Current Events > Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Has Timed Attacks. Ew.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Just found out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has timed attacks during combat ew.
Seriously, why do developers keep adding these?

I just want to chill and strategize, not stress out mashing buttons at the perfect moment.

It worked for games like Mario RPG because it was simple, but not every RPG needs this gimmick.

There's an auto combo mode and easy mode probably doesn't demand much dodging

The only thing I hate is how long the enemy animations are

People saw Super Mario RPG's timed hits and thought "oh that's a good idea" forgetting that it works with Super Mario RPG because the game is based on Super Mario. Typically, if I'm playing an RPG, it's because I want a mostly hands-off type of experience. I set up my party and face them against my rivals

I had heard people saying it was a good game. How big a deal is the timed stuff?

You can turn off the attack QTE but not the dodging ones I heard. Which is a strange choice. I feel like I'd rather focus on my attacks if I must and not consistent parry/defense bullshit.

Also are you SuperPiposaru? TC? I saw someone bemoaning the game right when it came out there. I didn't try it, yet. I'm good for now. But I certainly won't ewwww this game or don't want to play it because of QTEs. It's a different kind of strategy and timing. I just got other games to play and things to do, like resting.

You only have to press buttons for dodging, there's an option for auto attacking. Dodging is a must though, but it makes the battles engaging!

You can turn off the QTEs for attacks (the game just auto-succeeds them). Obviously you can't just auto-succeed dodges/parries, but they're also 100% optional and can safely be completely ignored if you prefer to build that way. Hell, there's several options for buildcrafting to not only reduce damage taken, but where taking damage actively buffs your team.

Imagine still being upset by entirely optional game mechanics in the year of our lord two thousand and twenty five. smh

He knows about timed attacks!

imagine being the kind of person who hates paper mario mechanics

Kamil posted...

You can turn off the attack QTE but not the dodging ones I heard. Which is a strange choice. I feel like I'd rather focus on my attacks if I must and not consistent parry/defense bullshit.

The defensive QTE doesn't just reduce damage. It entirely negates it. You dodge completely, or you parry completely and counterattack. If they had an auto-succeed option, you literally wouldn't be able to take damage, and you're just watching a really long (albeit very good) movie. And, again, you can just completely ignore it and play the game exactly like every other RPG that doesn't have a parry mechanic.

Just play the game on easy mode.

Storm_Shadow posted...

He knows about timed attacks!

Yea, was that where the Goomba just walks away in Super Mario RPG that was funny.

Aristoph posted...

The defensive QTE doesn't just reduce damage. It entirely negates it. You dodge completely, or you parry completely and counterattack. If they had an auto-succeed option, you literally wouldn't be able to take damage, and you're just watching a really long (albeit very good) movie. And, again, you can just completely ignore it and play the game exactly like every other RPG that doesn't have a parry mechanic.

I don't want defense QTE gone. I feel like some assistance there could help, it is easier to balance a game around that I suppose. It's also not why I didn't play the game. Also Steam numbers concurrently this game was played more than Metaphor Re:Fantazio. Wowzers.

voldothegr8 posted...

You only have to press buttons for dodging, there's an option for auto attacking. Dodging is a must though, but it makes the battles engaging!

o.0 If people want them more engaging just make an action game. I thought this was turn based.

^It's turned based with a twist *Mark danced crazy*

Wel you can also just get hit and heal ...

I figured Carrne, perfection is not needed. I tend to tank through a lot of damage and conserve resources, I heard some of those bosses I guess if you weren't rdy can really break stuff/the team! I don't have much else to add here, of my own opinion but game is a hit. Whether there are qualms or not. That can sortie out.

BlackScythe0 posted...

o.0 If people want them more engaging just make an action game. I thought this was turn based.

It's a good thing you're not a game developer.

BlackScythe0 posted...

I had heard people saying it was a good game. How big a deal is the timed stuff?

More punishing for messing up than many games that have the mechanic. You need to get at least decent with dodging/parrying or you WILL get fucked up. Parry timing can tricky, but dodging is pretty generous. I only bother parrying single hit attacks that have very clear tells.

I get why some might not like it, but I'm having a blast. I love parry mechanics and rpgs, so it's a perfect blend to me.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


Yes and no. Its great when [timed attacks are] implemented well. (Edit: also using them for party commands that switch out party members, because Mana Khemia 1 and 2 do this very well).

The first two Paper Mario games are probably the best implementations of it I know of. Shadow Hearts was decent but making everything use the same ring system didn't help.

I think we all are fine with not having summon boosting from FF8 make a return though. And quick time events are just annoying and get in the way of what could otherwise be an enjoyable cut scene.

If it's completely optional, fine.

If I have to do more than click a button once to make it go away, I'm not interested.

It's implemented really well. You get to use more powerful abilities more often if you're good at the parrying system. It's a fun, rewarding skill check that breaks up the monotony of turn-based gameplay. It's fun!

knightoffire55 posted...

Seriously, why do developers keep adding these?

I just want to chill and strategize, not stress out mashing buttons at the perfect moment.

It worked for games like Mario RPG because it was simple, but not every RPG needs this gimmick.

