Droid Gamers: Testing Black Beacon Global Beta Hands-On

In case you missed it, the gacha action-RPG Black Beacon has launched its global beta test a few days ago. Are you on the fence about downloading it? Don't worry, 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 game's premise. Black Beacon is an action RPG gacha game set within the vast halls of the Library of Babel. This setting draws inspiration from Jorge Luis Borges' short story of the same name, which envisions a world as a colossal library containing every conceivable combination of letters. Most of these books are gibberish, but within its depths lie every book known to humanity.

The game also borrows from the biblical Tower of Babel, a structure built to reach the heavens. The setting is rich with references to Judeo-Christian mythology and the Bible, offering a unique departure from typical folklore. In Black Beacon, you play as The Seer, who awakens in this mysterious place with no memory of how they arrived. You're thrust into the role of the Library's new custodian, a heavy responsibility indeed.

The other characters seem unperturbed by your sudden appearance, though they're tight-lipped about the details. Your arrival, however, triggers significant changes in the Library, including a monster emerging from its depths. Add in some time-travel elements reminiscent of Doctor Who's River Song and a clockwork star threatening your existence, and you'll need to act fast.

Now, let's move on to 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, easily switched via touchscreen controls. The game features real-time combat that emphasizes chaining combos and executing special moves. A unique feature is the encouragement of character-switching mid-fight or even mid-combo, which allows benched characters to regenerate stamina faster.

This tag team strategy lets you swap characters in and out freely, akin to playing a version of Pokémon with anime characters. Combat requires timing and attention to enemy cues, making it deep yet accessible. While you can easily handle weaker enemies, more formidable foes demand your focus, or they'll send you flying across the arena.

As a gacha game, Black Beacon includes various characters, each with unique combat styles and moves, ensuring that every new addition feels significant. Some characters are intriguing enough to make you want to learn more about them.

Playing the Beta

If Black Beacon 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 participate via TestFlight, though spots are limited. Just follow the link and sign up to download the game and experience the first five chapters.

If you're interested, consider pre-registering. By doing so through the official website, you can earn 10 Development Material Boxes. On Google Play, you'll receive an exclusive costume for Zero.

It's early days to determine if Black Beacon will become the next big thing in gacha gaming, but we're eager to see how it develops.