Black Beacon has recently made its debut on mobile devices, but we were lucky enough to dive into this Mythic Sci-Fi Action RPG ahead of the general release. We're excited to share our impressions of this intriguing new title.
Black Beacon is an action RPG that focuses on fast-paced, smooth combat, incorporating a unique character-swapping feature.
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. In Borges' tale, the Library contains every conceivable combination of letters, housing every book ever written within its labyrinthine shelves.
You awaken in this mysterious place, with no clear memory of how you arrived, alongside a colorful cast of characters who share your confusion. It seems a grand destiny awaits you, but with a twist: a giant spinning orb threatens to kill everyone within 24 hours. Welcome to your first day as a Seer—surrounded by endless bookshelves.
Despite the dark humor, the setting and story of Black Beacon have a charmingly wild appeal. A library filled with nonsensical books, time travel, and numerous mythology references (including a peculiar bird) immerse you in a deep, complex narrative. The game deliberately throws you into the deep end, and if you're feeling lost, that's exactly what the developers intended.
So, how does the gameplay hold up?
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 mode where you can adjust the view with your other hand. We found the latter more engaging, though it ultimately comes down to personal preference.
As you navigate the Library's corridors, you progress through short, episodic sections, each containing multiple maps. Accessing these sections involves using an energy-based mechanic, but we found the game generous in its allocation, allowing ample playtime.
Your journey involves exploring areas, solving puzzles, hunting for hidden treasure chests, and battling enemies—distorted entities that are remnants of individuals the Library has "not fully digested." The combat is enjoyable, fast, and somewhat button-mashy, yet it remains challenging enough to keep you engaged. Timing is crucial; a perfectly timed dodge grants invincibility frames, while a well-placed heavy attack can interrupt an enemy's move, sparing you the need to dodge.
A standout feature is the character-swap mechanic, which allows and encourages you to switch characters mid-fight. This transforms battles into a tag-team scenario, letting you bench exhausted fighters—even mid-attack—to bring in a fresh one. Once you master this rhythm, combat becomes exhilarating, though mistiming a dodge can result in a monster sending you flying down the hallway.
Characters And Weapon Rolls
As a gacha game, Black Beacon includes a system for acquiring characters and weapons, with weapons tailored to specific characters. Both can be leveled up, and while the game uses various resources, much of the management can be automated, simplifying the process.
You might encounter characters through the gacha before meeting them in the storyline, adding variety to your experience. The convoluted flow of time in the game's narrative supports this mechanic seamlessly.
Overall, Black Beacon is a quirky gacha game that aims to tell a more esoteric story, backed by solid gameplay. We're eager to see how it evolves post-launch.
Does this sound like your kind of game? If so, you can explore Black Beacon further on the official website, App Store, or Google Play.
