Clair Obscur’s Level Design Could Take Inspiration from Final Fantasy

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is gradually becoming one of the most anticipated RPGs set to launch in 2025. Brought to life by Sandfall Interactive and with Kepler Interactive as the publisher, this game cleverly fuses elements of turn-based combat with real-time play, drawing inspiration from popular titles like Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey, and Xenoblade Chronicles. The game’s unique environment, reminiscent of Belle Epoque France, offers players a hauntingly beautiful world overshadowed by the Paintress, an ominous figure who marks one age group for doom each year. With its strong narrative drive and captivating visuals, the game’s linear design has sparked comparisons to Final Fantasy 10 and 13—two titles renowned for their distinct approaches to linearity.

Early looks into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 suggest it will deliver a tightly woven story-driven progression. The success of this approach might hinge on how well it can strike a balance with its linear design. Final Fantasy 10 showcased that with clever backtracking, hidden passages, and meaningful exploration, a linear RPG could still feel vast and engaging. On the flip side, Final Fantasy 13 struggled with overly restrictive paths and limited player freedom for most of the game. Should Expedition 33 incorporate the strengths of Final Fantasy 10 and steer clear of the shortcomings observed in Final Fantasy 13, it has the potential to offer a linear RPG experience that’s both compelling and liberating.

Reflecting on the world-building seen in Final Fantasy 10, one of its standout features was its well-crafted world. Spira was intricately designed to feel alive and expansive, thanks to its array of biomes, diverse cultures, and interactive settings. The contrast between locations like Besaid Island and Macalania kept players engaged, as they could return to previous areas with newfound abilities, hunt for hidden treasures, and delve into optional side quests. Even as the main narrative stayed on a linear path, the world felt larger and more engaging.

For Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to achieve a similar effect, it must leverage its visually breathtaking world, filled with artful landscapes and painterly environments, by providing more than just stunning visuals. Incorporating secret areas, rich interactions with NPCs steeped in lore, and optional challenges could add layers of depth to the game. This could turn the player’s journey into a dynamic adventure rather than a straightforward march from one plot point to another. If the game can incorporate elements such as revisiting previously locked locations or using environmental storytelling to entice players to explore, it might capture the immersive essence that made Final Fantasy 10 so memorable.

The combat system in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 also seems to take a leaf from Final Fantasy 10’s book. Much like the Conditional Turn-Based (CTB) system used in Final Fantasy 10, Expedition 33 implements a turn-based setup where turn order is crucial for crafting strategy. Knowing when characters and enemies will act allows players to make strategic decisions, like disrupting an enemy’s turn or creating powerful combo moves.

This intricate combat system ensures linear RPGs remain engaging despite limited exploration opportunities. In Final Fantasy 10, the dynamic aspect of combat as players swapped party members in battles and adjusted strategies according to enemy vulnerabilities added to the game’s appeal. If Expedition 33 can introduce comparable depth through character combinations, dodge and parry tactics, and skill-based mechanics, it could keep its battles engaging from start to finish.

A major point of criticism for Final Fantasy 13 was its sheer linearity. Unlike Final Fantasy 10, which allowed for some degree of player-led exploration and progression, Final Fantasy 13 confined players to narrow paths for nearly 30 hours before offering more freedom in later stages. The lack of meaningful diversions, hidden discoveries, or even side quests in the game’s early parts made it feel very constrained.

Initial impressions of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 indicate that it aims to circumnavigate these issues. While mainly linear, the game promises an overworld where players can traverse between key locations, find hidden treasures, and engage in battles. Furthermore, players can look forward to a version of the classic airship later in the game.

The lore and the distinctive premise of the game also work in its favor. With the Paintress and her impending threat serving as a focal point for the narrative, if this sense of tension is woven into the world design—through time-sensitive events or evolving environments—it could craft a gripping experience that feels both urgent and immersive.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is already being compared to Final Fantasy 10 and rightly so. Should it capture the merits of that game—while steering clear of Final Fantasy 13’s pitfalls—it might just emerge as one of the most engaging RPGs of the year. The potential of its combat mechanics, world building, and storyline all hint at a game that truly understands how to make linear progression count.

If Sandfall Interactive can navigate this fine line, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 might not just fascinate gamers but also become a model for how modern linear RPGs can excel. The game is set to launch on April 24, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, complete with a day-one release on Xbox Game Pass, removing the wait for eager players to leap into its world.