Droid Gamers: Black Beacon Global Beta Hands-On Experience

If you missed the recent announcement, the gacha action-RPG Black Beacon has launched its global beta test. Unsure if you should jump in right away? No worries—we've got you covered. We spent the weekend diving into the global beta to see if Black Beacon has the potential to be the next big hit in mobile gacha gaming.

Setting and Story

Let's dive into the premise. Black Beacon is an action RPG gacha game set within the grandiose halls of the Library of Babel. This setting draws inspiration from Jorge Luis Borges' short story of the same name, envisioning a world as a colossal library that contains every conceivable combination of letters. While most books within this library are nonsensical, the laws of probability ensure that every known book is hidden somewhere within its depths.

The Library of Babel in Black Beacon also incorporates elements from the biblical Tower of Babel, a structure built to reach the heavens. The game's setting is rich with references to Judeo-Christian mythology, offering a refreshing departure from the usual folklore sources. Think of it as a nod to classics like Evangelion.

In Black Beacon, you play as The Seer, a typical gacha game protagonist who awakens in this mysterious place without any recollection of how they arrived. As the new custodian of the vast and enigmatic Library of Babel, you bear a heavy destiny. The other characters seem unperturbed by your arrival, though they're sparing with details.

Your presence triggers significant changes within the Library, not all of them positive. A monstrous entity begins to emerge from the depths, and you're thrown into a whirlwind of time-traveling adventures reminiscent of Doctor Who's River Song, alongside a clockwork star threatening to obliterate everything. You'll need to hit the ground running to navigate these challenges.

Enough about the story—let's talk gameplay.

Gameplay

Black Beacon offers a 3D free-roaming experience, allowing you to explore areas using either a top-down or free camera perspective. You can easily switch between these views using pinch gestures on the touchscreen.

The game features a real-time combat system that involves chaining combos and executing moves. A unique aspect is the encouragement of character-switching during fights, even mid-combo. This tag team strategy lets benched characters regenerate stamina faster, and there's no penalty for swapping in and out, making it feel like a strategic version of Pokemon with anime characters.

Combat demands attention to timing and enemy cues, offering depth without becoming overly complex. While you can breeze through lesser enemies, the more formidable foes will challenge you to stay focused, or they'll send you flying across the arena.

As a gacha game, Black Beacon naturally includes a variety of characters. The diversity in combat styles and moves ensures that each new character feels significant. Some characters are compelling enough to make you want to delve deeper into their stories.

Playing the Beta

If Black Beacon sounds like your type of game, you should check out 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 provided link to sign up, download the game, and play through the first five chapters.

If you enjoy the beta, consider pre-registering. By doing so via the official website, you can receive 10 Development Material Boxes, and on Google Play, you can secure an exclusive costume for Zero.

While it's too early to tell if Black Beacon will become the next big thing in gacha gaming, our initial impressions are promising, and we're eager to see how it evolves.