Lingering Bias Against Turn-Based RPGs, Says Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Director
At the recent CEDEC conference in Japan, Guillaume Broche, Creative Director of the upcoming turn-based RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, alongside Lead Programmer Tom Guillermin, spoke with Automaton about the game's development, the current state of turn-based role-playing games, and the enduring stereotypes the genre still faces.
Broche shared his personal observation of a persistent prejudice against Japanese turn-based RPGs (JRPGs), which he believes became particularly noticeable after the Xbox 360 era. During this period, Broche noted, the popularity of JRPGs began to wane as open-world and action games surged in interest. Many, he explained, started to view the turn-based genre as 'unfashionable.'
While acknowledging the success of certain series like Persona as a prime example of a thriving turn-based franchise, Broche feels the genre still has a long way to go to reclaim its former widespread popularity. 'Yes, they still sell well — Persona is clear proof of that,' Broche commented, 'but I feel that the prejudice against turn-based RPGs has not entirely disappeared.'
Despite this sentiment, the innovative elements within Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, such as its parrying system and cinematic narrative, were not introduced merely to 'modernize' the turn-based formula for broader audience appeal. According to Broche, these ideas emerged in the earliest stages of the game's conception, driven by a genuine desire to create something he found intrinsically interesting. He even drew inspiration for the parrying mechanics from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, a game he spent time with during a period of creative block.
Naturally, the core inspiration for Clair Obscur also comes from the classic JRPGs Broche grew up playing. He frequently cited titles like Final Fantasy, Suikoden, Shadow Hearts, and Atelier. Furthermore, he highlighted Persona 5 as a key reference point for the game's user interface and camera work. However, instead of simply copying these beloved elements, the development team at Sword Legacy Studios aimed to reinterpret familiar concepts and build something fresh upon their foundation.
This thoughtful approach appears to be central to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's ability to maintain the spirit of traditional JRPGs while injecting new life into the formula. By doing so, the game seeks to convince players that turn-based titles can indeed be as captivating and 'fashionable' as any other genre. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to release on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), Xbox Series consoles, and PlayStation 5, and will also be available on Game Pass. A 10% discount on the deluxe edition is currently available on Steam until August 12th.
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