Expedition 33 is what happens when Final Fantasy stories don't succeed

Claire Obsker: Expedition 33 It was a subtle comparison. final fantasyAnd rightfully so. Not only was it designed to resemble the atmosphere and world of classic JRPGs, but it also intentionally conveyed the spirit of those games in both turn-based combat and character-driven storytelling. final fantasy 10In particular, he was often cited as the closest cousin. Claire Obsker: Expedition 33 Ensemble cast, emotional storytelling, PS2-era JRPG feel, and even minigames. But despite unashamedly digging up roots, final fantasy, Claire Obsker: Expedition 33 It promises to do what so many stories about Square Enix's beloved franchise have feared.

final fantasy Tragedy has never been a stranger, but modern times have made it quite difficult to commit to the most tragic story beats. You can still reach loss, sacrifice, or death as an emotional turning point, but you tend to undo those moments by playing the Uno Reverse card and either resurrecting dead characters or softening their departure in some way. Claire Obsker: Expedition 33In contrast, in some ways it embraces finality. final fantasy It became increasingly difficult to do. Rather than undoing the tragedy, it asks players and characters to sit in it and accept it, leaving behind sadness and putting an end to the most heartbreaking plot lines.

Final Fantasy struggled with some of its toughest narrative beats.

final fantasy I've never been afraid of characters dying or leaving, but it's also proven that I'm afraid of them disappearing. One way or another, it seems likely. final fantasy Characters are frequently resurrected or brought back, or at least their deaths are softened by ambiguity. One of the most recent examples is Aerith. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

In the original final fantasy 7Aerith dies and her death is final. After Sephiroth kills her, the party mourns her loss, and from that point on she is no longer a playable character. but, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthsecond game Final Fantasy 7 Remake The trilogy softens the shock of her death by clouding it with ambiguity. Rather than leaving the player with a final moment of decision after she dies. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth We briefly present a version of events in which Cloud appears to save Aerith, and then separate those moments through overlapping realities and perceptions. Afterwards, Cloud continues to see and talk to her even as the rest of the group mourns, giving the feeling that Aerith is gone, but at the same time not completely gone. It's not the same thing as resurrecting her, but making her death less painful is one of the features of the original game.

final fantasy 16's story is another recent example of this. Joshua Rosefield, who witnessed his father's death, awakens as a phoenix and begins to attack those around him indiscriminately. In response, his brother Clive Rosfield awakens as Ifrit to fight the Phoenix, unaware at the time that it is his brother. In the conflict, Ifrit appears to kill Phoenix, ultimately leading Clive to believe that he is responsible for his brother's death. But the twist is that Phoenix's nature actually allows Joshua to survive the encounter. It was later revealed that Joshua's body was taken away by a secret group called the Undying, and he later regained consciousness years after the Phoenix Gate, so despite appearances from that fight, he was not actually dead.

That wasn't the only thing final fantasySome of the latest games that have observed a resurgence trend include: final fantasy 10 and 10-2 I did the same thing from 2001 to 2003. final fantasy 10Tidus effectively “dies” at the end of the game's story. This is because he no longer exists in the world of Spira after the final battle due to the way his presence is connected to Fayth's dream and the summoning of Dream Zanarkand. After the party defeats Yu Yevon and ends Sin's cycle, Fayth stops dreaming Dream Zanarkand, meaning that Tidus' presence on Spira also falls apart. So in the original final fantasy 10 Tidus' disappearance in the story is essentially his “death”, or permanent departure from the world inhabited by Yuna and her friends following Sin's defeat.

Then it came Final Fantasy 10-2 With the explicit goal of somehow bringing Tidus back. Final Fantasy 10-2 It starts after the incident 10, Yuna is still haunted by Tidus' disappearance. As she and her friends hunt the sphere and uncover more of Spira's history, they encounter hints and memories of him, hinting at his possible return. If the player meets certain conditions Final Fantasy 10-2Faith decides to grant Yuna's wish to see Tidus again, and the perfect ending unfolds where Tidus returns to Spira as a living being, not a dream. Here, Tidus is reunited with Yuna, and they travel to where Tidus first arrived on Spira, confirming that he does not disappear immediately, implying that he has become real in a way he never was before.

Final fantasy game that resurrects fallen characters

• final fantasy 2 – Characters who die in the main game story appear as playable in the optional Soul of Rebirth bonus scenario.
• Final Fantasy 4: After Years – Characters believed to have disappeared permanently from the original work (Kain and other characters) FF4 returns
• Final Fantasy 10-2 – Tidus
• Final Fantasy 13-2 and Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII – Several characters return after apparent deaths or near-deaths throughout the sequel, including Lightning, Serah, Vanille, and Fang.
• final fantasy 16 – Joshua Rosefield
• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth – Aeris Gainsborough

The ultimate impact of this “resurgent trend” final fantasy Stories dilute the power of the most emotionally charged moments. When a death or breakup can be revisited or undone at a later date, the moment loses its impact and begins to feel more provisional in nature. Rather than being completely committed, tragedy becomes what the series is about, leaving players to expect that no loss is truly permanent and no goodbye is ever completely final.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 kills Gustave and sticks to it.

Unlike many final fantasy But one of the games Claire Obsker: Expedition 33Some of the most painful story beats occur, but the game doesn't apologize for them or try to undo them. That beat is the moment at the end of Act 1 when Gustave is murdered by Renoir, and it's a beat no one expected because the game not only hides it well, but once it's over, it's over. Almost professionally, Claire Obsker: Expedition 33 Because it gave Gustave a skill tree larger than his lifespan, it repels the player throughout the game. This created the illusion that the beloved character would eventually return, but he never did. Aline Dessendre is expected to come to terms with her son's death, and her brother Alicia (Maelle) is expected to come to terms with Gustave's death.

Reasons for Gustave's death Claire Obsker: Expedition 33 The problem is that it refuses to resolve the discomfort it creates. 35+ years final fantasy Conditioning has taught players to expect a way out through resurrection, revelation, or reinterpretation, so the game intentionally leaves room for rejection and never fills it. Gustave does not return in the alternate timeline. His death is not undone, nor are there any subsequent twists designed to soften the loss or leave it ambiguous. By forcing the players to accept his absence, Claire Obsker: Expedition 33 Many people make death final. final fantasy Avoid talking. It believes players can endure grief without having to return it, and in doing so proves that finality can be more satisfying than resurrection.

released

April 24, 2025

ESRB

Ages 17 and older / Blood and gore, strong language, suggestive themes, violence

developer

Sandpole Interactive

publisher

Kepler Interactive