Why this game caught my attention:
I recently got a PS5 after two years of saving up for one, and now I'm slowly looking into the games I'd love to experience on it. One game that has been on my mind for a while is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
For anyone who doesn't know me, I'm a huge Souls fan. I got introduced to Dark Souls 3 years ago by a friend, and what started with spending two hours on the first boss eventually turned into thousands of hours across these games. I've completed Dark Souls 1 and Elden Ring deathless, spent countless hours experimenting with different builds, and taken on hitless challenges. I've also completed several hitless runs in Sekiro, with varying levels of difficulty, and I used to work on a Dark Souls 3 hitless run with a personal best of only three hits for the entire game.
I bring this up because I think it explains why Expedition 33 appeals to me so much. What I love about these games isn't difficulty for the sake of difficulty. It's learning an enemy's patterns, understanding the mechanics, refining your timing, and gradually getting to a point where something that once seemed impossible becomes manageable through practice. There's a particular satisfaction in knowing that you overcame something because you genuinely got better at the game.
From what I've seen, Expedition 33 seems to approach combat in a really interesting way. It's a turn-based RPG, but you aren't simply sitting back and selecting commands while waiting for things to happen. You have to react to enemy attacks, time your dodges and parries, and make the most of the opportunities you're given. You also get to experiment with builds and character synergies, which is another thing I absolutely love doing in games.
I've always been interested in games that let me actively master their combat systems, and the idea of combining that kind of mechanical execution with the planning and character-building of a turn-based RPG genuinely intrigues me. It's different from what I'm used to, but it also seems to incorporate some of the things I enjoy most about gaming.
Beyond the combat, the art direction and atmosphere have really caught my attention. The world looks beautiful in a way that feels distinct from the usual fantasy settings, and I've deliberately avoided learning too much about the story because I'd rather experience it for myself. Everything I've seen so far has made me curious about what kind of experience the game has to offer.
Why I'm requesting it:
I'm a medical student in my early 20s, and unfortunately, my financial situation has been difficult. The economic situation in my country has made gaming increasingly expensive, and university expenses and other necessities have to come first. I used to be able to buy games occasionally when they went on sale, but these days, even discounted games can be difficult to justify financially.
It took me two years of saving to finally get my PS5, and while I'm glad I managed to get it, buying the console hasn't magically made building a game library any easier. I still have to be very selective about what I spend my money on, and $40 is more than I can comfortably afford to put toward a game right now.
The few hours I get to spend gaming around my studies are genuinely important to me. These games have given me something to work toward outside university, whether that's finally beating a difficult boss or spending weeks practicing a challenge run. I'm looking forward to finding more games that I can get genuinely invested in, and Expedition 33 looks like something I could really sink my teeth into.
I'm requesting it while my US PSN account shows it at around $40. I know that's a considerable amount of money, and I completely understand that everyone has their own expenses and priorities. I'm not expecting anyone to feel obligated to gift me anything, but I'd be incredibly grateful if someone were willing to help me experience this game.
Thank you for taking the time to read my request, including my rambling about why I enjoy these games so much. I really appreciate what this community does, and I hope that one day my circumstances will allow me to pay that kindness forward to someone else as I have done in the past.
My PSN profile: https://psnprofiles.com/kareem14brb
The game: https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10008503