Summary
- Clair Obscur has a combat system blending turn-based tactics with real-time elements.
- Missing crucial passive abilities can significantly increase the game's difficulty.
- Players unaware of key mechanics, like Luminas, may face daunting challenges, akin to a hardcore mode.
A Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 player made it through the first two acts without spending a single Lumina point. Sandfall Interactive's turn-based RPG features a layered combat and progression system that can be tricky for newcomers, but most players grasp the core mechanics by the end of Act 1. Still, one player managed to miss a fundamental aspect of combat all the way through Clair Obscur's second act.
To many, Clair Obscur's combat offers the best of both worlds. It combines the tactical depth of classic turn-based games with modern action elements. Attacking and defending aren’t just about issuing commands. Instead, battles rely on a combination of strategic decisions and real-time input. As a result, defeating the game's formidable foes demands both skill and strategy. Skill develops naturally through exploration and combat experience, while strategy depends on a solid understanding of the game's mechanics.
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It seems one fan, known as tom_and_jerrylawler on Reddit, has unintentionally leaned more on skill than strategy. In a recent post on the Clair Obscur subreddit, they admitted they didn't discover Luminas until reaching Act 3. Some players likened their run to fighting a dragon with a butter knife, a feat that likely took serious talent and dedication. For those unfamiliar, Clair Obscur's Luminas are passive abilities that players can equip to their characters. Without them, characters are limited to their base stats and Pictos, which mostly provide basic stat boosts.
Fan Unintentionally Creates a Hardcore Mode for Clair Obscur
Clair Obscur features several challenging boss fights, but it's not generally seen as an overly difficult RPG. What tom_and_jerrylawler managed to do by skipping Luminas, however, is essentially crank up the difficulty. Without these passive boosts, some end-game encounters could feel nearly impossible for the average player. In their Reddit post, tom_and_jerrylawler joked that it finally makes sense why everything in Act 3 suddenly felt so much harder.
Interestingly, the community already has a nickname for players who miss key details or make obvious mistakes. They're jokingly referred to as "Expedition 60 people," a nod to Claire Obscur's mysterious Gommage. Titles like this have quickly become an inside joke among the game's growing fan base.
It's worth noting that Clair Obscur offers three distinct difficulty options: Story Mode, Expedition Mode, and Expert Mode. Story Mode is ideal for players who want to focus on the narrative, while Expedition Mode offers a balanced mix of combat and story. For those seeking the toughest challenges, Expert Mode is the way to go—especially if they are bold enough to limit their use of Pictos and Luminas.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- April 24, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sandfall Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Kepler Interactive
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
