Black Beacon: The Rising Star in Gacha Gaming

Black Beacon has just landed on mobile devices, and we were lucky enough to get a sneak peek at this Mythic Sci-Fi Action RPG before its official release. Our hands-on experience has left us eager to share our thoughts on this intriguing new game.

Shh! This Is A Library!

The game starts in the Library of Babel, a vast and enigmatic setting inspired by the biblical Tower of Babel and Jorge Luis Borges' famous short story. In Borges' tale, the library contains every possible combination of letters, theoretically holding every book ever written. You awaken in this mysterious place, unsure of how you arrived, surrounded by a cast of vibrant characters who share your confusion. It seems you're destined for greatness, but first, you must navigate the looming threat of a giant spinning orb set to obliterate everyone within twenty-four hours. Welcome to your first day as a Seer—hope you're comfortable around bookshelves!

Despite the ominous setting, there's a charmingly wild appeal to the story and setting. The library filled with nonsensical books, elements of time travel, and numerous mythological references (without spoiling too much, we'll just mention that bird) create a narrative that plunges you into the deep end. And if you're feeling a bit lost, that's precisely the experience the developers intended.

So, what about the gameplay?

Send Me In, Coach

Black Beacon offers an action RPG experience that blends dungeon crawling with customizable camera viewpoints. Whether you prefer a top-down perspective or a free camera setup that you can adjust with your other hand, the choice is yours. We found the free camera more engaging, but it ultimately comes down to personal preference.

As you navigate through the Library's corridors, you'll progress through short, episodic sections, each containing several maps. Accessing these sections requires using an energy mechanic, but from our experience, the game generously allocates enough energy for extended play.

Your journey involves exploring areas, solving puzzles, discovering hidden treasure chests, and battling enemies—distorted remnants of individuals that the Library has "not fully digested." Combat is fast-paced and engaging, striking a balance between button-mashing and strategic timing. Perfectly timed dodges grant you invincibility frames, while well-timed heavy attacks can interrupt enemy moves, sparing you the need to dodge.

A unique feature is the character-swap mechanic, allowing you to switch fighters mid-battle. This tag-team approach keeps combat dynamic, enabling you to swap out exhausted characters for fresh ones, even during attacks. Mastering this rhythm can be satisfying, though mistimed dodges might see you hurled down a hallway by a giant monster.

Characters And Weapon Rolls

As a gacha game, Black Beacon features a system for acquiring characters and weapons through gacha mechanics. Each weapon is tailored to specific characters, and both can be leveled up. The variety of resources required can be significant, but the game offers automation options to streamline the process.

You might encounter characters through the gacha before meeting them in the storyline, reflecting the game's nod to the convoluted nature of time. This adds an extra layer of variety to your gameplay experience.

Overall, Black Beacon is a quirky gacha game that ambitiously weaves a complex, esoteric narrative with solid gameplay mechanics. We're excited to see how the game evolves post-release.

If Black Beacon sounds like your kind of adventure, you can dive into this vast library now via the official website, App Store, or Google Play.