Summary
- Monoco's progression system in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is unique and resembles a dark version of Pokemon's core gameplay concept.
- Monoco collects Nevron feet to unlock skills, adding a peculiar and entertaining element to the game.
- Players can earn an achievement by collecting all 46 different types of Nevron feet, making Monoco's progression system satisfying and engaging.
One of Clair 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 of Clair 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 in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has 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 of Pokemon's core gameplay concept.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wears Two Influences on Its Sleeve and Keeps One in Its Pocket
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 may not be at all ashamed of two of its most prominent influences, but it keeps one other tucked away in its pocket.
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 character levels up in Clair 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 being Clair 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 in Clair 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. Given Clair 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 system acts as a sort of side activity or collection mini-game for players to complete, just as Pokemon has 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 in Clair 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 in Act 2 of Clair 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 in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, but it's also one of the most entertaining — especially for players with a soft spot for Pokemon. Only here, instead of catching creatures in 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" in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won’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.
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- April 24, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sandfall Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Kepler Interactive
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
