Summary
- Clair Obscur's NPC musician likely pays tribute to the game's composer.
- Its dynamic OST adapts to gameplay and changes pace depending on the battle intensity.
- Composer Lorien Testard's music has garnered critical acclaim, contributing to the game's success and potential industry awards.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 fans have discovered a musician NPC that is likely a tribute to the game's composer. Since its launch, Sandfall Interactive's turn-based RPG has been praised for its visuals, gameplay, and unique soundtrack. Many describe Clair Obscur's OST as a catalyst for immersing players in the game's sorrowful universe. The indie developer seems well aware of music's critical role, as it has apparently paid subtle homage to the guy behind it.
Clair Obscur uses dynamic music to adapt to the player's journey, with the game's soundtrack responding to various gameplay elements and even changing pace based on the intensity of battles. While this approach isn't unique to Sandfall Interactive's RPG, fans praise it for perfectly blending with the overall theme.
Clair Obscur Player Makes Big Realization After Reaching Act 3
A Clair Obscur player learns a critical aspect of the game the hard way, only after battling through some of its toughest enemies.
Reddit user Huge-Natural6696 posted on the game's subreddit, sharing what they believe is a nod to Clair Obscur's composer. They suggest that a musician NPC named Lorieniso is an Easter egg referencing the composer, Lorien Testard. The NPC is seen playing a guitar and has dialogue that players can initiate. Other fans on the post noted that this fits the development team's style, pointing out several other characters named after developers and even one named after a team member's pet.
Lorieniso Plays a Memorable Song
If players choose to stick around the composer-inspired NPC, he plays a melancholic song. But it's not just a random tune; those who've finished the game will notice subtle ties between the melody and Clair Obscur's ending. Some fans have already said they can't listen to the song the same way after experiencing the game's conclusion.
Highlighting the success of Lorien Testard's work, Clair Obscur's album recently topped Billboard's classical chart. Critics have praised his music for its emotional depth, uniqueness, and range—qualities that perfectly complement the game's story. Although this marks Testard's first major video game composition project, he's already shaping up to be a sought-after talent in the industry.
Many factors have contributed to Clair Obscur's current success. The game has already broken multiple records and is being hailed as one of the highest-rated titles in recent years. Without a doubt, Testard's iconic music plays a major role in that achievement. The young composer is now widely seen as a top contender for most of this year's music-related game awards. And the game itself is considered a frontrunner for this year's Game of the Year award.
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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
