Analytic Dreamz: Notorious Mass Effect - "CLAIR OBSCUR: EXPEDITION 33 GAME SHIPS 2 MILLION COPIES IN UNDER TWO WEEKS"

Episode Date: May 21, 2025

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠⁠Become A Patron Of The Notorious Mass Effect Podcast For Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme! Join Our Patreon Here: ⁠⁠https://ow.ly/oPsc50VBOuH⁠⁠Join Analytic Dreamz on Notorious Mass Effect as we dive into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the breakout RPG from Sandfall Interactive. Explore its Belle Époque-inspired dark fantasy world, hybrid turn-based combat, and Unreal Engine 5 visuals. With 1M units sold in three days and a 91/100 Metacritic score, this 30-hour journey blends innovation and depth. Analytic Dreamz unpacks the game’s unique mechanics, star-studded voice cast, and minor controversies like narrative pacing. Available on PS5, Xbox, and PC.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Now, Expedition 33 may be titled Expedition, but they are treating this like the finals, as they may end up being awarded game of the year. Because ladies and gentlemen, the scores for this particular game is through the roof. And even that may be an understatement. As when we get into the review roundup of this game, you will find out that it's either nine at the very least or tens across the board. But of course, starting with Expedition 33 as far as letting the people who are new to this game know that this is a game developed by Sandfall Interactive that has 30 core devs that are out of France. And of course, it's published by Kepler Interactive. Now, if you just wanted to know what this game is about, it's a term-based RPG with real-time mechanics. And the setting is Bel-Epoca.

What in the world? hold up belay epochre i definitely mispronounce that but you know i try my best right it's inspired dark fantasy in france the overall plot is to stop the pantress before she erases all 33 year olds within a year but then you know what i'm saying i was like to him look at the state of hip-hop like what's going on talk about age shaming now that's besides the point as when it comes to this game it's been highlighted to be one of the greatest games in the past three to five years as when it comes to the reviews obviously when we get to that you're going to see how it's just teens tends across the board when it comes to the gameplay mechanics it's been highlighted for his hybrid turn-based and real-time

actions as far as dodging parrying and jumping which you usually don't get as far as a turn-based game having real-time action so intricate like they have in expedition 30s. because of course with the emphasis on timed inputs you also have the need for reactive gameplay likened to a persona plus a soul's like so when you get into this game that's basically what the overview gameplay mechanics are and of course customization is ramped in this turn-based game as when it comes to the pictos system hopefully i'm saying it right equipable perks slash stat boost that you get to learn after foreign calendars and of course the little the Lumna, the Lumina pool that shared perks across party members.

With this particular game developed by Sandfall, published by Kepler, you come to realize that the visuals is based on them building this game on the Unreal Engine 5 and then gray scale moments being implemented during high tension. So, of course, when it comes to a turtale. turn-based system a lot of the elements as far as narratives is is exacerbated especially when it comes to the themes of life death and moral dilemma as you know pantras it's trying to raise all 33-year-olds i mean that's aegis ain't that the word for what she's trying to do hold up aegis let me make sure i'm i'm using this right so ages is characterized by or showing prejudice or

discrimination on the grounds of a person's age ladies and gentlemen pantress is the ages but then you know what I'm saying? I was like damn look at the state of hip hop like what's going on so that being said of course getting back into the game the overall runtime because you know what in the year of 2025 i'm not going on we got doom coming up potentially gta is coming out we already have a phenomenal hit as far as split fiction uh the oblivion remastered is going is going crazy of course you have south of midnight that i just covered recently and then you have a lot of these different games is just showcasing how 2025 is shaping up to be one of the more high quality years in gaming.

I didn't even mention Kazan, right? I don't think I've ever, I don't think I've even reviewed Kazan, but just so you know, that's also implemented into the high quality list of games that's been released in 2025. So that being said, getting back into it. When it comes to high quality games all coming out in the year of 2025, you're probably thinking about runtime and completion. as when when it comes to expedition 33 it takes about 30 hours to beat the main story but when you include the side content is about 60 hours so overall i would think you're getting a great bang for your buck as far as when you're getting into the actual term-based system as far as what you're paying for it right as i believe i'm trying to see how much is this game cost i believe it's 50 dollars uh but i I don't want to misspeak.

