Latest news with #ClairObscur
Digital Trends
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Can we all just be normal about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for a second?
Whether or not it actually wins the award come December, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the Game of the Year. No 2025 release has sparked so many long-lasting conversations usually reserved for tentpole releases like Grand Theft Auto or Zelda. It has been gaming's main character for months, standing in as a shining example of what a modern video game should rise to. Yet for all the mainstream conversations that it has generated, so few of them actually seem interested in Clair Obscur. Instead, Sandfall Interactive's critically acclaimed RPG has been submitted as evidence in on-going litigations against what gamers paint as a stale industry in need of new blood. While there are meaningful conversations to have about what game studios can learn from Clair Obscur's success, the way that it has been weaponized and reduced to a piece of confirmation bias in any landscape-shaping argument it fits into leaves me hungry for more substantial dissections of the games we love. Recommended Videos It was clear that Clair Obscur was going to be a big talking point when it launched in April to a wave of glowing reviews. Critics and fans hailed it as a generational RPG that revitalized turn-based combat, delivered an emotional story, and crafted an astonishing original world. 'Game of the Year' talk came fast, which is par for the course when a new game breaks the 90 mark on Metacritic. But the watercooler chats didn't stop there. Soon, mainstream conversations yearned to place it in a broader gaming landscape. Its originality was painted as a shining light in a sea of perceived 'AAA slop.' It wasn't just a good game, but a blueprint for how a boring industry could be saved. Even this very site opined about that immediately following its release. That over-the-top idea only ballooned as the months went on. Sandfall Interactive's slim team size became a talking point. Articles popped up that praised the studio for creating such an accomplishment with only 30 people — a figure that was quickly debunked once critics started adding up all the external developers involved. That didn't stop the disingenuous factoid from setting the stage at Summer Game Fest, where host Geoff Keighly used the number to sell the idea that he was presenting viewers the future of video games. Tons of trailers for smaller games followed, with Keighly often pointing out how many people made them as an indication of quality. My growing frustration with that trend reached a boil this week thanks to a different debate that Clair Obscur has been unwittingly roped into. For years now, some RPG enthusiasts have lamented the death of turn-based games. That anxiety seemed to come most from franchises like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest experimenting with real-time action. Clair Obscur is a loud and proud turn-based game, which made it the perfect spoiler candidate for an industry abandoning a classic way of play. Never mind the fact that turn-based gaming hasn't gone away. Octopath Traveller 2, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and Metaphor: ReFantazio (a game that released just last year to similar praise) have all proved that major studios are still very much invested in the subgenre. And yet, the narrative persisted. It all came to a head during a Square Enix investors call, in which the company reaffirmed its commitment to turn-based games and acknowledged Clair Obscur's existence in the process. According to Automaton, those typical business responses were mistranslated and blown out into a larger story: Clair Obscur's success had convinced Square Enix to start making more turn-based games. Finally, the video game industry was saved. Mission accomplished! Every conversation like this is so riddled with holes that you couldn't get them across a puddle, yet they are inescapable. Fans want it to prove their long-standing theories about the video game industry right and treat its success like an irrefutable data point in every argument. It's not a new phenomenon either; this cycle tends to happen with lots of both successes and failures. Baldur's Gate 3 inspired a wave of talking points about what players actually wanted from games. That line of thinking was met with backlash from developers who cautioned against using a very specific win as a crusade. Black Myth: Wukong became a rejection of Western ideology. Concord was viewed as proof that live service games are dead. I both understand where this comes from, because I'm as guilty of it as anyone. It's fun to search for meta-narratives in the things we care about. I'm a football fan (go Pats) and I love nothing more than creating a story out of a Super Bowl matchup. This year's clash between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles became more exciting to me when I viewed it as the Chiefs needing the win to finally prove they were every bit as good as the Tom Brady era Patriots, but they'd have to beat the giant killers who previously thwarted Bill Belichick at the big game. That added stakes to a matchup I wasn't invested in, even if it was imaginary. This sort of meta-breakdown of video games follows a similar line of thinking. Sandfall Interactive becomes the Eagles circa 2018 in this story. As harmless as that can be in small quantities, its forced nature has become unbearable when trying to navigate conversations around Clair Obscur. It's not enough for it to be a great game. It has to be a masterpiece. It has to be a counterpoint to everything we don't like. It has to be the savior of the RPG genre. What's ironic is that none of those hollow platitudes actually tell us anything about the game itself. Engagement with what Clair Obscur actually has to tell us has taken a backseat to imperfect armchair analysis. That's a shame, because there's meat on that bone. Clair Obscur asks us to think about how we, as a species, push on in the face of mass grief. It's a story of sacrifice, where expedition after expedition fights in the face of extinction. Many die for that cause, but their sacrifices aren't in vain. Each one helps the next party get a little closer, asking us to rethink success and failure in the context of long-term collective action. It's a thematic cousin to Death Stranding and its sequel, games that stress the importance of human connection as a means of making the world easier to navigate in times of crisis. Perhaps that's just as much a reason why Clair Obscur is resonating with players as the fact that it's turn-based or made by an indie studio. There's a familiar trauma in it, as the fictional Gommage and its impact on the world can be connected to the Covid-19 pandemic. We