Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a very beautiful turn-based RPG that has its roots in many Japanese games. While eyes immediately turn to Final Fantasy, the truth is that the game is far more inspired by Mistwalker’s Lost Odyssey, an underrated Xbox 360 exclusive.

Clair Obscur has many inspirations, such as the classic French Belle Époque aesthetic and the non-stop action of the Persona games. However, for creative director Guillaume Broche, the interactive turn-based action and the gripping story of Lost Odyssey is a strong key landmark for the game’s creation.

Speaking to Eurogamer, Boche explained that “the critical reception at the time was very unfair in my opinion, as the game was criticised for being ‘old school’ at a time where it felt like every game that was not an open world was viewed as ‘old school’ by the western press.” However, “the core audience who did play it loved it”, and Boche was one of those players.

“For me, Lost Odyssey was the last grand turn-based RPG adventure with realistic graphics,” the creative director explained. “Its themes were very heavy and very well handled – it’s the last game that made me cry.

“Its linear structure, coupled with a world map, an amazing story, and fantastic music, made it one of the best games of its kind,” he continued.

While the game is now playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles with a higher resolution and framerate than the Xbox 360 could ever hope to render in, Boche still wants Lost Odyssey to have its chance at redemption with a new port or even a “real successor”.

“Justice for Lost Odyssey,” the Clair Obscur developer said, “remaster it now so more people can play it, please.”

Despite not being played by the majority of gamers, Lost Odyssey has certainly left its mark. You can feel the presence of the JRPG black sheep throughout a lot of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, especially throughout the game’s map and story.

It just goes to show that art doesn’t need to be a massive hit to inspire someone. After all, how many angst-filled teens have been inspired by Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko, a movie that made just $7.5 million at the box office? I know I was.