wheezes and sneezes all over you

[necrophilia]

Some initial thoughts on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I am still in Chapter 1, have only just reached The Manor.


Man, what a gorgeous game. The animation, the music, the character design—there's a grotesque, melancholy beauty to it that I am so into.

I really like that the concept of the Gommage isn't over-explained. The characters talk about it without slowing down into exposition dumps for the sake of the audience. Despite not knowing really anyone in the story by that point, the game definitely hits the right mood when Sophie and the other Lumiere citizens of a certain age dissolve. (I've been discussing mortality a lot with my therapist lately; I don't talk about that shit here, because no one wants to read my poem, but it's def on my mind since my grandfather's passing last year. So this hits. Hurt me more, game.)

Right now, the characters are a bit less interesting to me than the story. I am very curious about the Paintress and the events that led to this cataclysmic draining of society. It reminds me a bit of Attack on Titan in that respect; I didn't care whether Eren and Armin lived or died or made it to the ocean, but I definitely wanted to know what was in the fucking basement.

And the attacking dude at the shoreline who looked like Old Gustave! I wonder if that's a coincidence or not.

I'm so into how French this is. If I replay, I might do so with the original audio. The English lip flap motion isn't quite there, to a mildly distracting effect. But can a girl get a tabarnak? What's with all the merde and fuck.

I started off on expeditioner mode and ended up changing it to story when I was struggling with the parry and dodge timing. I've been in bed sick as a dog the last two days, which might explain my sorry reflexes. I think going from Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance to this is quite the switch-up; I hope to switch back to expeditioner soon. Easy mode is embarrassing, fam.

Also, dig the uniforms. But Lune, girl. Put on some shoes. You're going to get tetanus.




ETA: I fled from the mime.

Comments

[thenicochan]

Those damn mimes. They are freaking terrifying.

[necrophilia]

I still haven't fought one! But there is an achievement that you can get for fighting a mime in Lumière. I must track them down in my NG+!

[thenicochan]

I fought the one in Lumiere! It wasn't so bad, though I was still trying to figure out the battle system. They're so intimidating. Beating them gives you some fun cosmetic things!

[necrophilia]

I think I am comfortable enough with the combat now that I could take one on, as long as

mild Chapter II spoilers!

...as long as the story doesn't take Maelle away from me again. I don't know how to get through a battle without virtuose. I mean, I can, but I won't enjoy it!

[thenicochan]

I'm constantly swapping, but Maelle is pretty great. How do you have her set up? I'm using one of the flame element swords to apply Burn, then I have the ability that lets her go into virtuose if the enemy is burned, then another ability that does high physical damage, but lets her stay in virtuose if she's already in it. She's focused on keeping things on Burn status, which can come in clutch.

[necrophilia]

I do the same exact thing! Whoever is first hits the enemy with burn; I use the ability that turns her to virtuose stance if the target is burning and keep her there if I can. Gradient attacks has messed with my AP in a way I'm still trying to figure out.

She's my little tank. She and Verso are always in my party if I can help it. Everyone else cycles out.

[lassarina]

The mimes are So Much.

The parry and dodge timing are quite rough, I think. I get used to them but I have to re-learn every enemy.

I AM SO FUCKING CURIOUS ABOUT OLD GUSTAVE.

[necrophilia]

HE'S ANDY SERKIS BTW

As soon as he started speaking, I was so excited.

[lassarina]

Oh, that's perfect, lol