The third week of May has been quite the spectacle on Steam, with a raft of highly anticipated titles finally breaking cover. While the likes of 'Subnautica 2'—which sat atop the wishlist charts for a staggering 36 weeks—is sailing smoothly with a 'Very Positive' rating, and Netmarble's 'Game of Thrones: Kingsroad' is holding firm with similar praise in Korea, there is one particular title that caught my eye: 'Alabaster Dawn', which entered early access on the 7th.

Coming from the same creative minds behind 'CrossCode', a title that earned an 'Overwhelmingly Positive' badge on Steam, Alabaster Dawn is an action-adventure romp where you step into the shoes of Juno, a protagonist tasked with the gargantuan mission of rebuilding the ruined world of 'Tiran Sol'.

Tiran Sol was once a paradise of azure fields and crystal-clear waters. That was, of course, until the 'Nyx' emerged—an enigmatic entity that twisted the local flora and fauna into grotesque monstrosities. Humanity didn't just roll over, though; they called upon divine power, crowning 12 warriors and sages as the 'Chosen Ones' to hold the line.

On the day of the final showdown, just as they were about to strike at the heart of the Nyx, the gods fell silent, leaving the heroes stripped of their power and soundly defeated. Fast forward to the present, and we find Juno waking up. A former 'Chosen One' who was cast out, Juno must now wake humanity from its slumber and undertake the brutal task of purging the Nyx from the world.

Alabaster Dawn is a 2.5D real-time action game that feels like a love letter to the classic 'Mana' series. You’ll be fending off the Nyx using a variety of weapons and combos. You start with a simple one-handed sword, but as you progress, you'll get your hands on gear like crossbows and hefty war hammers. The levelling system is tiered, too—as your weapon mastery grows, so do your combo options.

For instance, your starting sword only offers a basic three-hit combo. But as you level it up, you'll unlock sophisticated techniques, such as charged attacks or delayed combos that let you weave in pauses for tactical spacing. Each weapon has its own flavour, too; the sword is fast but struggles against armoured foes, while the hammer is sluggish but absolutely crushes through heavy defences.

The bestiary is as diverse as your own arsenal, with enemies designed to keep you on your toes. You'll face 'Spira', small orb-like critters that swarm you in numbers, alongside plant-based 'Tury' enemies that pelt you from afar. As you press deeper, you’ll encounter even more menacing threats, such as the lightning-fast 'Ericius', which are relentless in their pursuit.

Survival hinges on more than just mashing buttons; you’ll need to master your dodge and parry mechanics. A well-timed parry right before an enemy strike hits will deflect the blow and leave the foe in a vulnerable 'break' state. You can also harness elemental magic, which burns through your mana pool but deals significant damage—especially if you're exploiting an enemy's elemental weakness.

It isn't just about the scrap, though. The game is packed with puzzles that would make a 'Legend of Zelda' fan feel right at home. While the field puzzles are breezy, the temples and dungeons offer deeper, head-scratching challenges. You'll be using a weapon called the 'Chakram' to pull objects or guide projectiles to hit switches, which is a clever bit of design for navigating the world.

Alabaster Dawn is currently sitting on a 'Very Positive' (94% positive) rating on Steam. Players have been quick to praise it, noting that it "improves on the visibility and puzzle density issues of the developer's previous work," and calling it a "must-play for fans of classic action JRPGs like Kingdom Hearts, Zelda, and Mana." Even in early access, the polish is evident, with the gorgeous pixel art perfectly complementing the tragic, sombre narrative. While Korean language support is currently absent, it is slated for arrival upon the full release.