This Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 boss will make Soulsborne veterans sweat through 24 consecutive parries or face certain doom.
Turn-based RPGs aren’t supposed to give you sweaty palms and controller-gripping anxiety. Yet here’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 breaking every expectation about what constitutes “relaxing” tactical combat.
Sandfall Interactive decided that traditional turn-based mechanics needed some spice. What they cooked up feels suspiciously familiar to anyone who’s spent hours perfecting parry windows in FromSoftware titles.
Case in point: a particular boss encounter that transforms this beautiful RPG into something that would make Hidetaka Miyazaki proud. Suddenly, all those hours practicing deflections in Sekiro become surprisingly relevant.
When turn-based combat demands Soulsborne reflexes
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Meet Grosse Tete, the bizarre giant head-with-limbs monstrosity in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 that tests every defensive skill you’ve ever learned. This isn’t your typical damage-dealing boss fight—it’s a pure endurance test disguised as a turn-based encounter.
The gimmick is beautifully sadistic. While Grosse Tete is technically vulnerable to Dark damage, its massive two million HP pool makes traditional combat nearly impossible without endgame power levels. The real victory condition? Perfect defensive execution.
Each turn, this creature increases its attack count by two. Start with dodging two ground pounds, then four, then six. By the final turn, you’re frantically parrying/dodging twenty-four consecutive attacks. Successfully best this final barrage, and Grosse Tete self-destructs (in embarrassment, surely).
The parrying option adds extra complexity. While dodging is forgiving, parrying requires frame-perfect timing but rewards counterattack opportunities. Sound familiar? It’s essentially Soulslike parry mechanics transplanted into turn-based combat.
Just when you thought you had mastered it. | Image Credit: FromSoftware
What makes this fight particularly cruel is the random speed variations—or rather, the random intervals between each stomp. Just when you think you’ve mastered the rhythm, Grosse Tete throws a curveball. The timing changes unpredictably, forcing constant adaptation—exactly like learning Pontiff Sulyvahn’s combo variations.
Why this boss proves Expedition 33 is GOTY material
When debut studios school the entire industry. | Image Credit: Sandfall Interactive
This single encounter encapsulates why Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has become such an unexpected masterpiece. Nobody anticipated a new indie studio creating something this mechanically sophisticated while maintaining accessibility.
The Grosse Tete fight is just an example of the brilliant design philosophy. It respects player intelligence while teaching advanced mechanics organically. Veterans feel challenged, newcomers learn valuable skills, and everyone experiences genuine accomplishment upon victory.
Even more remarkable is how this particular boss fight doesn’t even feel out of place despite its Soulsborne DNA. The game seamlessly integrates real-time defensive mechanics into its turn-based framework without breaking immersion or pacing.
The rewards justify the struggle: massive experience points, rare upgrade materials, and the coveted “Warming Up” Pictos ability. More importantly, players gain confidence in the game’s hybrid combat system, preparing them for future challenges.
This design approach explains why critics and players alike consider Expedition 33 a genuine Game of the Year contender. Sandfall Interactive didn’t just create another turn-based RPG—they evolved the genre by borrowing the best elements from action games.
Have you conquered Grosse Tete’s relentless assault yet? Share your parrying strategies and frustration stories in the comments below.