just went through – and are still going through – a period of mass suffering. Those wounds are fresh. I still remember seeing the pop-up morgues on the streets of Brooklyn. I remember watching the infection rates fall and then spike again, ripping any hope I had for an ending from me. I remember how hopeless it all felt. But I also remember how many people put in hard work to stop it together. Even if some people refused to do their part, many masked, stayed home, kept six feet apart, and anything else they could to stop the spread. It was a collective effort built on selfless sacrifice. I feel all that fueling Clair Obscur's emotional resonance. It begs to be discussed, because what is the point of something being a generational classic if we take nothing else from it? One of the only meaningful conversations I've had about Clair Obscur came before it was out. I had been playing it alongside our reviewer, Tomas Franzese, at the time and we dissected its themes together in isolation. We both cooled on it significantly in Act 3, taking issue with its sudden pivot into a meta-reflection on the nature of art and its role as an escape from grief. It felt like a betrayal on its more human focus earlier on; a needless swerve into a piece of art evaluating its own importance. It was a memorable discussion that helped crystallize where I felt Clair Obscur worked best and where it ultimately fell apart. I hope that discussions like that become more common as the hype settles down. Just as I felt turned off by the 'art about art' pivot in Act 3, I am similarly bored by the tedious talk about how Clair Obscur is changing the industry. None of it does anything to honor Sandfall Interactive's vision, even if it is designed to gas the studio up. Real engagement comes from critics like Ian Walker and Kenneth Shepard, who respect the game enough to interpret what it has to say. It comes like podcasts like Girl Mode that aren't afraid to criticize where the story is ineffective. If you love Clair Obscur, really talk about it. Not what it represents, but the actual game in front of you. If you find that you don't have nearly as much to say about it as you do its influence, maybe it's worth questioning whether you love the game or just the idea of it.
Geek Culture
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
Daredevil's Charlie Cox Responds To 'Clair Obscur
Amid the hype for triple-A titles, it's always nice to have the underdog fight against the odds and find their place among the big boys. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a dark-horse favourite that has outshone some of the competition, selling two million copies in 12 days, and then, coincidentally, 3.3 million copies in 33 days. Suffice it to say, the RPG is in the running for Game of the Year, led by a strong ensemble cast that includes Charlie Cox, best known for his portrayal of Marvel superhero Daredevil. In light of the overwhelming praise, the Daredevil: Born Again star admits to feeling 'like a total fraud', which, well, isn't quite the expected response, but there's a reason for that: he hasn't clocked in a single minute of gameplay, as shared in a clip circulating social media. 'And people keep saying how amazing it is and congratulations and I feel like a total fraud' CHARLIE 😂 #Expedition33 #ClairObscurExpedition33 — Ann 👻 (@bursinxmurdock) June 22, 2025 'Apparently, the game is awesome — I'm not a gamer, I have no idea. I haven't played it,' said the actor during a panel at Washington State Summer Con, adding that he recorded most of his lines in about four hours as part of a voiceover gig set up by his agent. 'People keep saying how amazing it is and congratulations, and I feel like a total fraud,' Cox continued. 'But I'm so thrilled for the company, I'm so thrilled it did really well.' Talk about maximum aura points — four hours is lightning fast! Cox voices Gustave in Sandfall Interactive's debut entry, joined by Jennifer English ( Baldur's Gate 3 ), Andy Serkis ( The Lord of the Rings ), Ben Starr ( Final Fantasy XVI ), Kirsty Rider ( The Sandman ), Shala Nyx ( The Old Guard ), and more. The story follows a group of Expeditioners who have set out to destroy an entity called the Paintress, who paints a number on a monolith every year that dooms everyone of that age to death. Moving forward, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to explore new content, accessibility features, and 'all sorts of bits and bobs', alongside expanded localisation options. 'While we don't have specific timelines or confirmed languages to share just yet, we wanted to let you know that it's very much on our radar,' said the team then. Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth's theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia's greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Charlie Cox says he feels like fraud after voicing Gustave in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Charlie Cox, best known for portraying Marvel's Daredevil, has modestly dismissed praise for his role in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, despite the game receiving critical acclaim and becoming one of 2025's standout releases. Charlie Cox talks Clair Obscur Expedition 33! — 😈DD (@ChereNatalija) June 22, 2025 Speaking during a panel at Washington State Summer Con on June 21, Cox admitted he hasn't played the game and felt unworthy of the recognition he's received for voicing Gustave, the main protagonist. 'Apparently the game is awesome. I'm not a gamer, I have no idea, I haven't played it,' Cox said. 'I was in the studio for four hours, maybe… I feel like a total fraud.' The game, developed by Sandfall Interactive—a small studio with big ambitions—features an impressive voice cast, including Cox, Andy Serkis, Ben Starr, and Jennifer English. Despite the short recording sessions, performances were widely praised. Cox emphasized that he didn't mean to diminish the project's success, adding, 'I'm so thrilled for the company… so thrilled it did really well.' Other cast members, however, praised the unique and streamlined recording experience. In a behind-the-scenes video by Skill Up, both Starr and English highlighted the team's efficiency. 'We recorded so quickly,' English shared. 'It was the fastest game I've ever done as far as, like, the lines per hour.' Starr echoed the sentiment, noting the director Guillaume Broche's clarity of vision. 'You turn up, and we do something, and Guillaume would go 'that one.' He knew exactly what he wanted.' While Cox may feel undeserving, the combination of seasoned voice talent and strong direction helped Clair Obscur resonate with players and critics alike, solidifying its place among the year's top games. Despite his humility, Cox's portrayal of Gustave contributed to the title's emotional depth and narrative impact.
