing."
• Andy Cortez (24:40): "The game is just a phenomenal experience. I want more."
• Roger Pocorn (35:21): "I had an awful moment where I'm at the second or last boss and I'm just getting destroyed."
• Tim Gettys (46:13): "This parry system is so satisfying and so fun. When you nail it, it feels so good."
• Barrett Courtney (54:11): "The friendship system feels very flat and doesn't significantly impact the story."
• Andy Cortez (37:01): "Once you get the hang of what the system is, it's so cool."
• Roger Pocorn (52:26): "The emotional moments are what brought this game up to the stratosphere."
• Tim Gettys (16:33): "The fashion sense and character design are next level."

Conclusion

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stands out in the RPG genre for its innovative combat system, stunning art direction, and deep narrative. While it has some areas that could benefit from refinement, such as sound design and user interface improvements, the overall consensus among the Kinda Funny hosts is that it is a must-play title for 2025. They commend the game's ability to blend various inspirations into a unique and engaging experience, highly recommending it to both veteran RPG players and newcomers.

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