Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PS5)

The turn based combat has a lot of nuance (builds are very customisable). There is also Sekiro style parry and dodge mechanics that provide a good level of challenge.Amazing soundtrack (still on repeat for me) and a wonderfully creative art style.The characters are well written and performed. You will become invested in their stories, which really go places and put you through the emotional wringer. The real challenge is not ugly crying repeatedly.A game that will stay with you long after you are done playing (like the older JRPGs that are clear inspirations here). Worth every penny.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a breathtaking love letter to the golden age of RPGs, wrapped in a bold, modern package. From the moment the game begins, you're drawn into a world where phenomenal music breathes life into every moment — a soaring, atmospheric score that evokes both emotion and wonder, perfectly complementing the game’s themes and story beats.The turn-based combat is sharp, inventive, and refreshingly interactive. Rather than passively watching the enemy’s turn, you're involved in defending and reacting, adding a layer of skill that keeps encounters engaging and dynamic. It’s deeply satisfying and reminiscent of classic systems while introducing its own unique flair.Fans of older RPGs will find plenty of respectful nods to classics like Final Fantasy. From subtle visual cues and thematic echoes to the sense of grand, character-driven storytelling, the influence is clear — yet Expedition 33 never feels derivative. It honours its inspirations while carving out a strong identity of its own.The story is truly exceptional, with well-written characters and twists that come at just the right moments to keep you guessing. It strikes a rare balance between emotional depth and thrilling plot development, ensuring you're hooked right up to the end.Importantly, it’s not a bloated 60-hour grind. Instead, it delivers a tightly woven experience that respects your time while still offering rich replayability.In short, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a modern RPG classic in the making — a game that draws from the past, dazzles in the present, and will be remembered long into the future.

About 12 hours in and so far it’s superb.Had preordered this which I rarely do and it hasn’t disappointed. Gorgeous graphics, interesting story, excellent combat. A special mention should also go to the music which is brilliant.It’s quickly becoming my game of the year so far!

If you like the classic RPGs of old, this is a must buy. Wonderful characters, great combat and an enchanting and very different story.

FF7 combat with top visuals and an amazing story and soundtrack

Brilliant. Excellent story, music, graphics and gameplay.

it has such a unique atmosphere and artwork that makes it easy to get lost in the game. The gameplay is so fun

The game is beautiful, the story is compelling but the difficulty optimisation is absolutely terrible. Easy mode makes the entire game trivial and combat unejoyable and medium (the intended difficulty) means that most enemies will kill you in several shots or one combo if you fail to block or dodge it. It's a shame cause it has so much potential but for me this just completely ruins the game and is making me not want to continue playing it.