Pink Villa
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Charlie Cox Says He ‘Feels Like a Total Fraud' Amid Downplaying His Voice Role in Clair Obscur, Details Inside
Daredevil star Charlie Cox gained fame in the industry with his brilliant role in the Marvel show. The actor is heavily lauded, and the fans have been looking for more of the movie star on the screen. Amid the rising popularity, Cox candidly spoke about his role in the 2025 hit game, Clair Obscur. In conversation with a media portal during one of the recent interviews, the actor spoke about how he isn't quite proud of his voice role in the game. Cox also went on to reveal that he hasn't played the game either and feels like a fraud being a part of it. What is Clair Obscur about? Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the most popular games of the year. The video game is developed by a young and unknown group of people who go by the name Sandfall. The visuals of the game are standout, and the interactive part has gotten more people to download it on their devices. As for Charlie Cox, the actor voiced the main character of Gustave, who was the focal point of the title. Speaking of whether he has tried playing the game or not, the movie star shared at Comic Con, 'Apparently the game is awesome. I am not a gamer; I have no idea. I haven't played it.' Despite not enjoying his role in the game himself, he is glad that the game did well. Charlie Cox's thoughts on his voice role in Clair Obscur The MCU star talked about his role as Gustave in Clair Obscur. The actor revealed, 'My agent asked me if I wanted to go and do a voice-over. I was in the studio for 4 hours… maybe." He added, "People keep saying how amazing it is and congratulations and I feel like a total fraud. I am so thrilled for the company; I am so thrilled it did really well.' On the contrary, the fans have been enjoying the game and Cox's voiceover, which goes well with the visuals. The video game went on to transition from 'yet another RPG trying to change things' to 'Oh my gosh! This game is incredible!' On the work front, Charlie Cox will return to the Marvel show's season 2 as Daredevil/Matt Murdock.
Forbes
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Switch 2 ‘Zelda' Dethrones ‘Expedition 33' On Metacritic, Which Doesn't Count
Tears/Expedition 33 The Nintendo Switch 2's The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom made headlines yesterday when it officially became the highest-scored game on Metacritic of 2025, dethroning Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, probably the most significant GOTY contender to date. I'm here to say no, that doesn't count. While this is may be subjective, I'm here to give my position that a re-release that is mainly just a graphical upgrade of an already-existing game does not deserve the actual honor of pretending its 95 is actually a true toppler of Expedition 33's 93. And now, Breath of the Wild has just become tied at 93. Does Tears of the Kingdom itself deserve its 96 on Metacritic for its initial release? I'd argue that's debatable, but overlooking that, at least it's an actual game release. Tears of the Kingdom's Switch 2 'edition' is not. Nope, sorry. Also, there's another fact being overlooked here. To get that 95 average for Tears, it's only based on nine reviews. Nine. That's four 10s, a 9.5, three 90s and an 80. That's it. And the tied-for-second Switch 2 Breath of the Wild has 11 reviews. Most major releases of games will end up anywhere from 50-150 scored reviews, and in this case, that very much includes Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which has 84 reviews averaged for its second-best 93 metascore (not to mention it's wildly high 9.7 user score based on 16,000 ratings). FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder The current top 10 list for the year is: I will give smaller indie games a pass on having fewer reviews given the context of their scale, but these Zelda upgrades? Get off this list. Why do I care so much? Well, I am the number one Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 defender, where that game has probably already become one of my favorites of all time. And I will not have its honor besmirched by an upgrade of a Zelda game that came out two years ago. I normally will dismiss all 'remastered' or reissued games from lists like this, and this is no exception. Remakes are a different story, but no, Expedition 33 is still on top here, I don't care what the list says. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
