Black Beacon: The Rising Star of Gacha Gaming

Black Beacon has just made its way onto mobile devices, and we've had the privilege of diving into this Mythic Sci-Fi Action RPG ahead of the general release. We're thrilled to share our insights with you.

Black Beacon is an action RPG that emphasizes fast, fluid combat, seamlessly integrating character-swapping into the gameplay experience.

Shh! This Is A Library!

The game begins in the Library Of Babel, a vast and enigmatic setting inspired by the biblical Tower Of Babel and Jorge Luis Borges' short story, which envisions a library containing every possible combination of letters, thus housing every conceivable book within its walls.

You find yourself awakening within this mysterious structure, with no recollection of how you arrived, alongside a colorful cast of characters equally puzzled by their presence. It seems you're destined for something grand, but there's a twist—everyone faces the threat of a giant spinning orb that will obliterate them in just twenty-four hours. Welcome to your first day as a Seer! Hope you enjoy bookshelves.

Despite the humor, the setting and story have a charmingly wild allure. The library filled with nonsensical books, time travel, and a plethora of mythology references (we won't spoil too much, but keep an eye on that bird) create an immersive narrative. The game throws you into the deep end of its story, and if you're feeling confused, that's likely the intended effect.

Now, let's delve into the gameplay.

Send Me In, Coach

Black Beacon offers a moment-to-moment experience akin to an ARPG dungeon crawler, with a customizable camera viewpoint. You can opt for a top-down perspective or a free camera setup that you can adjust with your other hand. While we preferred the latter, the choice ultimately boils down to personal preference.

As you navigate the Library's passageways toward your objectives, the story unfolds in short, episodic sections, each comprising several maps. Accessing these sections requires energy, but the game is generous in allowing ample playtime.

Your journey involves exploring the area, solving puzzles, hunting for hidden treasure chests, and battling enemies—distorted entities that are remnants of people the Library 'has not fully digested'. Yikes.

Combat in Black Beacon is both enjoyable and fast-paced, with a slight lean towards button-mashing, yet it remains challenging enough to keep you engaged. Timing plays a crucial role; executing a perfect dodge grants you a period of invincibility, while landing a heavy attack on an enemy gearing up for their own can interrupt them, sparing you the need to dodge.

The game's character-swap mechanic adds a layer of strategy, encouraging you to switch characters mid-fight. This transforms battles into tag team matches, allowing you to bench exhausted fighters and bring in fresh ones, even mid-attack. Once you master the rhythm, it feels rewarding... until a mistimed dodge sends you flying down the hallway, courtesy of a giant monster.

Characters And Weapon Rolls

As a gacha game, Black Beacon offers a system where you can pull for characters and weapons, with each weapon tailored to specific characters. Both characters and weapons can be leveled up, and while the process involves numerous ingredients, much of it can be automated for convenience.

You might encounter some characters through the gacha before meeting them in the story, but as the saying goes, the flow of time is convoluted. This approach adds variety to your experience.

In conclusion, Black Beacon is a unique gacha game with an ambition to tell a more esoteric story, backed by solid gameplay mechanics. We're eager to see how it evolves post-release.

If this sounds like your kind of game, or if you're intrigued by the idea of living in a giant library, you can check out Black Beacon now on the official website, App Store, or Google Play.