Summary
One ofClair Obscur: Expedition 33’s best features may be its story, but that story wouldn’t be what it is without the many characters that help drive it home. Not only is each character brilliantly brought to life by their respective voice talents, but they are all written so well that it is easy to relate to each one of them. For the most part, each character is a normal human being just trying to survive in a world where an annual apocalypse puts everyone in an ongoing existential crisis. One ofClair Obscur: Expedition 33’s playable characters, however, is Monoco, who happens to be a unique and yet very human Gestral.
From the moment Monoco is introduced, it is apparent that he is going to add an entirely different element to the party’s makeup. Whether it’s his dry humor, his somewhat dark personality, or his interesting gameplay mechanics, Monoco is certainly an interesting individual, but one that anyone should be glad to have on their team. What makes Monoco most interesting, though, is his progression system and combat mechanics. While each party member inClair Obscur: Expedition 33has their own mechanics, their progression is the same — acquire Skill Points and unlock skills. Monoco’s, on the other hand, is entirely different and is more like a dark fantasy version ofPokemon’s core gameplay concept.
Monoco’s Progression System in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Feels Like a Dark Pokemon
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Sees Monoco Collecting Feet From Defeated Nevrons
Whenever a characterlevels up inClair Obscur: Expedition 33, they obtain a Skill Point that can then be used to unlock various skills on their respective trees. This is ultimately where Monoco differs the most, as he doesn’t obtain Skill Points at all when he levels up. Instead of using Skill Points to acquire new skills, Monoco gains a new skill when he obtains a foot from a unique type of Nevron, the game’s enemy race. In a sense, this ends up beingClair Obscur: Expedition 33’s “gotta catch ‘em all” system, embedded into Monoco’s progression.
From the moment Monoco is introduced, it is apparent that he is going to add an entirely different element to the party’s makeup.
So long as Monoco is an active party member inClair Obscur: Expedition 33, meaning he is one of the three party members participating in battles, he will obtain a Nevron foot after defeating a new type of Nevron in battle. GivenClair Obscur: Expedition 33’s wide variety of enemies, this means that there are dozens of skills for Monoco to unlock, each of which briefly transforms him into that Nevron when the associated skill is used. In a way,Monoco’s progression systemacts as a sort of side activity or collection mini-game for players to complete, just asPokemonhas them setting off on journeys to catch every type of Pokemon in the game.
There’s Even an Achievement for Collecting Every Type of Nevron Foot in the Game
There are so many different types of Nevrons inClair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Monoco’s progression system is so unique, that there’s even an achievement/trophy for collecting every type of Nevron foot in the game. In the end, this totals out to be a whopping 46 different skills, though he already has a few of them unlocked when he joins the party inAct 2 ofClair Obscur: Expedition 33’s story.
The achievement/trophy, called “Feet Collection,” pops once players have unlocked every skill available on Monoco’s skill tree by means of collecting a foot from every type of Nevron in the game.
Monoco’s foot-collecting mechanic might be one of the strangest systems inClair Obscur: Expedition 33, but it’s also one of the most entertaining — especially for players with a soft spot forPokemon. Only here, instead ofcatching creaturesin a ball, Monoco earns his abilities by ripping off Nevron feet after defeating them in a fight and using them later like some sort of morbid trading card. It’s weird, yes, but it’s also surprisingly satisfying. Anyone aiming to “catch ‘em all” inClair Obscur: Expedition 33won’t be flipping through a Pokedex. Instead, they’ll be checking a list of severed limbs — and honestly, that feels pretty on-brand for this creative world Sandfall Interactive has cooked up.
