I think I will admit defeat

[Alabeo]

I don't mean this post to be trolling at all but I don't know why but despite trying so hard to love this masterpiece, I just... I don't think I can.

Don't get me wrong. I too want to love this game so much like everyone else. It feels such a bummer that I'm unsure how to enjoy the mechanics. I enjoyed the combat, but I don't enjoy parrying and I play on easiest difficulty. I think enabling auto-QTE would be cheating and robbing myself of most of the gameplay so I didn't, but I don't really know how to like this game.

It's not this game's problem. This game is everything artistically/storywise I would want it to be, but I just don't know how to gel with the gameplay.

No, this game isn't trash, and if anyone says that, they are absolutely wrong and are being hyperbolic and disingenious.

However I really struggle to love this masterpiece so much.

I think I start to realize this may not be for me. Not because I'm slow or unable to learn, quite the opposite. I just don't know how to like this style of gameplay.

[orcbuster]

Then its not for you and thats ok.

Art should not be for everyone, devs said pretty much the same thing and its a big part of why I love it. It's what *they* wanted to make and it shines through.

[Alabeo]

Originally posted by orcbuster:

Then its not for you and thats ok.

Art should not be for everyone.

I hated RPGs but The Witcher 3 kinda made me love this type of gameplay, so I thought Expedition 33 would do the same for me for Turn-Based RPGs.

[Zyrconia]

This combat system is good for turn based combat, one of the best maybe, but in my book, a legendary once in a lifetime 40/10 game of the decade made by a visionary genius turn based combat is roughly... a 3/10 when compared to the competition. By definition. And there is no arguing with definitions.

So of course, this combat is not for me. And I despise the parry timing with a burning passion.

But still one of the best games I played. Definitely GOTY for me and criminally cheap. This is the kind of game that can be 70, not Ass Creed Shadows: now with half the features! I enjoy the story, writing, exploration and the levels, which look like painting brought the life. The subtle writing, voice acting and slow drip of story reveals is masterful. Even the build theory crafting.

A game like this is probably best enjoyed on super duper easy story mode, where you have a casual walk across these beautiful landscapes and enjoy it as an interactive movie. Because this boring ass 3/10 combat system is enough to keep my attention for 5 minutes, and I'm 44 hours in. Dude, I already selected the same moves from a list the last encounter. Why do I have to do it again. Selecting moves from a list is literally the most boring way to do combat. I mean, combat by mail would be a bit more boring. You get a pen pall and send each move you make by physical mail though the post office. and you pen pal mails you their turn... That would be a bit more boring.

So add something like this mod and don't feel bad for missing out the "good" gameplay.
https://www.nexusmods.com/clairobscurexpedition33/mods/28

[Baron01]

Auto-QTE option only affects offensive side of the combat, feel free to enable it as it is just a very minor QoL change. Your defensive actions still need to be triggered manually.

I also do not agree with anyone suggesting a game, this or any other, is not for certain people/audience. The only person who determines if a game is for them, ie. they enjoy it any way they like, is a player themselves.

Clair Obscur can be play and completed on normal difficult at least even if you are not good at parry and mostly dodge. Hell, you can build your party where you can perfectly clear the main story with just dodging or just tanking the damage. The later playstyle will not be enough to clear some optional areas or bosses but you would still be able to enjoy this great game.

[KombatKaine]

if it's not for you, then it's not for you. nothing wrong with that.

BUT, if you do want to keep trying i can offer some tips that help me enjoy it more (as someone with pretty eh reflexes and generally doesnt enjoy souls-like mechanics).

1. dont look at the game as a turn-based game. look at it as a dodge/parry game that just gives you a little breathing room via the turn system. a mentality shift can vastly change your perspective of the game.

2. dont expect to one shot new enemies. not to say you cant, but if you go into a new fight expecting to get your ass beat while you learn the new attack patterns, its much more palpable. but the difference in how you perceive damage taken is massive. if you miss a dodge/parry and think "fking ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥!", obviously gonna have a terrible time. but if you take a hit and immediately analyze like "oh ok, my timing was a little early" or whatever, then you look forward to the next one so you can try to correct yourself.

3.build defensively, with how the scaling system works, glass cannon builds just arent necessary at all. tons of weapons scale on defense and vitality, allowing you to be able to survive hits that you goof up, while still scaling your damage. obviously its still a slower playstyle, but much more forgiving while you learn parry timings. same goes for building your team, dont be afraid to take defensive abilities. specing Lune as mainly a healer and support is insanely strong.

4. dont stress over parrying right away. the dodge window is larger than the parry window, so use dodge when fighting enemies you dont know the attack patterns very well for. when you hit a PERFECT DODGE, that means you hit the parry window. once you can do that consistently, you can start to parry. there are also Pictos that can make your dodge more rewarding, so dont be afraid to use those.

5. dont tap your dodge/parry buttons. hold them. like, you still need to press them within the window, but holding it after that, rather than quick tapping SUBSTANTIALLY increases your success rate.

ultimately, its just how you mentally approach the game. the problem solving of the parry timings IS the game, not a side mechanic. if you take the time to learn them, and dont get overly frustrated when something isnt immediately easy and solved, the game is much more enjoyable.

[catsniffer9000]

Go to the Nexus and download the Easier Parry / Dodge mod. It's a lifesaver and makes the QTE BS far less of a pain. Enjoy!

[TREXINATUX]

QTE's are a sin. Especially when they cover up beautiful cut-scenes like in FF 13-2 and on up. I can barely tolerate them in gameplay like Xenoblade Chronicles. It's just really bad, they add it for the twitchy low attention span players and it is anathema to the spirit of the RPG which should always have Long Story Arcs, strategic thoughtful gameplay, Beautiful long uninterrupted cutscenes.

Action-RPG's are truly the death of the genre it's just watered down meaningless gameplay with crap popping up in your face signifying nothing.

It's like playing Simon Says it's purely masturbatory and puerile.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLi1qnRmpe4