So on Steam is showing 4499, but I don't know if that's the actual price. Expedition 33. So Expedition 33, even though it has tens across the board, the overall price point is, okay, so it is $49. And then, of course, it varies by retailer. So when you want to get the game, just know, generally speaking, it's going to be priced at $49.99. And then there's a flowers collection and custom outfits and that's typically higher around $59 to $69.

So the base game is $49. But of course, getting back into the runtime, whether it be in 30 hours for the main story only, plus side content that you're going to get at least 60 hours out of. I think that's fair as far as the price point. Now, of course, one of the things that took me about Storm is realizing who in the world is that. who plays Gustav? Hopefully I'm saying his name right. I looked at the voice actor

because I'm thinking to myself, you know, the reason why, because I don't even watch video games from a movie or a TV standpoint, it's really gameplay mechanics that captivate me, right? So when I recognized the voice actor,

I was thinking to myself, where have I heard that voice before? And then the super hero nerd jumped out of me. Pause. You guys. See, that's the problem. So for the main part,

Charlie Cox plays Gustav, well, not the main part, the entire part of Gustav. Charlie Cox plays that. If you don't know him, he plays Daredevil in the MCU. The MCU. So that was definitely a voice crack. And I'm keeping that in there, just so you know this is actually going to take. So, when that being said, Charlie Cox, who plays Gustav and him being Daredevil is

throwing me for a loop. Because I was thinking to myself, when's the last time I seen an MCU actor, voice act, in a video game and it'd be well regarded like this like usually sometimes you may give like a voice line or two to like a mobile game and things that nature like i mean we couldn't even get robert downy junior for marvels like imagine if we had robert downy junior voicing ironman and marvell rivals which is a phenomenal game right now still one of the top play games on steam and just in the world right so you have uh marvel rivals that's the let's see one two three four five six seven eight nine ten 11 12, 34, it's the 14th most popular game on Steam currently.

And then when it comes to PlayStation, I don't think it's, yeah, it's not charting anymore on PlayStation or Xbox, I believe. But when it comes to this game, of course, it is currently charting on PlayStation as it's the seventh most play game on PlayStation. On Xbox, I don't see it at all. But when it comes to Steam, the analytics for this game showcases that it's a phenomenal here. hit and it's definitely affecting the masses as it has a 24 hour peak of 91,000, right? And then an all-time peak four days ago was, what is, 121, right? And then the players currently playing the game. Like, this is concurrent.

It's 83,000. Now, this is a single-player game the last time I checked. So people still playing this game in the 80s of thousands is insanely great as far as from an analytical perspective and just showcases how San Fall and Kepler has, have a hit on their hands with this game expedition now it's given me balder gay vibes uh especially what baldergate three vibes especially when i saw the turn base but then you look at the actual gameplay compared to bartersgate three and there's a distinct difference to the point where that's why highlighted the overall real-time actions as far as dodging parrying things of that nature right

and then of course you get to the story and not to say balder's gate three story is like inferior because that would be blasphemous, right? To quote my man Stephen A. Smith, I think it's immaculent the way that both of these games is telling the story. But it's similar. And I would say it's in captivating just like a Baldus Gate 3. But me being a Mass Effect nerd, right, which is an understatement. But in Mass Effect, there's branching timelines and story, not timelines.

It's not multiverse. It's branching storylines as far as where you can go based on your decisions. Now, is that as present in Exposition 33 like it is in Barberts? Balthuscade 3, I think not. So that is where I still would give Baudersgate 3 the upper hand as far as an overall package of content. Now, anyways, getting back into the overall character, right? You have Gustav played by Charlie Cox.

You have melee. I don't know for male. I don't know. I don't know. It's pronounced. That's voice acted by Jennifer English. Loon is acted by Kirstie Ryder. Skiyl.

I think it's Skyel. that's voiced by shala nix uh monaco is voiced by rich keb and of course you have you know popular voice actors doing the mpcule as far as uh es esquie what is that uh voice act by max sense

Carl carzola and then Verso's voice acted by Ben Starr Benstar Benstar is Benstar hold up See my super hold I didn't recognize this one Ben Star Oh, and I think of Anthony Starr. I was like, hold up now.

