Expedition 33's endgame is exactly what it needs to be, no more, no less.

given Claire Obsker: Expedition 33After sweeping the Game Awards 2025, there's virtually no denying that this game is an overall masterpiece. Is it a touching and interesting story? check. splendid performance of Claire Obsker A cast that takes the powerful writing to a new level? check. Are you looking for unique gameplay that modernizes turn-based combat with dodges and parries to make the game enjoyable for even the biggest haters of the genre? You can check those boxes, as well as those for great music and beautiful visuals. But no game is perfect. This also applies to The Game Awards' all-time winningest title.

While there is a problem Claire Obsker: Expedition 33 It's trivial and exists. The Gestral minigame is a good example of this. Because it was intentionally frustrating to call it back to classic. final fantasy There is no excuse for how lackluster the activity is. And if there is nothing that someone likes final fantasyThey won't see volleyball or platform games as loving homages, but rather boring barriers to 100%. This is an issue that can also create awkward jumping and platforming animations. Claire ObskerAccording to the developers of , the final game format is another valid criticism. However, the way the final game is handled is perfectly fine the way it is, and there are other issues than the studio mentioned.

I defend Clair Obscur's end-game approach.

In an interview with Edge Magazine, Sandfall Interactive's lead game designer Michel Nohra said of the final game content: Simply put, the team feels that the challenging final boss battle didn't deliver enough of the immediacy needed. This means that if players do all the side content, they will take down their team.

At face value, this is a fair claim from Nohra. This is because it reflects criticisms other players have had about steamrolling the final boss. But just as Sandfall Interactive underestimated how much gamers and critics would love it. Claire Obsker—In the same interview, lead programmer Tom Guillerman said that Sandfall's developers “were not sure our game would be any good.” This stance underestimates player perception. RPGs have been around for decades, and during that time most have become fully aware of the concept of over-leveling and getting ahead of the story by grinding or completing hard-side content early. When an experienced player has completed all optional content using their newly discovered Esquie ability. Expedition 33They probably knew full well that it was going to be overkill for the finale. Even someone new to the genre would have expected as much.

Of course, gamers as a whole may need a bit of hand-holding with climbable ledges marked in yellow or follower characters providing puzzle hints, but many will still definitely know what they're getting into by saving the showdown with Renoir for last. And realistically, it doesn't matter whether he's a tough guy or not. Considering his daughter Maelle's drawing abilities at that point, it almost makes sense that her father would be quickly overwhelmed, not to mention the rest of the party. Some people may laugh at how easy it is to win a fight when presented with optional content like this: Claire ObskerBut they will quickly refocus on the spectacular story unfolding before them.

Why it’s not a big problem that the final boss is ‘easy’

Image via Sandfall Interactive

While it's true that a minority of players expected the final boss to be big and hope for a tough fight, the reality is that the vast majority of players likely used the story's ending as a reward because of the quality of the narrative up to that point. They may have wanted to end the trip with their time in the world once the credits rolled. Claire Obsker When the character does, draw a conclusion. This was the actual reward that players had been putting off getting because the story had hit such a high point overall. The fight itself will be an afterthought for many. Music, dialogue, and plot were the real carrots for players who created the side content first. Some of them were so good that you might have wanted to go into excessive levels so you could watch the story unfold with minimal disruption.

Plus, considering the Endless Tower exists, there's little reason to feel cheated out of having a good boss fight in the real version of Renoir. Here, players can battle Painted Love, a more powerful version of the true Renoir who fights alongside Paintless. So while the main story's final boss may have been “disappointing” in theory, if players had done all the side content first, as Sandfall says, they would have already battled a better version of Renoir through the Endless Tower and witnessed the battle's best form. With that battle fresh in your mind, it will be much harder to feel disappointed by the version you were certain would be weaker. Add in the fact that the game's actual final boss (either Maelle or Verso) is always a breeze, but considering the emotional intensity of the fight, no one is complaining, and it's clear that this endgame flaw that Sandfall points out isn't really all that important.

Clair Obscur's Endgame has other problems that hold it back from greatness.

Sandfall doesn't regret leaving players to complete all side content or wrap up the story in Act 3, and they really shouldn't, but that doesn't mean the endgame content is perfect. Completionists may not have needed the warning to fight the final boss as quickly as possible due to the intended difficulty, but they may have needed another warning. will be It was beneficial. After beating the story, Sandfall was able to appeal to non-completionists by directing them to some of the best endgame content they might miss once the credits roll. People who do nothing and jump straight through the story will miss out on things like Flying Manor or Verso's Drafts (which were added to celebrate after launch). Expedition 33's Game Awards success) are some of the most content-rich and enjoyable dungeons in the entire game. Rather than appealing to hardcore fans who want to try everything, it would be a worthwhile effort to direct people who are just rushing through the story to see the best content.

In addition to highlighting standout endgame content, Claire Obsker The player can't tell whether they'll be entering a side area that has a big impact on the story or a small area that only contains random music discs, which can hinder the average user from exploring thoroughly. There is also a topic called Simon. This endgame boss is one of the most difficult enemies in video game history, but that doesn't mean it's in a good way. Simon was supposed to be the ultimate final test for players, but it was completely turned on its head as he changed his play style and threw in unblockable moves in ways players had no interest in doing at all. problem Expedition 33Simon's includes:

• Absurd amounts of health and one-hit kill potential

• A function that pulls a fallen character out of the canvas so they cannot be revived.

• An unblockable attack that annihilates the selected party and forces the player to end the fight with a spare squad.

• Very long and difficult to read combos that get longer with each stage

• Ignores stuns and prevents counterattacks.

To be clear, you will have a great time with Simon. Blocking quick attacks that level the player up as his health gets lower and his epic boss music blaring is incredibly satisfying when you actually pull it off. Still, they look a lot alike Elden Ring: Shadow of Edtree's final boss increases the difficulty so much that it's unfair, forcing most players to break their own rules and change their build just to win. Simon is so over-tuned that most players simply do a one-shot build. Expedition 33 To skip his last step.

This is a shame, as the majority of players are essentially choosing to skip a large portion of the combat that should be the most rewarding part of the game. Simon could have done with less effort. Perhaps stunning him might actually be important, and he can't perform attacks that would force the player to end the fight with a backup character (who might be underleveled, so it might require some tedious level grinding to accommodate). As is, he can annoy players with a well-balanced game, which is a serious problem.

Fortunately, the new Verso's Drafts area features a much better endgame boss in the form of the brutally challenging but much fairer Osquio. Yes, for those who want the platinum trophy Claire Obsker You still have to put up with Simon, but at least they have better balanced encounters that allow for maximum partying.

Ultimately, Claire ObskerThe endgame is a worthy part of a wonderful, spectacular game. Giving players freedom to explore in Act 3 was a good decision, and the lack of warning isn't as big of a problem as Sandfall thought it would be. There are other issues, including a lack of must-see endgame content and direction for Simon as a whole, but nothing is perfect. It's not even the best game of 2025. still, Expedition 33's final game gets the job done in a way that the pros outweigh the cons and the content is worth the player's time.

released

April 24, 2025

ESRB

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

developer

Sandpole Interactive

publisher

Kepler Interactive