Following its meteoric rise and sweeping critical acclaim, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was virtually destined to become a blueprint for the next generation of role-playing games. While it is usually a testament to a game’s quality when peers adopt its innovations, the remake of The Legend of Sword and Fairy 4 has found itself embroiled in a polarizing online debate rather than receiving a warm reception.
The Legend of Sword and Fairy is a foundational pillar of Chinese mythology-inspired RPGs, boasting a legacy that stretches back to 1995. Now, after decades of expansion and various sequels, the franchise’s beloved fourth installment is being reimagined using the power of Unreal Engine 5. However, as fresh trailers circulate through Western media, the discourse has shifted toward accusations of mimicry. Because some of its aesthetic and mechanical flourishes mirror Expedition 33, many critics have been quick to dismiss the project as a derivative clone.
“The 2007 original had a Suikoden vibe, but this remake looks like an E33 skin,” one observer noted on a trailer upload. Another sarcastically dubbed the project “Expedition 44.”
Admittedly, the parallels are hard to ignore. Both titles are high-fantasy, turn-based RPGs featuring cinematic combat and reactive parry systems. Yet, as Sandfall Interactive has humblely noted during its awards season run, Clair Obscur did not emerge from a vacuum. It draws heavily from the Final Fantasy lineage—a series defined by grandiose narratives, hyper-stylized spells, and astronomical damage numbers. Considering The Legend of Sword and Fairy series predates Clair Obscur by decades, it is more accurate to say that both games are descendants of the Hironobu Sakaguchi school of design. In fact, one could argue the remake’s protagonist bears a more than passing resemblance to Final Fantasy VII’s Cloud Strife.
It would be reductive to attribute the backlash solely to a general skepticism of international titles. The original 2007 Sword and Fairy 4 utilized a traditional, static user interface for its tactical maneuvers. In contrast, the remake adopts several stylistic signatures popularised by Expedition 33, such as kinetic camera zooms that activate during menu selection and a sleek turn-order display positioned in the upper-left corner. While the move toward more visceral, action-oriented turn-based combat is a global industry trend—seen even in recent Final Fantasy iterations—the specific visual language here feels strikingly familiar.
To be clear, Clair Obscur did not invent defensive QTEs, dynamic menus, or the concept of battling mythological beasts. These elements have roots in series as diverse as Nintendo’s Mario & Luigi RPGs. Nevertheless, it is difficult to deny that the French RPG’s distinctive panache has influenced the presentation of this remake. This isn’t just a case of casual fans comparing every stylized RPG to Persona 5; there is a tangible overlap in how these two modern titles interpret classic mechanics.
Ultimately, being a source of inspiration is the burden of any landmark achievement. Revolutionary ideas are meant to be iterated upon, often spawning entirely new subgenres—much like the trails blazed by Dark Souls or Vampire Survivors. While The Legend of Sword and Fairy 4 may be the first project to face these “clone” allegations, it certainly won’t be the last. The era of the “Clair Obscur-like” has officially arrived.
Source: Polygon
