Parrying requires subtlety. It is a process of learning fist fighting and sword fighting, furrowing your brow, becoming familiar with the rhythm of the fight down to the millisecond, and learning the exact moment to execute a counterattack. For example, a slight change in animation may indicate a rare discovery. A slight change in note in the audio signal can indicate a change in the opponent's attack. Parrying well means understanding these details and adapting to them deftly.
However, it is tedious. The requirements needed to parry in most games can be high and demanding. This is why I generally avoid parrying if there are other ways to minimize damage during combat, such as blocking or dodging.
The exception was the picturesque Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, one of my favorite RPGs of the year. In its superb combat system, I discovered the joy of parrying, each encounter an exhilarating sequence of smooth attacks and counter-strikes. The combat in Expedition 33 is a great experience due to its amazing depth and complexity. Its skirmishes add real-time elements to JRPG-style turn-based combat that force players to dodge and parry at just the right moment.
Expedition 33 does not resign itself to its difficulties. Some enemies are capable of dealing massive amounts of damage, making every turn incredibly stressful. Thus, every decision made in battle has strategic significance. During your enemies' turns, you must pay close attention to what's happening, from the way the monster swings its bulky battle ax at your team to the subtle changes in visual and audio cues when a particularly devastating attack occurs. To prevent these attacks, dodging and parrying are necessary. This is how Expedition 33 encourages you to stay engaged during battles; it just won't let you get distracted. Watch, learn and adapt.
Parrying requires careful attention to the combat sequence, but I usually hate this process. This is because at its core, parrying is a test of reaction time. The idea behind this mechanic is to remember a lot of details, from timing to attack patterns, to accurately determine when to press a button. Many players may find this fun, but for others it can be a labor-intensive, time-consuming and tedious task. This loop can feel very frustrating when you simply can't press a button within the split second you're given to perform a parry. In a lesser game, a parry may even seem inevitable but unfair, the reward from a parry is too negligible to justify the effort, but the fight can't be won unless you achieve it.
But Expedition 33 exudes pure style to the point of spectacle, making it impossible to look away from the combat. For example, dodging has more options to perform and is really satisfying, especially when you can easily avoid a cascade of attacks. A successful parry has a smaller window, but it takes the emotion to dizzying heights because it allows you to respond with a counterattack. When this happens, the scene slows down for a few seconds and the camera tilts back slightly, ending with your sword slicing through the air in a series of chromatic trails. The enemy recoils with a howl. This is accompanied by the satisfying clang of guns, and the orchestral splendor of Expedition 33's soundtrack only makes these moments more invigorating.
Parrying in Expedition 33 is made even more attractive by the fact that it is also an extremely valuable maneuver if you can time it perfectly. Some of the toughest fights depend on perfectly executed parries. Not only can a counter-attack deal monstrous damage, but it also provides the action points needed to use each of your characters' special skills. Gaining more action points means access to more powerful skills, so a perfect parry can turn the tide of battle. Once I managed to save a lost battle with only one health point left. The incredible feedback from the parry meant I was willing to put in the time to practice and polish. Soon I began to anticipate attacks and parry blows with style.
Other factors helped enhance Expedition 33's parry abilities. Gradient Counter, a variation of the basic parry, adds a new twist to the mechanic and is one of the most striking moves in the game. Unsurprisingly, it is used against the gradient attack, a powerful move that temporarily colors the scene with a monochromatic filter. Additionally, there are other defensive moves that can increase the adrenaline rush of a parry, especially if performed in quick succession. In addition to dodging, there is also a jump counter; while not strictly a parry, it can only be performed when you successfully jump over a sweeping attack. This action is much easier to pull off than parrying, as you only have to jump when the icon appears, and the combat slows down a bit to indicate an upcoming counterattack opportunity.
So, when certain encounters require you to perform a cascade of these moves – jumping, parrying, and performing a gradient counter-landing – they can really enhance the satisfaction of a well-executed parry. Performing these moves seamlessly is one of the most exciting stunts in Expedition 33.
Amazingly, these goodies still don't include other aspects of Expedition 33's stellar combat system, such as the game's Picto and Luminas. They change the tactical depth of the game, allowing you to adapt your playstyle as well as increase your parry effectiveness with passive buffs. For example, when combined with a build that allows you to gain as many action points as possible, parrying becomes an even more effective means of dealing high damage.
Previously, when I paid attention to numerous parrying signals, my eyes only watered from fatigue. My ears strain with fatigue and I become salty and frustrated. But Expedition 33 allowed me to realize the incredible potential of a reliable and powerful parry. Figuring out the intricacies of this technique can still be time consuming, but at least it's time well spent in this RPG.
