The gaming community is buzzing as the developer of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 prepares to tweak the RPG’s most powerful move, which may significantly shift the combat dynamics. Starting from May 9th, an essential update will roll out, making it harder to dominate battles.
In a recent announcement shared on social media, the studio clarified their initial stance: “Our intention was to focus on bug fixes and not implement any balance changes so soon. However, we couldn’t ignore the glaring issue that is Stendhal.”
It seems that Maelle’s ability was unintentionally overpowered, leading to a drastic update aimed at tempering its damaging effects. This first major hotfix will initially launch on Steam, with other platforms to follow.
Outstanding Artwork and Glorious Combat
The developers explained their rationale: “[Stendhal] was underperforming during most of development. So, during our final pre-launch balance assessment, we provided a significant damage enhancement, but clearly went overboard, making it overshadow other abilities.”
“While we still want players to experience the thrill of breaking the game, Stendhal has made it a tad too simplistic,” they added, hinting at ongoing tweaks to maintain the balance of challenge and reward.
Personally, I found myself heavily relying on this move to conquer the game’s most formidable super boss, Simon. His intricate combos can feel maddening to parry, making every encounter increasingly more challenging.
Thanks to Maelle’s ability combined with strategic Pictos (the game’s buff system), I was able to unleash a staggering 72 million hit points of damage in one blow, obliterating Simon in a single strike—an exhilarating victory! Despite the enjoyment, this sense of breaking the combat system shows the developers might have missed the mark.
Since its launch, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has made a remarkable debut, achieving sales of two million copies within just **twelve days**. This overwhelming success even caught the attention of French President Macron who celebrated the game’s impact.
The game’s soundtrack has also made waves, climbing to the top of Billboard’s classical charts.
As Nova Play aptly puts it, “Outstanding artwork and glorious combat bring Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s bold, painterly world to life.” With such rave reviews and an eager fanbase, one can’t help but speculate on what further developments the studio might unveil in the coming weeks. Will they introduce new character abilities or perhaps additional narratives to enhance the lore? The gaming landscape is certainly ripe with possibilities!
