Expedition 33: Do You Fight Your Fate or Accept It?

I had just got out of Vilverin near the sewers of the Imperial City and followed the quest, which led me to a priory 1000 steps away in Oblivion. After passing a couple of forts, I ended up at my destination. A brief chat and exploration later I had rented a room in the town nearby and turned in for the night.

That's when I received a notification: "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 installed and ready to play". I do not remember downloading the game. I had watched videos of the game recently on YouTube that spoke of the JRPG inspired gameplay and I was lightly intrigued. I saw it on Game Pass and perhaps then, I tapped on the download button.

I was deliberately trying to staying away from the game, not wanting to add another to the ever growing backlog. But then I said to myself, what's the harm? Now that the game has been installed, let's give it a try. We can play the opening hours and get out. Most games have fun opening hours and then it just gets into a rut (I am looking at you AC III and AC:Syndicate, which now I realize I officially will be kicking off my backlog).

So, I jumped in and I was instantly taken by the haunting music in the opening scene.

No voice over dialog explaining the worlds setting or giving context to us players. Just a shot of a city in chaos with haunting music and the camera slowly zooming to the main character, Gustave.

That is how I ventured into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Move over Dark Souls, there is a new environmental storyteller in town.

The game does not delay in giving us control and we are soon led to explore the rooftops of Lumiére along with a companion, Maelle, who shows us the ropes. I sprint through the rooftops overlain with flowers as I learn the basic game mechanics on traversal and combat.

I can feel the sadness in the beauty around me and it is graphically rendered so well, I can't help but pause to admire it, and wonder at the stories.

I guess I haven't set context about the game: In the world of Lumiére, a supernatural being called "the Paintress" arises from her slumber to paint an ever decreasing number every year and all humans with an age above that number disappear.

The game opens with Gustave looking at the monument with the number 34 and his reverie is interrupted by Maelle, who accompanies him to see Sophie. We learn that they were in love once and with a single rose, he heads to send her off as she is "of age" for the Gommage (I later learnt that gommage is french for "erase". Ah, so appropriate and heart breaking).

In my mind, I am still coming to terms with the world. I have not yet accepted the finality of the Gommage. I reason that we still have time. That we can head out to Expedition and save our love. But the game has other plans. I follow along trying to understand what is going to happen.

I see flowers everywhere, on the rooftops, in the streets, on the trees, near the fountains, being sold in stalls, and on people. Those, whose time it is to leave, wear garlands of flowers, while their loved ones also choose to give them flowers. It seems poetic and somehow, fitting that flowers are gifted here. An indicator of fleeting beauty, of the short lives that the people of Lumiére have grown accustomed to.

"The pale sun ascends over the crimson blossoms"

Ah, how their lives are fleeting like flowers and yet, they make the best of their time in the world.

While they cannot control the Paintress or her actions, the people of Lumiere choose to celebrate the sending off with the Gommage. It feels more like a festival than a somber send off complete with dancing, fancy acts and all. As loved ones prepare to say goodbye, there is a sense of acceptance among them.

And then comes the Gommage.

It is so reminiscent of that scene at the end of Avengers: Infinity War. Atleast, we had a movie or a few to prepare for its coming (still doesn't make you ready at all. Oh, the Spiderman and Iron-Man scene). Here we are not given that time. We have had less than an hour and bam, we are hit with the tragedy.

We are shown what's at stake as the ones, who are of age (34), dissolve into petals of flowers carried away by the wind. It is heart-breaking to see it happen and to feel the helplessness of the people when they cannot change this fate.

And that's when I realize the truth: I cannot change Sophie's fate.

But there is a resolve. It does not end here. This is the beginning We will not go silent into that good night. We shall rage, rage against the dying of the light. For now, we are prepared to take on the expedition. Expedition 33.

Closing Thoughts

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is such a beautiful game. I was drawn in by the opening and now, I find myself aching to go back and discover more of the world, to find out if they make it, if they find a way to survive. The game began with loss and I am sure we will discover a way to come to terms with it.

It is strange how the people choose to go on an expedition to find a way to escape and yet, have come to accept their fate. Humans are resolute beings, and the game sure has a way of reflecting that resoluteness along with the haunting beauty of how to make a short life worthwhile.

I look forward to my explorations as I contend with this fleeting time of mine.