Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's deeply frustrating minigames make harsh parries look like a breeze in contrast, and it's all Final Fantasy's fault

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hero Gustave in a striped swimsuit.

After roughly 50 hours in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, I can say without a shadow of a Nevron-blighted doubt that the minigames have given me the most grief by far. I'd sooner solo the Frost Eveque with neither Pictos nor lumina before I resign myself to the "normal" Sakapatate volley on that blasted Gestral Beach, swimsuit rewards be damned, and I'd take every missed parry with a smile.

But it seems that's kind of the point. Sandfall Interactive's ode to Persona 3 also pays homage to the JRPG canon itself, and you see that no clearer than in the optional minigames you encounter while exploring the overworld. From clunky platforming to messy depth perception, it's intentionally frustrating – which is why I both love and loathe the mini-games in Clair Obscur.