Steam now hosts the demonstration version of Alabaster Dawn, a potential successor to one of the most acclaimed indie action RPGs in existence – CrossCode. Some suggest that Alabaster Dawn may surpass its predecessor in quality.
In the world of indie gaming, Radical Fish Games, the developers behind the beloved title CrossCode, are set to release their latest creation: Alabaster Dawn. The Steam demo offers a tantalising glimpse into this new action RPG, showcasing its unique gameplay mechanics and stunning visuals.
The demo begins with a tutorial area, leading to a basic mini-boss encounter. Players are introduced to the game's control system, which, while straightforward, offers full remappability for personal preference. One of the standout features is the crossbow, introduced in the second part of the demo. This ranged weapon flings arrows at distanced enemies, providing a strategic option for combat.
Combat in Alabaster Dawn feels deliberate and satisfying, with movements similar to those in Donkey Kong Bananza. The sword, in particular, lands with a supremely satisfying crunch, reminiscent of smashing rocks in that classic game. The sword has regular swings and heavy spinning swings, with the latter seeming to deal more individual damage and area of effect damage. Each weapon in the game has its own skill tree, allowing players to customise their playstyle.
However, there's a little slipperiness to the exploration in Alabaster Dawn, particularly when climbing and hopping across platforms. This can make movement feel less precise than desired, but it's a small issue in the grand scheme of things.
The second part of the demo offers more non-linear exploration and systems interactivity. It skips ahead in the story, but progress does not carry over to the full game. This part of the demo showcases the game's more open-ended design, with a lack of scenic variety being the only notable downside.
The demo's encouraging, but it's too early to say definitively whether Alabaster Dawn will be an improvement on the fantasy retro action RPG formula of CrossCode. What is clear, however, is that the game features some of the prettiest pixels the writer has ever seen. The writer is eagerly awaiting the full release of Alabaster Dawn to be reunited with their water pig companion, Cabbage.
In conclusion, the Alabaster Dawn demo offers a promising glimpse into Radical Fish Games' latest title. With its unique combat mechanics, customisable weapons, and stunning visuals, it's shaping up to be a must-play for fans of the action RPG genre.
