Black Beacon has recently launched on mobile devices, but we got a sneak peek before most! We've had the chance to dive into this Mythic Sci-Fi Action RPG, and we're excited to share our thoughts.
Black Beacon is an action RPG that focuses on fast, fluid combat with a unique character-swapping feature.
Shh! This Is A Library!
The game begins in the Library of Babel, a vast and enigmatic structure drawing inspiration from the biblical Tower of Babel and Jorge Luis Borges' short story. In Borges' tale, the library contains every conceivable combination of letters, thus holding every book ever written somewhere within its shelves.
You awaken in this mysterious place, unsure of how you arrived, surrounded by a colorful cast of characters who are equally perplexed. It seems you're destined for something great.
However, there's a twist: a giant spinning orb threatens to kill everyone in twenty-four hours. Welcome to your first day as a Seer! Hope you enjoy bookshelves.
Despite the humor, the setting and story have a delightfully chaotic charm. A library filled with nonsensical books, time travel, and numerous mythological references (we won't spoil too much, but keep an eye on that bird). The narrative throws you straight into the deep end, which works well. If you're feeling confused, that's likely the intended effect.
So, how's the gameplay?
Send Me In, Coach
Black Beacon offers an action RPG dungeon crawler experience with a customizable camera perspective. You can opt for a top-down view or a free camera setup, which you control with your other hand. We preferred the latter, but it's a matter of personal taste.
You navigate through the Library's corridors, progressing towards your objectives. The story unfolds in short, episodic segments, each containing several maps. Accessing these sections requires energy, but the game was quite generous with this resource during our playtime.
Your tasks include exploring areas, 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 is engaging, fast-paced, and requires some button-mashing, yet remains challenging enough to keep you on your toes. Timing is crucial; a perfect dodge grants you invincibility frames, while a well-timed heavy attack can interrupt an enemy's move, sparing you the need to dodge.
The game introduces a character-swapping mechanic, turning battles into tag team matches. You can switch characters mid-fight, benching tired fighters and bringing in fresh ones, even during an attack. Once you master the rhythm, it feels rewarding... until you mistime a dodge and get launched thirty feet down the hallway by a giant monster.
Characters And Weapon Rolls
As a gacha game, fans of the genre will be curious about its mechanics. Black Beacon features a gacha system for characters and weapons, with weapons tailored to specific characters. Both can be leveled up, and although the number of resources involved is significant, much of the process can be automated.
You may encounter characters through the gacha before meeting them in the story, but as they say, the flow of time is convoluted. This adds variety to the gameplay.
Overall, Black Beacon is a quirky gacha game that aims to tell a more esoteric story, supported by solid gameplay. We're eager to see how it develops post-launch.
Does this sound like your kind of game? Or perhaps a row of shelves in the vast library you inhabit? If so, you can check out Black Beacon now on the official website, App Store, or Google Play.
