A new interview on denfaminicogamer with the creative director of the soon-to-be-released game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Guillaume Broche, has witnessed him revealing the massive influence Atlus’s phenomenally successful RPG Persona 5 has had on his development. Broche, a seasoned gamer himself for many years, freely expressed how much he had respected the look of combat and user interface of Persona 5 as major sources of inspiration for his title.
In a business market generally dominated by novelty appeal and repetition of design, it’s interesting to note a developer so openly credit the influence of a peer’s effort. The testimonials of Broche reflect the lasting influence of Persona 5, a game much praised for its unique graphical aesthetic and polished gameplay mechanisms. Its colorful, almost kinetic combat environments, and its polished, easy-to-use UI, set the bar high for visual presentation in the genre.
Broche explained that his crew at Sandfall Interactive, when developing Clair Obscur, actually tried to steal their own take on the combat UI from Persona 5. This is not a straight up copy, but rather an homage, proof that there is good design that transcends the confines of one game and can inspire future generations. This approach is attractive to a degree of maturity in game making, where taking cues from good examples is not only acceptable but even preferable in termsSandfall Interactive of broadening creative scope.
The recognition of Persona 5’s influence is more than superficial aesthetics. The focus on UI, as it has been the neglected aspect of game design, serves to better emphasize its importance to the player’s interaction and overall experience. A good UI can turn a complicated system into a neat and enjoyable one, something that Persona 5 had taught us well.
As the gaming world constantly evolves, the free flow of information and appreciation of influential pieces are all the more important.
Broche’s humble words provide a glimpse of the cyclical nature of game development and how earlier successes assume new guises to shape the next generation of games. For Persona 5 enthusiasts, this release provides a sufficient reason to look out for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and find out how its developers have employed these classic influences to craft their own game.
