Story

Expedition 33 wasn't just a video game — it was something so special that the game will stay intact in my memory forever. I'm someone who rarely plays turn-based RPGs, but Expedition 33 felt different. And I am glad to be a part of such an impactful journey.

The story is centered in a world where a mysterious figure named "The Paintress" completely erases people out of existence in an event called the Gommage. Each year, the Paintress will uphold a number, and any person on the island that is older than that number will fade away into thin air. Expedition 33 focuses on the 33rd Expedition, and their emotional journey in order to put down the Paintress once and for all, which would ultimately put an end to the Gommage. In essence, the story is basically a race against time as the Expeditioners know their life is hanging by a thread.

Gameplay

This is not your typical turn-based RPG; it's something different. The game allows you to parry or dodge enemy attacks, which is absolutely crucial when it comes to stronger enemies or boss fights. It will actually feel quite smooth when you get the hang of it. You might face some difficulties at the beginning, but as you play along, the mechanics really start to click. Aside from the battles, the exploration around the game was quite enjoyable. Sometimes, I would just wander around to experience the beauty of the game, and it just felt right.

The Acting

If I were to talk about the overall acting in the game, it might take a while so I will try to keep it as short as possible. Everyone played their respective role to perfection. Starting from #CharlieCox, #AndySerkis, #JenniferEnglish, #KirstyRider, #BenStarr, #ShalaNyx, #RichKeeble, #MaxenceCazorla and others too, but if I have to pick one out of these amazing performers, Maxence Cazorla would be my pick. Even though my favorite character was Lune (Kirsty Rider), Maxence was just exceptionally good. If I am not wrong, he not only voiced Esquie, but mocapped Verso, Gustave and even Renoir at times. I really loved Lune (Kirsty Rider), but at the end of the day, Verso probably stole the show.

Character Development

Again, this is another sector where it's very difficult to complain. You will get to know almost every playable character well enough to understand their emotion and what they went through. Even if some of their backstories had smaller details, it was enough for me to be emotional. In the camp, for example, when you interact with the characters, they will slowly open up to you about their backstories or things they really wanted to express to you. Even as you progress throughout the main story, you'll get to know more about them.

The Music

The game had some of the best OST that I experienced. The way the music blends in with the overall environment of the game created something unique. It felt like the missing puzzle piece that made the game even more emotionally rich.

Moral of the Story

Expedition 33 doesn't just tell you a story; it demonstrates how different people cope with suffering, loss, and grief in their own way. Sometimes, we even try to create an alternate story in our mind. We think about it as if it was our own reality—a reality where things turn out differently, and we get to live in a time we truly love, but that's all just a fairy tale story. It's just an escape route to comfort ourselves from the truth we refuse to face. It’s completely natural to grieve in your own way, and to hold onto something that you lost, but how long before the past holds us back? Humans are built on emotions, but even our loved ones wouldn't want us to be lost in a fake reality. What they want the most would be for us to carry on, even through the pain, to live our life, and to make them proud by finding happiness once again.

Conclusion

#Expedition33 had everything for me to be a 10/10. This is a video game that I will remember for the rest of my life. For those who come after, now you know this.