I think this will be the last post I do about Clair Obscur: Expedition 22 (Sandfall Interactive), at least for now. I rudely got spoiled about something in the RKG Discord channel, and while it was not unexpected, it really put a sour taste in my mouth. That’s mostly on me, though. Even though the spoiler was poorly marked, I should have just continued my avoidance of all spoilers in that channel.
That’s not why this will be the last post, though. Not directly.
Forgive me because it’ll take me a bit to get to my point. More than usual, I mean.
I played a bit earlier today in what I think is the last area of the second act. I sighed every time I had to fight enemies, and was so impatient if I took more damage than I thought I ought to. I took some time to grind for the upgrade material I needed to get everyone’s weapons to +19, too. I need a different material for that +20 upgrade. Hey, wait. I assumed it went to +35, but it’s +33. I really don’t like that. And the next upgrade material is what’s needed for all the rest of the upgrades save one. Huh. That’s interesting.
I may grind some more to upgrade a few other weapons to +19 (there’s a creature in two of the side paths in a late second act area that is a guaranteed drop for this material, and the fight isn’t that hard. One is right next to a bonfire, and I can avoid the two groups of enemies that are irritatingly parked in front of it.
By the way, I hate that some of the enemies have insane aggro ranges. If I run by them, I should be able to escape them eventually. Also, you can flee from a fight, but if you don’t immediately run away, you just get thrown back into the fight again.
Yesterday, there was an instance whe I just finished a fight, turned, and somehow ended up in another fight. SIGH. I was not in the mood. I will say I was able to take care of the second group of enemies handily, but that’s not the point.
The level design is awful at times. I have to say it. This far into the game, and I still cannot tell which way is forward and which way is back. It all looks the same, for fuck’s sake. I was feeling alone because almost everyone I know LOVES this game. LOVES it. In the Discord, I mean. And everywhere else online. People talking about it being their GOTY so far and how brilliant it is.
Whereas I, well, I’ve talked plenty about my feelings about the game already. I’m used to being the weirdo, but I get nervous when my opinion is solidly the outlier. The praise for this game has been consistent and constant. Well, Ian did say that he thought it was good, but not great, and he’s not gotten very far into it. I was relieved to hear that from him! I needed to have someone on my side.