In a game so beautiful, it’s no wonder thatClair Obscur: Expedition 33encourages players to explore the wonders of the Continent. Every change in terrain and sprawling vista is a chance to bask in its gorgeous art direction, butClair Obscurdoesn’t neglect the mechanical reasons for scouring its environments, either. Taking the path less travelled is rewarding for multiple reasons; from stumbling across Pictos that provide even more nuance to its combat, togathering Chromaused as currency by the Gestral Merchants, there is always purpose in searching beyond plot-designated paths. Dead space is few and far between in the world thatClair Obscurbuilds, and stories can be found in the unlikeliest of places.
As a mechanic that can easily falter, having notes in video games requires a delicate hand; finding the right balance in delivering exposition without requiring too much reading, while actually integrating them in a way that avoids narrative dissonance is easier said than done. EnterClair Obscur: Expedition 33’s journals, an excellent take on collectibles that considers the game’s lore, surprising humor, and personality in equal measure. Their purpose: to tell the accounts of past expeditions that have tried and failed where Expedition 33 now stands. Their merits: providing even more depth to the Continent through the lens of others, demonstrating the breadth of viewpoints on what is, for almost everyone, a mission that will end in death.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s Journals are Echoes of the Past
The Past, Personified
Clair Obscur’s journalsare not just a lens into its past, but a look into its people. Their entries pack a punch because of their sincerity; the dying words of an expedition’s lone survivor may be angry, or content, or even maligned, but they aren’t deceitful. That’s part of the reason why they are so excellent, showing the emotions of past expeditions with little constraint. In one entry, an expedition member relents against the orders of his lieutenant, whose directions have gotten precious people killed. Another has a man turning Nevrons into a killing game, comparing counts with his fellow expeditioners in lieu of the impossible nature of their true mission.
Uplifting Through Tone
Clair Obscur’s ability to deftly consider toneis another foundation of its journals, as some consider humor in the face of despair. Dying not by the white-haired man or a dangerous Nevron, but instead by poisonous mushrooms, is a fate that Expedition 33 can at least circumvent. Warnings of past expeditions can be as insightful as they are creative; wearing the skins of Nevrons might not be the right way to blend in, but it was worth a shot, anyway. The musings of past expeditions, whether hopeful or not, are an excellent way to show how the past bridgesClair Obscur’s present, as the efforts of many lay the foundations for Expedition 33 to continue.
Packing a Punch with Brevity
The subtlety ofClair Obscur’s delivery is just one reason its story manages to be so effective, handling its lore in a way that’s increasingly intriguing. Take the journal in theStone Waves Cliffcave, for example, where an expeditioner lashes out at Lumiere’s council, who forced him to go on the mission to the Continent. In so few words, the journal opens up an entirely new perspective on Lumiere; the idea of the mission being used as a punishment, to quiet dissenters who attempt to challenge the status quo, shows that the Continent isn’t the only place where dangers abound. These different attitudes help to fill in the gaps, to answer questions that weren’t even thought to be raised, providing further interest.
In keeping with howClair Obscurhonors art, one of its journals delves into the poetic musings of a past expeditioner. Not only is it emotionally voiced over, a feature of its journal entries that provides even more depth to their personality, but it also adds to the sense of melancholy that emanates from every pore of the Continent. There’s a palpable sadness to its beauty at every turn, a reminder of the loss withinClair Obscur’s landscapes, echoed throughout time in their final accounts. In this way,Clair Obscur’s journal entries aren’t just frivolous collectibles. They serve a greater purpose, just like the expeditoners who recorded them, paving the way for those who would follow.