1. Because it's fun.
2. Then play something you'd enjoy and don't worry about something you wouldn't.
3. It works for Clair Obscur too, and I'm pretty sure if you tally every major* turn based game released in the past like, 2-5 years you'd find that most do not have timing mechanics. It's pretty much this and Sea of Stars.

*I'm specifying major releases here to exclude the endless ocean of low budget RPGMaker titles that would heavily bias the tally in favor of my own argument.

I'll prefer qtes than gimmicks and I like pro wrestling. Some indie games try too hard to make their rpg to make sure you pay attention 100 percent 24/7. That's fine, but they can go overboard. I am just playing on normal and I am getting a little pissed off. You don't need constantly introduce new systems to keep my attention. This is a rib against a indie rpg on steam and not Clair. Heh.

That was a selling point for me because it adds interaction and makes it more challenging. Most turn based RPGs are easy and don't require much in the way of strategy to beat them so I don't understand that as an argument against timed hits.

My only problem with timed attacking and dodging is just how often they disrupt the pacing. Especially when you hit that point in the game where you have a consistent working system, it more or less just adds excess time and stalls the inevitable.

Unless a game is really difficult and makes doing my inputs challenging and with high stakes, it's hard to really care for the mechanic. Paper Mario has timed attacks but there's surprisingly little interesting about it. Player turn inputs are so easy and slow, and the defenses against enemy attacks are so easy and often-repeated due to the large amount of enemy recolors.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

No lmao. I don't mind this mechanic but i also don't want all rpg use this mechanic. I prefer if they prioritize character building/team setup+ synergy.

Having the timed defenses in an rpg that isnt an action rpg called parries is really throwing me off, its not an action rpg right?

GreenMario posted...

Having the timed defenses in an rpg that isnt an action rpg called parries is really throwing me off, its not an action rpg right?

Sounds more like the guard mechanic from Paper Mario, just more important.

pegusus123456 posted...

Sounds more like the guard mechanic from Paper Mario, just more important.

It's still more of a guard isn't it? Or "timed defense" instead of "timed attack" see?

Meanwhile I'm here wishing more RPGs had mechanics like this lol

GreenMario posted...

It's still more of a guard isn't it? Or "timed defense" instead of "timed attack" see?

I'm not sure what distinction you're making in these terms.

The only one was that I was unused to hearing a timed defense called a parry, it was new to me. It's not actually a value judgement just more of a "wow, am I old? Is this a newer term? I'm so used to timed defense or timed guard"

GreenMario posted...

The only one was that I was unused to hearing a timed defense called a parry, it was new to me. It's not actually a value judgement just more of a "wow, am I old? Is this a newer term? I'm so used to timed defense or timed guard"

I've not played the game, but yeah, it all just sounds like different terms for the same thing.

GreenMario posted...

The only one was that I was unused to hearing a timed defense called a parry, it was new to me. It's not actually a value judgement just more of a "wow, am I old? Is this a newer term? I'm so used to timed defense or timed guard"

Basically you can either do a timed dodge that makes the attack miss or dona times parry that blocks the attack and has you do an automated attack.

I think it's fine. Although, so far at the beginning of the game, enemies are really tough. I turned the difficulty down to easy for the time being.

GreenMario posted...

The only one was that I was unused to hearing a timed defense called a parry, it was new to me. It's not actually a value judgement just more of a "wow, am I old? Is this a newer term? I'm so used to timed defense or timed guard"

It's the same thing for the most part. It's a parry because the timing for it is basically what other games would call a "perfect guard." And when you land it, your character automatically counter attacks.

But since the timing is so tight, it's safer to just use dodge until you get used to the enemies' attacks. Dodge has a more forgiving timing window, but doesn't let you deal any counter attack damage.

The game is 100% turn-based. You can see the turn order ahead of time, so you know when everyone is acting in combat. On the enemy's turn, they select their attack which can be an AoE attack, a single target attack, or even a string of attacks. All attacks can be dodged, parried, or some special attacks need to be jumped. Dodging has a more forgiving window to avoid the attack to it's much safer, but parrying not only gives you AP needed for special attacks, but if you parry every hit in an enemy's attack you get a free counterattack to trigger which can do a ton of damage.

You can also equip a ton of different passive skills that have bonus effects when you parry or dodge or whatever. Very similar to the AP system in FFIX as someone else has pointed out, but there are dozens of different skills you can customize your characters with.

BlackScythe0 posted...

I had heard people saying it was a good game. How big a deal is the timed stuff?

On expert mode you have to have your shit together. But leveling up even once makes a hell of a difference and if you need to level up the game isn't grindy at all. Like 3-6 encounters is enough typically.
I imagine normal mode isn't that bad because my reflexes are shit (can't do Legend of Dragoon additions consistently) and I'm doing fine on expert. Getting a game over here and there even on normal encounters until I have the timing down, but I haven't been hard stuck on anything 10 hours in

Just got to Act 3. Great game honestly. People just have to get good

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

The best thing to happen to turn based RPGs was Grandia's combat system which has been ignored forever tbh.

That said timed attacks are cool but should be wholly optional, like the LAD turn based games.

Thank god for an easy mode

GOTY right here

Happy this topic did not go as TC planned