Prolific Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 actor who played 5 major roles may be an integral part of the RPG, but she doesn’t care for its parrying: 'I need to work on my inner peace'

Estelle Darnault’s Prolific Role in Clair Obscur

If you’re not familiar with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, it’s an indie RPG that has the kind of narrative depth and existential crises some AAA developers can only dream of. Leading the charge is Estelle Darnault, who doesn’t just play one character, or even two, but five major roles. Five. It’s like she’s the Swiss Army knife of voice acting and mocap.

Darnault breathes life into Sophie, Sciel, Aline, Alicia, and the mysterious entity that’s literally at the heart of the story’s crisis, The Paintress. To say her voice and motion capture define the DNA of the game is almost an understatement. You hear her nearly everywhere as you explore the game’s multi-dimensional world, and yet, while playing her own game… well, things go downhill fast.

“I Thought I Was Patient, But…”

Here’s where things get spicy. During an interview with Behind The Voices, Darnault revealed her absolute kryptonite in Expedition 33: parrying. The game’s turn-based combat systems hinge heavily on timing-based prompts, similar to Super Mario RPG. You have to hit those buttons just right. Miss the sweet spot? Get ready to eat damage. Master it? You can literally parry everything the game throws at you.

Apparently, this mechanic turned out to be a bit of a nightmare for her.

“I felt I was a person who was really patient,” Darnault confessed, laughing at her own misfortune. “I thought. But now, I discovered that I’m not really patient. And for the fights… f***, I can’t manage to parry. It’s really hard, it’s really, really hard for me. I need to work on my inner peace.”

Honestly? Same.

It’s somehow refreshing to see someone so involved in the making of this game struggle. It’s one thing for players to rage-quit halfway through after botching every parry attempt, but for an actor who poured their heart into five characters during development? That’s next-level irony.

A Bittersweet Experience

What makes all this even more fascinating is how Darnault views her role as both a privilege and a curse. While she’s incredibly proud of playing such integral characters, she bemoans the fact that she can’t experience the game the way the rest of us can.

“I’m really excited,” she said when sharing her feelings before release. “But, you know, I’m sad because I can’t discover the game as you [can] or as players [can] because I know everything. And I’m, like, really frustrated because I really wanted to live this story, and I can’t.”

Can we just take a moment to appreciate how ironic life is? She’s at the center of the storm but can’t feel the rain.

Why Clair Obscur’s Unique Combat Is a Game-Changer

For those who haven’t dipped their toes into Expedition 33, here’s why this game stands out in the first place. It embraces turn-based combat but cranks the tension up to 11 with its timing mechanics. The parry system might make you break your controller in frustration, but there’s something immensely satisfying about nailing it. It adds depth and intensity to what could otherwise feel like a repetitive grind fest.

What’s more, Clair Obscur isn’t just about combat. It’s a narrative masterpiece exploring existential themes and multi-character perspectives, with Darnault’s voice acting anchoring the emotional weight of the game. Her frustration with the parrying system only adds to the humanity of her involvement. Not everything is perfect, and that’s okay.

Players Are Hooked on More Than Just Combat

Fans of Expedition 33 already know that while combat is a major focus, it’s the storytelling that leaves a mark. Darnault’s ability to play such diverse roles makes her both versatile and iconic. It’s not every day you find someone capable of switching between five characters, each so distinct.

Still, while Darnault voices a goddess-like figure with near-limitless control in the narrative, she struggles with something as simple as blocking an enemy blade. The juxtaposition is hilarious and weirdly grounding. If even the actor behind The Paintress fumbles sometimes, the rest of us can feel a bit better about our third failed attempt to parry that one boss.

Final Thoughts

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is shaping up to be a must-play for RPG fans, not just because of its ambitious storytelling but also because of its unique mechanics and flawed, human charm. Estelle Darnault’s roles are a huge part of what makes this game shine, even if she remains hilariously bad at one specific mechanic.

Whether you’re here for the narrative brilliance, challenging combat, or just the schadenfreude of watching the game’s lead struggle with her own project, this RPG has something for everyone.

Maybe next time, Darnault will master the zen needed for the parry. Until then, we salute her rage-fueled honesty and appreciate her for making Clair Obscur the game it is.

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