Don't tell me they got Homeland in this game. Anyways, BandStar is voice acting Verso, and then Renor is voice acted by Indy Circus. If you are a particular, or if you're particularly interested in who's voice acting, who. So when it comes to the launch performance, it did phenomenal as already went over the analytics, when it comes to the specific consoles and Steam.

But overall, it sold 500,000 copies shortly after its launch, had one million units sold within three days excluding game pass downloads because of course another w for Xbox especially showcasing how when it comes to this game Xbox is showcasing why the game pass is so valuable in today's age especially with the way the economy is going to pay one subscription and get the access to expedition 33 in south to midnight just in one month you already pay for it right so now you're looking at it in totality and you're thinking to yourself why would anybody not get an Xbox as far as the ecosystem that the game has provided right and then my superhero nerd brain jumps out again and tells me well when spider-man p.s.6 comes out

guess what i'm not going to be able to play on the Xbox when wolverine comes out i'm not going to be like i go to the reason why i get certain consoles and the only reason i have PlayStation i'm not saying PlayStation is uh i'm not saying the ps 5 is better than the xx series x is just because spider man is exclusively on that platform if it was on xbox guess what i would have an xbox if it was on nintendo i would have a nintendo i'm still upset that i couldn't play marvel ultimate alliance three right because i'm not getting a switch just for one game but um with that being said uh getting back into the performance of the game it has 70 000 concurrent players on steam initially as i went over currently it has increased from that number having 83 000 players currently playing that game and then uh it had a hundred

20,000 concurrent players peak, which is around the numbers that I've reported as far as it being 121 in the past four days. So people are still playing this game. They're still captivated by the story. And that's a great accomplishment, especially by the developing studios. As when it comes to the Steam reviews, it's 92% positive. And now I'm pretty sure it's time to jump into just the straight masterclass of a game that's been put forth as a lot of publications came out and had high praise as dual shockers gave it a 10 out of 10 talking about the bold mechanics the emotional grounded the emotionally grounded story and unforgettable experience and when it comes to uh Xbox era it gave it a 9.5 out of 10 praising and captive praising a captivating story deep combat and artistic direction calling it a rare

Jim despite Explored a flaw. So that's the first negative I've heard from like a gaming publication. CG magazine gave it a 10 out of 10 saying it's a freshman accomplishment emphasizing emphasizing the passionate debut from San Fall Interactive with stellar

combat and story. And then of course it ended off as far as a review roundup. IGN gave it a 9 out of 10 commending the brilliant combat system and gripping, harrowing, story placing it among great RPGs despite minor narrative messiness so when it comes to this game as you can tell across the board people are giving it at at least a nine which is a huge accomplishment and just showcases the overall respect that a lot of these gaming publications have for this particular

game now of course when it comes to the development studio get more deep into what they do sandfall is from montpellier uh france right founded by x Ubisoft devs. I mean, Ubisoft just taking L's left and right. All right, my fault. Led by Goul Lamont LeMay Brochet. I hope that's said his name right.

Then you come to the blend of French cultural aesthetics plus JRP inspirations, especially the people who made Final Fantasy persona, Lost Odyssey, things in nature. That's what the inspirations is based on. And then to round off the deliverance of this product, it's on the

PS5 Xbox series X and S. And of course PC don't know when it's coming to Nintendo but let's just say it's probably not based on the graphics and things that nature so um no multiplayer is single player only so people who wanted to play this with their friends just know that's not happening it's only single player and there's no developments as far as adding a multi player so it's probably going to be single player for the lifespan of this video game and then of course when it comes to the overall message that I want you to get out of this segment is that Expedition 33 is I'm not going to say it's running away with it because I still think split fiction is the greatest game that I've seen in quite some time but expedition

33 is a strong contender for game of the year which goes back to my original point expedition 33 even though the name is expedition they're treating this like the finals as they are indeed one of the premier candidates to win game of the year so that being said click my link sure in my bio let me know on one of my social medias what do you think about expedition 33 being a strong contender for game of the year what do you think about it performing phenomenally on the charts as far as consular as far as steam and will you be giving this turn-based RPG with real-time mechanics a try