Black Beacon has just launched on mobile devices, but we got a sneak peek before most! We've had the privilege of diving into this Mythic Sci-Fi Action RPG, and we're excited to share our thoughts with you.
Black Beacon is an action RPG that focuses on fast, fluid combat and incorporates a unique character-swapping feature.
Shh! This Is A Library!
The game starts in the Library of Babel, a vast and enigmatic structure drawing inspiration from the biblical Tower of Babel and Jorge Luis Borges' short story, where the library contains every conceivable combination of letters, encompassing every book ever written.
You awaken in this mysterious place, unsure of how you arrived, alongside a colorful cast of characters who are equally puzzled. It seems you're destined for greatness.
Oh, and everyone's about to be obliterated by a giant spinning orb in twenty-four hours. Welcome to your first day as a Seer! Hope you're fond of bookshelves.
Despite the humor, the setting and story have a delightfully wild charm. A library filled with nonsensical books, time travel, and numerous mythological references we won't spoil (though that bird seems suspicious). The narrative throws you into the deep end, which is exactly what the developers intended. If you're confused, that's part of the experience.
But what about the gameplay?
Send Me In, Coach
Black Beacon offers an engaging ARPG dungeon crawler experience with a customizable camera viewpoint. You can opt for a top-down perspective or a free camera setup, which we found preferable, though it's ultimately a matter of personal taste.
You navigate the Library's corridors, progressing through the story divided into short, episodic sections, each containing several maps. Accessing these sections requires energy, but the game is quite generous with how much you can play.
As you explore, you'll solve puzzles, hunt for hidden treasure chests, and battle enemies—distorted entities that are apparently remnants of people the Library hasn't fully "digested".
Combat is enjoyable, fast-paced, and somewhat button-mashy, yet challenging enough to keep you engaged. Timing is crucial; a perfectly timed dodge grants iframes, while a well-placed heavy attack can interrupt an enemy's move, sparing you the need to dodge.
The game's character-swapping mechanic adds a dynamic layer to battles, turning them into tag-team matches. You can swap out tired fighters mid-fight, even mid-attack, to bring in fresh ones. Once you master the rhythm, it's satisfying... until you mistime a dodge and a giant monster sends 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 managing the various resources can be complex, much of it can be automated.
You might encounter characters through the gacha before meeting them in the story, adding variety due to the convoluted flow of time within the game.
Overall, Black Beacon is a quirky gacha game with a unique, esoteric story and solid gameplay that supports it well. We're eager to see how it evolves post-release.
Does this sound like your kind of game? Or perhaps a row of shelves in your giant library home? If so, you can check out Black Beacon now on the official website, App Store, or Google Play.
