Expedition 33 Game – Fight and Explore the Flying Waters – PlayStation.Blog

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG with real-time elements, focusing on a unique journey to stop The Paintress from painting death once again. In this early preview of the game’s early stages, PlayStation fans will get a sneak peek at gameplay in Flying Waters, a mysterious land where Gustave and Lune search for their missing companion, Maelle.

Each environment in Expedition 33 offers something special. Flying Waters, for example, defies conventional physics, offering a setting that is both underwater and in the air. This surreal approach is central to the game’s design, aiming to immerse you in a world where the impossible becomes possible. Inspiration from surrealist art is woven throughout, creating a stunning experience that keeps you constantly on the edge of discovery.

In Flying Waters, you’ll navigate environments filled with remnants of past expeditions, such as destroyed structures, trails, and other signs of previous groups meeting their untimely end. Expedition 68 perished here, and by examining the area closely, you can piece together how they met their tragic end.

Making these environments fun to explore was important to us. So we built them non-linearly, with a vertical layer and full of mystery and secrets. There are many tools at your disposal to reach every hidden area: grappling hooks, climbing hooks left over from previous expeditions, ropes… Exploring an entire level is always rewarding, and you can find secret bosses, items, or even entire secret levels by being meticulous in your exploration.

Combat in Expedition 33 combines traditional turn-based mechanics with real-time reaction elements. In battles, timing is key—whether initiating an attack or defending against incoming attacks. The combat system requires quick reflexes and strategic thinking. While commands are entered in a turn-based format that allows you to take as much time as you want to strategize, you must also react quickly to enemy attacks to defend effectively.

Basic attacks in the game deal minimal damage, so you have to rely on skills and special abilities to defeat powerful enemies. Many skills come with timed commands that increase damage or provide other bonuses. As battles progress, you’ll see a turn order displayed on the left side of the screen, giving you a clear idea of ​​when attacks will occur and when to prepare for counterattacks. You’ll be able to dodge using Circle and block using R1. Dodging allows for a larger window of time, allowing you to completely avoid attacks, while blocking requires more precise timing. A perfectly executed block can not only negate damage, but can also trigger a powerful counterattack if the enemy’s entire combo is blocked. And yes, this means that you can theoretically defeat any enemy in the game at level 1. Good luck with that.

Each member of the Expedition 33 party has their own unique playstyle, with abilities that can change the way you approach battle. Gustave can charge his mechanical arm, building up Overcharge to unleash a devastating special attack. The longer the charge, the more spectacular and damaging the resulting attack becomes. Lune, on the other hand, can infuse elemental abilities with her ability called Stains, allowing you to exploit enemy weaknesses with devastating effects!

During combat, you can also use the free-aim system to shoot at enemy weak points. For example, the Demineur comes with floating sea mines, and targeting and detonating them before you reach them will cause a chain reaction.

After battle, you can level up and allocate points to various stats and customize each character’s build. Skill points earned in battle can be used to unlock new abilities in each character’s unique skill tree, allowing for even more specialization and strategic customization. We also have other progression systems that allow you to create some really crazy builds that we can’t wait to reveal in future updates.

Bosses in Expedition 33 are powerful and often have an element that enhances their power in combat. Goblu is surrounded by flowers that give him powerful powers that can quickly turn the tide of battle for your team. In these cases, the free-aim system becomes important, allowing you to target and disable these flowers, weakening Goblu and turning the tide of battle in your favor. Identifying and exploiting these unique boss mechanics will be crucial to your victory.

This preview is just a glimpse into the world of Expedition 33, and we’re excited to share more in the future. Our team is small and incredibly passionate about games in this genre, and we’re dedicated to creating an experience that both honors classic RPGs and pushes boundaries in new ways that haven’t been done before. Our dream is to create a game that touches players as deeply as the classics touched our lives. And hey, even if we fail, we’ll still have paved the way for those who come after, right?

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is coming to PS5 in 2025 – Follow us on social for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

See you soon, explorers!