[Warning: This piece includes spoilers for Clair Obscur’s late-game Act 2 reveals.]
I really like a severe story as a lot as the subsequent particular person, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is extremely severe. It begins with a whole bunch, possible hundreds, erased from existence earlier than an expedition of a pair dozen go off to battle the Paintress, the deity-like being chargeable for stated erasure of Lumière’s residents. Most of these expeditioners shockingly die moderately rapidly. Like I stated — severe. However Clair Obscur may also be extremely goofy, and no character straddles each the intense and the goofy higher than Esquie.
You meet Esquie early on in Clair Obscur, round once you encounter the obsession-worthy Gestrals, battle-ready little dudes. You’re barred from getting into Esquie’s nest till you be taught the password, which is a convincing, “GET OUT OF MY WAY!” (although, that isn’t really the password – sorry for shouting). When you converse with Esquie and seize his rock from his cranky buddy François, he’ll be part of your expedition.
Picture: Sandfall Interactive
Esquie, as a result of he’s the very best, doesn’t be part of as a fighter, however as your mount (as a result of why trip a horse when you may trip Esquie?). He’s a talkative mount, and I nonetheless giggle each time Esquie yells “Exploration!” after we’re out and about on the continent, or “Time for swim swim!” after we’re taking a dip. The best way his arms incessantly flap when flying by no means fails to make me grin.
Ultimately, as extra rocks are acquired, he’ll acquire the flexibility to seize underwater objects. This capacity comes as a reward for leveling up Verso’s relationship with Esquie, and their relationship lends depth to the characters and the sport at giant. They share secrets and techniques, like how Esquie is filled with Verso’s good wine. Esquie tells the group their secret, and Verso playfully scolds him in a method that exhibits these two have been mates for a while.
Whereas Verso bonds with the expeditioners — and might share romantic scenes with Sciel or Lune — these bonds aren’t as deep as his friendships with Esquie and Gestral warrior Monoco. Principally, it’s Verso’s fault, as he can’t be sincere with Sciel, Lune, and Maelle in methods he can along with his outdated mates. Throughout some stretches, he distances himself from the expeditioners and permits them house to grieve or dance to take their thoughts off issues whereas Verso stays within the background.
One among Esquie and Verso’s extra friendship-affirming conversations occurs whereas spending time collectively at camp. Esquie picks up on his buddy’s down-in-the-dumps temper, resulting in one of many extra touching conversations within the sport. “I too am ‘Whooo.’ However I’m additionally ‘Wheee.’ So the ‘Wheee’ balances the ‘Whooo,’” Esquie says, hitting on one thing all of us can relate to: holding conflicting feelings concurrently. Being joyful however low on the identical time, pissed off but excited. The “WheeeWhooo” dialog captures this pressure between gentle and darkish permeating all through Clair Obscur; hell, the title roughly interprets to “gentle darkish.” The group can swing from the enjoyment of discovering Gestrals are actual to just some hours later grappling with the lack of Gustave. By way of this all, although he doesn’t have a big position to play within the narrative, Esquie is one thing of its emotional rock, in the event you’ll permit me, whether or not he’s comforting Maelle or dancing ballet as Verso performs the piano.
Picture: Sandfall Interactive
As soon as all of the truths are laid naked by the top of Clair Obscur’s second act, and also you uncover who Verso really is (for the ultimate time) — a painted copy of the true and deceased Verso — Verso really opens as much as Esquie, questioning if he misses the true Verso, if it bothers Esquie that the Verso we all know isn’t the Verso Esquie befriended. It’s a stark second within the sport; Verso hasn’t at all times been probably the most upfront about his inner struggles, usually simply reluctantly opening up about his grief-stricken household and their position within the devastation wrought upon Lumière.
Esquie, the healthful big, continues being the emotional rock of the group. He leaves no room for confusion, and offers the kind of kind-hearted, open-armed response that’s endeared him to followers. “You’re my buddy,” he says, assuring Verso that regardless of how Verso views himself, Esquie will at all times see him as his ami.