Endgame of Expedition 33 is exactly what it needs to be, nothing more and nothing less

gave Clair Obscur: Expedition 33Sweeping the Game Awards 2025, it's practically undeniable that the game is a masterpiece across the board. An emotional, interesting story? Check it out. Great performance from Clair Obscur A cast that elevates its strong writing to new heights? Check it out. Unique gameplay that modernizes turn-based combat through dodges and parries, ensuring that even the biggest haters of the genre can enjoy the game? That box can be ticked, too, as for stellar music and beautiful visuals. Still, no game is perfect, which also applies to the Game Awards' winner-takes-all title.

When there is a problem Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Small as they are, they exist. The gestural mini-games are a good example of this, when they were made deliberately frustrating to call back to the classics. final fantasy activities, it doesn't really pretend how weak they are. And if no one loves you final fantasyThey will not see volleyball or platforming as a loving tribute, but a difficult obstacle for 100%. Awkward jumping and platforming animations are also a nitpick that can make, and mind Clair ObscurAnother valid criticism of the developers themselves, the end game format. However, it has to be made that the way the endgame is handled is perfectly fine since there is a different problem than the one mentioned by the studio.

In Defense of Clair Obscur's Endgame Approach

In an interview with Edge Magazine, Michelle Nohra, lead game designer at Sandfall Interactive, had the following to say about the final game content. In short, the team didn't communicate well the immediacy required for a challenging final boss fight, meaning players would get crushed if they did all the side content.

At face value, this is Nohra's reasonable argument, as it echoes criticisms other players have made about steamrolling the final boss. However, like Sandfall Interactive, many gamers and critics underestimated how much they would love it Clair Obscur—In the same interview, lead programmer Tom Guillerman said that Sandfall's developers “were not sure our game would be good”—a stance that underestimates players' awareness. RPGs have been around for decades, and in that time, most have become acutely aware of the concept of overreaching and outpacing the story. When experienced players took their new esqui abilities and completed all optional materials Campaign 33They probably knew very well that they would be overmatched for the final. Newcomers to the genre expected as much.

Sure, gamers might need some handholding through climbable ledges marked with yellow or follower characters giving puzzle clues, but still, most will surely know what they're getting by saving the confrontation with Renoir for last. And really, it doesn't matter if he's a pushover; Given the power of his daughter Miley's painting at that point, not to mention the rest of her party, it almost makes sense that her father would soon be overpowered. Some people may laugh at how easily they win a fight if they are faced with something like alternative material Clair ObscurClea already is, but they will soon be focused on the fantastic story that stands before them.

Why is the final boss 'easy' not a big deal?

Image via Sandfall Interactive

While it's true that a handful of players may have expected the final boss to scale for a tough fight, the reality is that most players have used the end of the story as a reward because of the quality of the story up to that point. They wanted to end their journey when the credits rolled, with time in their world Clair Obscur Conclusion by the characters. Being such a high point throughout the story, it was the real reward players were left to claim. The fight itself will be an afterthought for many. The music, the dialogue, the plot: that was the real carrot for players who played the side content before, some of whom may have wanted to go overleveled so they could see the story play out with minimal interruption, because it was that good.

On top of that, Renoir has little reason to feel cheated out of a good boss fight with the original version, which is where the Eternal Tower is located. Here, players can fight Painted Love, a more powerful version of the true Renoir that fights side by side with Pentress. So while the final boss of the main story may have been “frustrating” in theory, if players have already done all the side content as Sandfall says, they've already fought a better version of Renoir through the Endless Tower and seen the fight at its best. With that battle fresh in their minds, it will be even harder to feel let down by a version they know will surely fall short. Add to that the fact that the game's actual final boss—Maelle or Verso—is always a breeze, yet no one complains given the emotional intensity of the fight, and it's clear that this endgame flaw is all that matters in Sandfall.

Clair Obscur's Endgame has a different problem holding it back from greatness

While Sandfall doesn't regret letting players complete all the side content or skip to Act 3 to finish the story, and it really shouldn't, that doesn't mean the endgame content is perfect. Completions may not need a warning to fight the final boss ASAP for the expected difficulty, but a different warning will be have been beneficial. After losing the story, Sandfall could appeal to non-completionists by directing them to some great endgame content they'd miss if they stopped after the credits rolled. Those who go straight to the story and do nothing else will miss out on things like Flying Manor or Verso's drafts (added after launch to celebrate. Campaign 33's Game Award success), the most content-filled and fun dungeons in the entire game. Instead of appealing to die-hard fans who want to do everything, it would be a worthy effort to point out some of the best content through the story to those who are in a hurry to see it.

In addition to highlighting standout endgame content Clair Obscur Players, it's impossible to say whether players are a small area with big story implications or nothing more than a random music disc, which might discourage casuals from exploring properly. There is also the subject of Simon. This endgame boss is one of the toughest enemies in video game history, but not in a good way. While he's meant to be the ultimate ultimate test for players, Simon backfires horribly, forcing players to change their playstyle in ways they may have no interest in and throwing unblockable moves their way. Issues with Campaign 33Simon's includes:

• An absurd amount of health and one-shot kill potential

• Ability to pull down characters from the canvas so they cannot be revived

• An unblockable attack that wipes out the chosen party and forces players to finish the fight with their reserve team.

• Extremely long, hard to read combos that get longer with each step

• Prevents counterplay, avoids Stuns

To be clear, spending time with Simon is fun; As his health wears down while parrying a quick barrage of attacks, actually taking it out, accompanied by his epic boss music, is extremely satisfying. However, much like it Alden Ring: Shadow of ErdtreeWhile the final boss takes the difficulty too far to the point of being unfair, forcing most players to break their own rules and change builds to win, Simon is so overpowered that most players only one-shot builds. Campaign 33 to skip your last step.

This is a shame, as most players are choosing to skip a large portion of the combat that is essentially the most rewarding in the game. Simon could do with a little less power at his disposal. Maybe surprising him would actually make a difference, and he couldn't attack which would force players to finish the fight with their backup characters (who might be underleveled, requiring boring level grinding to adjust). As it is, he can annoy players from an otherwise well-balanced game, which is a significant problem.

Fortunately, the new Verso's draft area offers a very good endgame boss in the form of Oscio, who is brutally challenging but very fair. Yes, those who want the platinum trophy Clair Obscur Simon still has to endure, but at least they have a well-balanced encounter to enjoy with their maxed-out parties.

finally, Clair ObscurThe end game is good, and it is a worthy part of a fantastic game. Giving players the freedom to explore in Act 3 was a good decision, and the lack of warning isn't as big of an issue as Sandfall made it out to be. Other issues exist, such as the lack of direction to watch end game content and Simon as a whole, but nothing is perfect. Not even the best game of 2025. still, Campaign 33The endgame gets the job done, the pros outweigh the cons, and the content is worth the players' time.

issued

April 24, 2025

ESRB

Mature 17+ / Blood and gore, strong language, suggestive themes, violence

developer(s)

Sandfall Interactive

publisher(s)

Kepler Interactive