Well we used to ve able to tell muvh about a game until recently by those three definitions, like A Plague Tale you know you aren't getting a swath of features no matter how good the quality is it'll feel more contained, you'll probably get repetition, a lot of reused content and perhaps lack luster basic mechanics or some VA where you know they are sitting still in a sound booth, things like that. Lately however they mean fuck all, even the term indie means shit all anymore when you can have Vampire Survivors bringing 50 hours of ever changing content and updates post launch for 5 euro and then have something like Mandragora release for 40 euro or something like Prince of Persia Lost Crown which is made my AAA people but shaped as an indie experience from what would typically be an indie genre for AA price. 

And to the matter in this thread above also there really is no point in using defining genre anymore cause they are getting so blended you now have like a dozen subgenres from a genre that branched off as a subgenre of another genre. 

I'm just into Act 2 right now.  It is definitely a GOTY contender for me.  The only other game that I am anticipating this year is Metroid Prime 4, so we'll see.  But Clair Obscur is easily the best Final Fantasy game in over 20 years.  That story.  That combat.  And that music! *chef's kiss*

And yes, it's a JRPG.  So is Sea of Stars.  So is Cosmic Star Heroine. JRPG is a style.

Give it more time. Game just keeps getting better, it didn't peak for me until I reached close to the 30 hour mark. It's peaked at my game of the generation, it's only competition is Elden Ring and... God damn, it's more pure unfiltered fun that that game plus it has an Oscar worthy fresh and unique story as well. 

I never implied any correlation between budget and workforce and quality. But seems like there is lots of misinformation about the fact only 30 people developed this game when it's clearly not the case. The QA team itself has more than twice this numbers

Figured out a little cheat code, mutr the TV or take off headphones and parrying will be easier. However the music is too good to play without it so back to struggling.

I find some attacks are easier to parry by listening rather than watching.

Just finished Act 1. Quite an end to it.

Oh they start delaying attacks to mess with you in some mobs and bosses, and use the sound against you, your mind expects a crescendo but it comes a split second later. Paying attention to the enemy like in Sekiro is a must cause if you rely on the sound cues your gonna end up dead but even then you have to learn some fairly off beat patterns but again, musics way too good for getting a slight edge.

And the game will still get better. I'm envious you have the majority ahead of you. I don't want this game to end. 

Beat it at just short of 40 hours.

Easy 10/10 and my game of the 9th generation so far, even ahead of Elden Ring which is some feat.

Every single boss in this game is fun, I haven't come across one that is anything less than amazing but the final boss is especially fun, I'll be returning to normal difficulty for the post game stuff, the parry timing gets bonkers and getting counters is too much fun to miss them by one parry. Can always cap the damage or limit stat points on normal to extend fights and allow for the need of the systems without finishing a fight before you engage fully with them. 

The story is the template of the film below but it still feels fresh, interesting and emotional with really great beats that still surprised and punched in the gut hard at times. 

And there goes another 6 hours gone like a flash, the game continues to be one of the best games ever made at end game and there's a lot of it just sitting there that non completionists may never find. I thought It would be less interesting on normal but the difficulty has came bavk to meet me and exceeded expert difficulty in many areas I have to skip for now and return later and it actually feels better on normal, I'm getting counters constantly and it feels so fucking good but I don't know if thats me or the difficulty change cause I can't tell if there is a bigger window and damage isn't all that great on bosses, Expert was more about the damage you take and how many moves the enemies can pull, that seems to be the biggest difference although I do need to respec my characters away from high VIT and defencive stats which seem to be a waste now and my damage should improve a good chunk. Apparently there are end game mega bosses tucked away that are tough even at 99 even when you drop to easy difficulty so can't wait to see those. Still having a blast and I'll probably have another session before the night and try and climb the endless tower which holds main game bosses, this suits as a boss gauntlet, in fact it's better so one less criticism for the game solidifying even further it's place as my game of the generation.

It's already the best Final Fantasy game I've played in more than 20 years.  It just keeps getting better and better and I can't wait to see the next story bits.  So good. 

I'm glad it's getting all this good attention, too.  I'm not expecting Square to change their development plans or anything, but I hope companies are taking note of how tun based JRPGs can work with high fidelity graphics.