In case you missed the latest buzz, the gacha action-RPG Black Beacon has launched its global beta test just a few days ago. If you're on the fence about downloading it, don't worry—we've got you covered. We dove into the global beta over the weekend to give you the lowdown on whether Black Beacon has the potential to be the next big mobile gacha hit.
Setting and Story
Let's dive into the premise. Black Beacon is an action RPG gacha game set within the towering halls of the Library of Babel. This setting draws inspiration from Jorge Luis Borges' short story about a world in the form of a vast library containing every possible combination of letters. Most of the books are nonsensical, but by the laws of probability, it also contains every book known to humanity.
The game's Library of Babel also incorporates elements from the biblical Tower of Babel, a structure built to reach heaven. The setting is rich with references to Judeo-Christian mythology and the Bible, offering a unique departure from typical folklore sources. It's a refreshing twist that fans of series like Evangelion might appreciate.
In Black Beacon, you play as The Seer, a typical gacha protagonist who wakes up in this mysterious place with no memory of how they got there. You're quickly thrust into a heavy destiny as the new custodian of the Library of Babel. The other characters seem unfazed by your arrival but are tight-lipped about the details.
Your presence triggers significant changes in the Library, not all of them positive. A monster begins to emerge from the depths, and you're caught up in time-travel antics reminiscent of Doctor Who's River Song, along with a clockwork star that threatens to destroy everything. It's a lot to handle, so you'll need to hit the ground running.
Now that we've covered the story, let's explore how Black Beacon plays.
Gameplay
Black Beacon offers a 3D free-roaming experience, allowing you to explore areas using either a top-down or free camera perspective, which you can switch between by pinching or unpinching on the touchscreen controls.
The game features a real-time combat system that's all about chaining combos and executing moves. A fun aspect is the encouragement of character-switching mid-fight or even mid-combo. The tag team strategy lets benched characters regenerate stamina faster, and there's no penalty for swapping in and out, making it feel like you're managing a team of anime characters in a Pokémon-style battle.
Combat in Black Beacon requires timing and attention to enemy cues. It's deep yet accessible, far from mindless button-mashing. While you can breeze through weaker enemies, more powerful foes demand your full attention, or they'll send you flying across the arena.
As a gacha game, Black Beacon offers a variety of characters, each with unique combat styles and moves, ensuring that every new character feels like a significant addition. Some characters are intriguing enough to make you want to delve deeper into their stories.
Playing the Beta
If this sounds like your kind of game, you can join the global beta test. It's available on Google Play for Android users, and iOS users can test it through TestFlight, though spots are limited. Just follow the link, sign up, and you can play through the first five chapters.
If you're enjoying the beta, consider pre-registering. By doing so through the official website, you'll receive 10 Development Material Boxes, while pre-registering on Google Play will net you an exclusive costume for Zero.
It's too early to tell if Black Beacon will become the next big thing in gacha games, but we're definitely intrigued to see where it goes from here.
