Inspiration in small things: Which games influenced Clair Obscur
It's not often that big and complex debut projects from new studios become hits, but this can happen with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The game from Sandfall Interactive, founded by former Ubisoft developers, receives positive reviews from gamers and critics. The plot centers on a group of adventurers embarking on a journey to save the world from a mysterious Artist. It destroys people, taking away years of their lives. The creators of Clair Obscur were inspired by Japanese game systems, so this is not just a turn-based role-playing game, but a European look at the best practices of JRPGs. Which of them influenced the creation of the novelty — read in the Izvestia article.
Lost Odyssey
Developers: Mistwalker, Feel Plus
What to play on: Xbox 360 (backward compatible with Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One)
Lost Odyssey is most reminiscent of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 in terms of atmosphere. The main character Kaim Argonarg is an immortal warrior who lost his memory during the battle.
In a world where magic is intertwined with technology in the spirit of the classic RPG Arcanum, Kaim tries to restore lost memories, faces personal tragedies, global conspiracies and threats that can destroy the world.
In addition to a similar melancholic and serious mood, the Clair Obscur action game in many ways refers to the Lost Odyssey — especially thanks to the Aim Ring system, where you need to synchronize the rings correctly when attacking to increase damage. These games also share the mechanics of skills that can be expanded with the help of special slots.
Shadow Hearts
Developer: Sacnoth
What to play on: PlayStation 2
JRPG Shadow Hearts is inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft and imbued with an atmosphere of supernatural horror. The main character Yuri is able to transform into demons during battle.
There is also a focus mechanic here: to perform actions, the player needs to press a button while the pointer is rotating. A proper hit enhances the attack in certain sectors. Equipment and items can increase or decrease focus, so balancing becomes an exciting activity.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Developer: Square
What to play on: SNES, Nintendo Switch
The plumber in the blue jumpsuit applied his cartoon pens to almost all genres of video games. He played cards, tried his hand at golf, danced on stage and became the hero of several excellent role-playing games.
The first of them is Super Mario RPG. Almost all actions in it will be possible to strengthen with the help of commands: you need to press combinations both to increase the damage of attacks, and when receiving blows, in order to reduce the damage. Energy can be accumulated to enhance damage. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 uses a similar approach, but with clearer visual cues for players.
The Legend of Dragoon
Developer: Sony
What to play on: PlayStation 1, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PSP, PS Vita
The Legend of Dragoon was released on PlayStation 1 in 1999. This dark fantasy story is reminiscent of Clair Obscur in mood, but they are especially similar in the combat system.
Attacks are enhanced using the Additions functions. In fact, the player needs to press the button in time to combine the pieces on the screen and continue the series of strokes. The more powerful the techniques the user opens, the longer the sequence of additions that enhance the attacks becomes.
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout
Developer: Gust
What to play on: PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
The cozy atmosphere of this game, like the entire Atelier series, is as far as possible from the gloomy mood of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Nevertheless, the dynamism of the combat system creates a certain similarity.
Although the mechanics of the game vary markedly from part to part, it is Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout that most resembles Clair Obscur with a combination of strategy and real-time combat elements.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Developer: FromSoftware
What to play on: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is not the first RPG in which you can reduce damage in combat by pressing the buttons correctly at the right moment. In the game, you rarely have to parry a single powerful blow, much more often a whole rhythmic series of attacks comes from enemies.
It is with these mechanics that the novelty is similar to the exchange of blows that gamers saw in the action-oriented Sekiro, where with the right level of skill, you can completely turn the outcome of any battle.
Final Fantasy X
Developer: Square
What to play on: PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
The influence of the Final Fantasy series on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is obvious, although each part of this anthology has its own unique style. In addition to the timing elements, the FF X combat system looks particularly similar. This is both a smooth character change during the battle, and a simple, but strategically important and visual display of the turn queue on the side of the screen.
Persona 5 Royal
Developer: P-Studio
What to play on: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
In Persona 5, there are almost no mechanics tied to timing, except for the ability to start a fight first if the enemy was caught off guard. But the game has a unique system with firearms that allows you to use bullets as an addition to regular attacks. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 offers its own version of this feature — Free Aim. It allows you to aim and shoot at hidden vulnerable points, spending action points.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
What to play on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
For a very long time, the Yakuza series was an action-RPG with a combat system implemented in the form of street fights. The developers made the transition to turn-based battles in the seventh part. In it, Ichiban Kasug appeared as the main character.
Like Clair Obscur, the strategic elements of Yakuza feel like a powerful dynamic action game with cool animations of special strikes and enhanced attacks.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
