Black Beacon Global Beta: A Hands-On Review of This Action RPG Gacha
Black Beacon, the action RPG gacha game, recently launched its global beta test. Intrigued? Read on for our in-depth review after spending the weekend exploring its world.
Setting and Story
The game unfolds within the Library of Babel, a setting drawing inspiration from Jorge Luis Borges' short story and the biblical Tower of Babel. This unique blend of literary and religious mythology creates a compelling and unusual backdrop, a refreshing change from typical gacha game settings.
Players assume the role of The Seer, mysteriously awakening in the Library with a significant destiny: custodianship of this vast, enigmatic place. The Seer's arrival triggers significant events, including the emergence of a monstrous threat, time-travel anomalies, and a looming cosmic danger in the form of a clockwork star. The narrative, while intriguing, is only briefly touched upon here.
Gameplay
Black Beacon offers 3D free-roaming exploration with adjustable camera perspectives (top-down or free camera). Real-time combat is hack-and-slash based, emphasizing combo chaining and strategic character switching mid-battle. This tag-team system allows benched characters to regenerate stamina, encouraging dynamic team management without penalty for frequent swaps.
Combat demands skillful timing and awareness of enemy attack patterns, preventing mindless button-mashing. While easier enemies are manageable with basic attacks, tougher opponents require strategic play to avoid being flung across the arena. The diverse roster of characters, each with unique combat styles and movesets, ensures that acquiring new characters feels rewarding and impactful. Several characters possess engaging personalities that encourage player engagement.
Beta Experience
The global beta is accessible via Google Play (Android) and TestFlight (iOS, limited slots). The beta allows players to experience the first five chapters. Pre-registration is available through the official website (reward: 10 Development Material Boxes) or Google Play (reward: exclusive Zero costume).
While it's premature to definitively label Black Beacon a future gacha giant, our early experience suggests a promising title worth investigating.
