"Billboard classical charts top position claimed by 'Clair Obscur' video game soundtrack"
A Tale of Triumph: The Soundtrack of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Soars High
The spine-tingling soundtrack of the global smash hit French video game, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has made headlines, bagging the top spot on the "classical albums" category of Billboard in just 14 days! Composed by the young French prodigy, Lorien Testard, this is his debut project.
Landing at the summit of the Sales Chart on Billboard's classical music section, this achievement is pretty rare for such genre-specific work. Released on May 7, the game's original score echoed the classical melodies of piano and violin, performed by vocalist Alice Duport-Percier, has been streamed a staggering 18 million times on various platforms since its debut on April 24.
A Post-Apocalyptic Saga, A Parisian Symphony
Created in 2020 by the Montpellier-based studio, Sandfall Interactive, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, being their first title, surpassed the two-million sales mark within twelve days of its release. Hailing from the team of former Ubisoft employees, the game unfolds in a post-apocalyptic universe resonating with the "Belle Epoque" spirit. The story revolves around a band of survivors on a perilous quest to thwart a supernatural entity threatening the survival of Lumière, a city resembling Paris, born on an island marked by iconic structures such as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Place de la Bastille.
A Game Critics Adore
With a rating of 92 out of 100 on the Metacritic aggregator, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has cemented its place as the most critically acclaimed game of the year. Critics have lauded its story and graphics. Set in a curious blend of fantastical and familiar elements, the game manages to captivate the audience with its mature storytelling and emotional resonance, proving to be a unique addition to the JRPG genre.
The President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, took to Instagram to applaud the game's team, commending them for putting "French courage and creativity" in the spotlight around the world.
The Story Behind the Game
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an RPG set in a world dominated by a powerful entity called the Paintress, who decreases human life expectancy annually by etching a number on a distant tower. Each passing year, the city of Lumière, a shattered version of Paris, witnesses a tragic disappearance of anyone reaching the marked age. The story follows a band of survivors on a mission to annihilate the Paintress, offering a melancholic yet aspirational narrative arc for the characters' journey. [1][2][3]
- The Post-Apocalyptic saga, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, composed by French prodigy Lorien Testard, features an interactive soundtrack that has garnered over 18 million streams, including renditions of piano and violin music.
- Interestingly, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, produced by Sandfall Interactive, initially a Montpellier-based studio, surpassed the two-million sales mark in just twelve days, showcasing remarkable success for a genre-specific work.
- The emotionally resonant JRPG, Clir Obscur: Expedition 33, has been praised by critics for its mature storytelling and captivating blend of fantastical and familiar elements, earning a metacritic rating of 92 out of 100.
- In an astonishing global recognition, the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, applauded the game's team for their spectacular representation of French courage and creativity, further entrenching Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a significant addition to the entertainment industry.
