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by Rafiki 06/04/2025, 8:12pm PDT |
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I didn't say "the Dark Souls of JRPGs," I said "Dark souls as a JRPG." Take Dark Souls, replace real-time combat with turn-based combat, and replace a vague suggestion of a story with a less vague but cryptic actual story and you have Clair Obscur. It's also not as relentlessly difficult. There are some hard fights, yes, but if you stick to the main story, the fights are quite reasonable.
I reached act 3 of the story, and while it took an admittedly unexpected turn it left me being VERY ANGRY at what might be a really stupid premise that undermines any reason to give even half a fuck about what's happening. But because the turn was unexpected, I'm willing to see it through to the end in case I'm wrong.
But rather than do nothing but shit on the game, let's talk about some positive things.
Despite the combat being derivative, I still liked it enough to put 39.3 hours into it. Every game in the universe implementing From Software's dodge and parry system is wearing on me a little, but I can't bitch too much when I'm willing to repeatedly throw myself into literal 15 minute1 boss battles 9 times and then immediately jump into the next one. Overcoming the difficult fights in this game give me that feeling of mastery and not the Super Meat Boy-like feeling of flubbing my way through something exhaustingly punishing.
The art direction is fucking gorgeous. It is, once again, clearly inspired by Souls', et. al. heavy emphasis on vistas, but whereas the Souls games use dreary, muted color schemes to craft a bleak world, Clair Obscur isn't afraid to use bright, bold, striking colors and big, bright, sunny lighting while still managing to establish a bleak, crumbling world. You can pretty much turn the camera in any direction at just about any orientation and it'll be worthy of a screenshot.
The sound effects of attacks landing have a nice punchy bass to them. The music is fine. That sounds bad, but I'll probably never listen to a video game OST (except maybe Shadow of the Colossus). I still have the music and sound turned on as opposed to muting everything and putting on a podcast or whatever, so positive!
Turn-based combat instead of real-time, I think, makes the game more accessible. You don't have to worry about being offensive or defensive, baiting and luring enemies, or watching the terrain so you don't roll off of a cliff or get boxed into a corner.
1 This might be my fault. I reached a point where the game informed me that I just recently I unlocked the ability to do uncapped (I guess?) damage and this was after I did some ridiculously long (optional) boss fight.
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Claire Obscur by Icycalm 05/16/2025, 6:10pm PDT 
The Paper Mario clone? NT by Mischief Maker 05/16/2025, 6:25pm PDT
Button presses in turn based games = Paper Mario clone NT by durrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 05/16/2025, 8:32pm PDT
This is an awful take NT by I'VE FIGURED IT OUT!!! 05/16/2025, 9:26pm PDT
15 minutes. NT by Proved him right in 15 minutes 05/16/2025, 9:48pm PDT
Why? Is Xenosaga a better comparison? NT by Mischief Maker 05/17/2025, 11:33am PDT
(pissing pants and walking around with a massive wet stain) Why's everyone upset NT by Is it because I pissed my pants? 05/17/2025, 4:11pm PDT
Sorry, I haven't played that many JRPGs since childhood. I'm an arcade gamer. NT by Mischief Maker 05/17/2025, 7:41pm PDT
Yes, we are winning, brother NT by laying Cable 05/17/2025, 9:25pm PDT
Re: Claire Obscur by Ice Cream Jonsey 05/16/2025, 10:59pm PDT
Do I get to race chocobos? by Blackwater 05/18/2025, 9:45am PDT
As long as I got my suit and tie by Rafiki 05/18/2025, 10:13am PDT
The Game of Thrones clone? NT by Mischief Maker 05/18/2025, 3:50pm PDT
That wasn't me. by Mischief Maker 05/18/2025, 4:37pm PDT
So it's just Dumb + Dumber but I'm the one on the toilet shitting my brains out? by Mischief Maker 05/18/2025, 5:01pm PDT
It's a art. NT by Mischief Maker 05/18/2025, 5:08pm PDT
MISCHIEF MAKER SOLID: PISSWALKER NT by THE PISSENING 05/19/2025, 7:13am PDT
All this rage over a AAA-priced version of Regency Solitaire. NT by MM 05/19/2025, 8:29am PDT
More like MEEEHHHHHH Maker NT by MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 05/19/2025, 10:48am PDT
Ok, so it's Dark Souls as a JRPG by Rafiki 05/21/2025, 9:59pm PDT
Critiquing the writing while unironically using the tagline "Dark Souls JRPG" NT by peak Caltrops 05/22/2025, 6:34am PDT
What is your issue with it? by Rafiki IS peak caltrops 05/22/2025, 6:47am PDT
Getting massive "Dark Souls" vibes from this game by Google Gemini 05/22/2025, 10:56am PDT
This is what happens when you ask AI to think for you by Rafiki 06/04/2025, 8:12pm PDT
Shut the fuck up. NT by Feris 06/04/2025, 9:38pm PDT
I blame new graphical tech by emote machine 05/22/2025, 7:08am PDT
The story by Rafiki 07/09/2025, 1:03pm PDT
more, because I left out some things I wanted to talk about by Rafiki 07/10/2025, 9:14am PDT
So not as good as Paper Mario? NT by Mischief Maker 07/10/2025, 6:45pm PDT
We love your posts on these. NT by the non-assholes of Caltrops 07/11/2025, 9:53pm PDT
Re: The story by I <3 Carbot 07/16/2025, 5:18am PDT
Would either, both, or neither of my catchphrases apply to this one NT by Bill the Cat 05/18/2025, 5:28pm PDT
Plinky plonky repetitive sad piano music == 10/10 GOAT GOTY OMG!!!!!1 by Oom Shnibble 06/04/2025, 9:16pm PDT
Great post, thanks for making it. Now will you please STOP POSTING NT by Feris 06/05/2025, 12:11pm PDT
Don't stop posting, Shnibble. There is a shitty poster making the rounds. NT by Respiv 06/05/2025, 1:12pm PDT
Someone sticks to the same nick for 20 years and he's still shrieking NT by Feris is a crying twat 06/05/2025, 4:46pm PDT
Thanks, Crying Twat NT by Mysterio 06/09/2025, 9:43pm PDT
Who are you again? NT by Oom Shnibble 06/05/2025, 5:38pm PDT
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