Overall Impression
Alabaster Dawn is an action RPG that channels retro vibes of the NES era while also displaying a high paced and exciting action combat system. It also has a narrative focus telling its story through a short dialogue format reminiscent of classic style RPGs contributing to its nostalgic charm. Altogether, there’s something very special here that we don’t often see in games. There’s a sense that the developers understand the art style and genre and have infused it with their own unique take to create a modern day game that pays homage to the past while still pushing the genre forward.
Target Audience
The main target audience for this game are those that enjoy the classic action RPG experiences of the 90s. This game channels those vibes and then adds its own style and personality on top of it. It has a narrative focus as well so gamers that will enjoy this the most are those drawn to the storytelling format and also the high paced combat sequences.
Gameplay
The core gameplay loop is well executed. You are usually exploring new areas, working through simple puzzles in the environment, engaging in combat and watching story sequences play out through text. What makes it work is that the exploration and combat feel spot on. Much of this has to do with the base speed and maneuverability of your character combined with interesting skills that you can unlock and upgrade combined with thoughtful enemy design. Base movement and maneuverability can easily be taken for granted. However, given how much time you spend in a game just roaming around it’s one of the core components that when done right feels so satisfying. Alabaster Dawn really nails it with generous base movement speed, a dodge that covers quite a lot of ground and also the ability to sprint. This makes movement during combat feel responsive and high paced.
Combat is also equally dynamic. You are usually surrounded by a variety of enemies each with different attack patterns. If you don’t pay attention you can easily be taken out. This mix of deadly attacks and variety in enemy design and attack patterns make even mundane enemies interesting. Furthermore, boss encounters are also equally well designed each with their own mechanic that needs to be understood to successfully overcome the challenge that is presented.
The RPG system also allows you to upgrade skills that allow you new tools to deal with different enemy types. These are the kind of systems you want to see in a game like this that adds more depth and strategic options to combat. Your character is setup with a melee and ranged attack each with different potential combos, a dash and block (which can also reflect projectiles). In addition, some enemies can only be reached via ranged attacks. This gives a purpose to each weapon type. It’s a simple mechanic but something that not all games make use. By doing this, it gives players a genuine reason to use different weapons/attacks. Altogether, there’s a satisfying mix of elements that make the core gameplay intriguing.
Narrative
The heart of the experience is centred on the narrative. There’s something incredibly special about telling a story with just a few lines at a time. So often games try to tell a story through a volume of words that can be overly complicated, focused too much on plot or that doesn’t hold the audiences attention. But restricting it to a few lines of dialogue during any scene means that you have to be intentional with your words. The simplicity of the approach creates an experience that is both powerful and poetic. The story revolves around Juno, the outcast chosen one, on their journey to overcome the shadow of Nyx that has transformed the world and its people.
Art & Design
The art style channels a retro pixel aesthetic of the past with an eye catching animation stylization that captures your attention. This is a game that pays homage to what made this type of aesthetic so special in the past while also placing it’s own unique touch upon it. This is especially evident in its animation of effects during combat and also in cutscenes that adds a surge of energy and visceral feeling to the game. Overall, the world is beautifully rendered and the animations are some of the best I’ve seen in this style.
Challenges
This is one of the few times that I don’t have a list of challenges for the game. What this game does it does quite well. With that in mind it comes down to knowing what type of games you enjoy and understanding if this matches your personal preferences. It’s likely that as well done as it is, it will appeal to those that enjoy this niche of classic pixel action style game that is challenging but manageable along with a narrative focus told in a similar classic format. The game also does a fairly good job of introducing new mechanics, offering hints on puzzles if you get stuck and also giving the player the option to skip tutorials if they wish. This being said, there can be moments where the main objective isn’t necessarily clear. This happens seldomly but in some ways it is not entirely a negative feature. It doesn’t hold your hand and allows the player the opportunity to explore and try things out.
Closing Thoughts
This is a special offering that has the potential to become iconic in its own right. Alabaster Dawn channels the pixel aesthetic visual design of the past and combines it with fast paced combat, environmental puzzles and a simple but powerful narrative. It has all the makings of becoming a modern day classic in this genre. If the visual design, gameplay and narrative style match your personal preferences this is a game you should check out.
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GAME DETAILS
PLATFORMS: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox One
RELEASE: TBD (Currently in Early Access)
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Radical Fish Games
GENRE/TAGS: Action RPG, Action Adventure, Pixel Style, Narrative, PVE
TARGET AUDIENCE: Fans of classic style action RPGs looking for something nostalgic but also fresh with fast paced action and a narrative focus.
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