RPG Enthusiasts React Strongly to Comparisons with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
After racking up numerous accolades and capturing the hearts of gamers everywhere, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was bound to leave its mark on future titles. You might think that other games drawing inspiration from a well-loved title would be a positive development. However, the remake of The Legend of Sword and Fairy 4 has found itself at the center of a heated online debate.
The Legend of Sword and Fairy is a beloved RPG series rooted in Chinese mythology, first launching in 1995. Fast forward over a decade, and after several sequels and spin-offs, the fourth entry in this turn-based RPG saga is being reimagined using Unreal Engine 5. A trailer for the remake has been circulating online, particularly in Western circles, largely due to its similarities to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The fact that it’s a Chinese-language game has led some to dismiss it as merely a clone.
Comments on the trailer reflect this sentiment, with one user noting, “The original 2007 game looks like a Suikoden game and now the remake version look[s] like E33.” Another quipped, “Expedition 44?”
There are indeed some striking parallels between the two games. Both feature turn-based combat, flashy attacks, and a parrying system. However, as Sandfall Interactive pointed out during one of its acceptance speeches at The Game Awards, Clair Obscur didn’t just appear out of nowhere. It draws heavily from the legacy of Final Fantasy, known for its epic narratives, vibrant spells, and massive damage numbers. The Sword and Fairy series predates Clair Obscur, and if you check out gameplay from the original game being remade, it’s clear that both Clair Obscur and Legend of Sword and Fairy 4 owe a debt to the creative vision of Final Fantasy’s Hironobu Sakaguchi. I can’t be the only one who sees a resemblance between the protagonist of the Sword and Fairy remake and Cloud Strife, right?
It also feels overly simplistic to attribute negative reactions to Legend of Sword and Fairy 4 solely to Western anti-China sentiment. The original game featured a unique user interface that players had to navigate for their next moves, as shown in various Let’s Play videos. The new version adopts certain UI elements that players associate with Expedition 33, such as dynamic zooms when selecting attack options and a turn order display in the top left corner. Critics are also noting the shift from strictly turn-based combat, but that’s a trend seen across many RPGs today. Even Final Fantasy continues to innovate in making its gameplay more engaging.
Did Clair Obscur create QTE minigames for attacks and defenses, or menus that shift around? Absolutely not. As many commenters have pointed out, these features can be found in a wide range of series, including Nintendo’s Mario & Luigi RPGs. Still, it feels disingenuous to claim there’s no influence from Clair Obscur in the Sword and Fairy remake. While Clair Obscur may not be the originator of many concepts, the distinctive style in which it executes these ideas is what’s being compared here. This isn’t just a case of the internet lumping every JRPG together with Persona 5 because it’s the only one they know.
In the end, influence is a burden that any landmark game must carry. Great ideas get replicated, and the best ones can define a genre—just look at titles like Vampire Survivors, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, or Dark Souls. In the best scenarios, new games manage to incorporate existing ideas in ways that feel fresh and unique.
But let’s be real. The Clair Obscur-inspired titles are on the horizon. Legend of Sword and Fairy 4 just happens to be the first one that’s caught everyone’s attention.
