Launched on April 24, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 rapidly stood out, especially in Japan, where he received quality acclaims and capturing the essence of JRPGs. Developed by the French studio Sandfall Interactive, the game surprised by winning the Japanese criticism as it is not of Japanese origin.
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The prestigious Famitsu magazine evaluated the title with a 36/40 grade, with the four critics awarding 9/10 each, which is one of the best scores ever given to a foreign RPG.
Elements that conquered the Japanese criticism
What caught the most attention of Famitsu was the combination of classic JRPG elements with the unique identity of the French team. The soundtrack and visual presentation were the first praised aspects, followed by the surrounding narrative, which can keep the player arrested from start to finish.
The design of the map was also considered a great hit, being described as "miraculous". The criticism pointed out that even with the complexity of the map, players are not lost during exploration, which is a great differential for an open world game.
Another important point was the difficulty system, which pleased both the newbies and the most experienced players. This made the game accessible to different types of audiences, allowing more people to enjoy the experience without feeling frustrated.
The comparison with big names of the genre
Famitsu did not fail to compare Clair Obscur with the giants of the genre, such as Final Fantasy 6 and Final Fantasy 16. The game was highlighted for connecting with the legacy of classic JRPGs, maintaining the essence that attracted generations of fans. Thus, this recommendation reinforces how much Clair Obsuci fits well with the tradition of the great titles of the genre's history, even coming from a French studio.
Although the game has won an excellent grade, it has not reached the maximum score of 40/40 of Famitsu, something reserved for only the largest games. Even so, the score achieved is already a great achievement for a title from outside Japan. British magazine Edge also did not note 10 to Clair Obscu, as he did with legendary titles, but this does not diminish the impact that the game has on expert critics.
A love letter from France for the JRPGs
Prior to the official evaluation, Famitsu published an article describing Clair Obsucu as "France's best love letter to Japanese RPGs." In addition, criticism stressed how the game can unite the characteristics of JRPGs with a French cultural touch, creating something unique. The game team was able to combine the freedom of Western RPGs with the strong and focused narrative of the Japanese RPGs. Thus, surpassing the boundaries between these two styles.
GLOBAL AND COMMERCIAL SUCCESS
In addition to success in Japan, Clair Obscur was also very well received globally. The game obtained high scores on Metacritic: 93 No Xbox Series X/S, 92 on PS5 and 90 on PC. In just 12 days after release, he had already sold more than 2 million copies, becoming one of the most successful foreign RPGs.
This warm reception of both critics and players confirms the positive impact that the game had on the RPG market, showing that it is possible for titles outside Japan to succeed in the world of JRPGs.
