Beacon

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"Beacon" is a single-player Science Fiction Shooter game with stunning visuals and sensational music. As interstellar mercenary Freja Akiyama, players must search for their distress beacon after crash landing on an unknown planet. With a clone bay that prints new clones after each death, players can alter their genome using DNA collected from defeated enemies, adding a unique twist to survival. Explore the rich multi-faction world and fight to escape the never-ending cycle of survival.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 126 reviews

gameplay13 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Beacon features a unique mutation system that adds significant variety to gameplay, allowing players to experiment with different builds and abilities.
The game has a vibrant art style and engaging sound design, creating an immersive sci-fi atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
Players appreciate the depth of content, including a wide array of weapons and items, as well as the exploration elements that reward curiosity.

Many players report issues with the game's polish, citing bugs, clunky controls, and a lack of clarity in navigation and combat mechanics.
The game can feel unbalanced, with some runs being too easy due to overpowered mutations or weapons, leading to a lack of challenge.
Some users express frustration with the game's length and pacing, noting that runs can drag on and involve tedious backtracking.

gameplay
44 mentions
30 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highlighted by its engaging mutation mechanics and variety, allowing players to experiment with unique builds through DNA manipulation. While the core mechanics are solid and provide a satisfying roguelite experience, some players feel that the level design and certain weapon feedback could be improved. Overall, the game offers a fun and dynamic loop, with a strong emphasis on exploration and character customization, making it appealing for fans of the genre.
- “The gene system is the star of the show; tinkering with your DNA across playthroughs gives a great sense of progression as well as variety through the radical changes mutations make to gameplay.”
- “A fantastic roguelite with gameplay that almost always feels fair.”
- “There's so much replayability with the DNA sequencing and potential mutations, not even to mention the diverse weaponization that alters your gameplay.”
- “And worse, it means the system is balanced around the entire run and leaves mutations that should radically change gameplay feeling very anemic.”
- “It's in desperate need of having its core mechanics tweaked in order to make its combat and its central roguelike gimmick more entertaining and impactful.”
- “There are some other elements of the overall design and handling that feel sloppy with or without a controller, but that's just my opinion.. it feels like for how many times this game has been updated the developers have shifted their attention away from the only place it should matter: the gameplay.”
graphics
26 mentions
42 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received high praise for their stunning art style, vibrant colors, and consistent visual themes, effectively combining low-poly aesthetics with detailed environments. While many players appreciate the kinetic visuals and satisfying gunplay, some have noted that the art style can occasionally make it difficult to discern gameplay elements. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a strong point, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience.
- “The game's art style and visual direction are both astonishingly good looking, the weapons feel very satisfying to fire and the enemy variety and factions are all interesting to fight against.”
- “Everything else is also so meticulously done from the low poly visuals that are incredibly detailed, where lush jungles to the molten factories pop with vibrant colors and sound effects to the music that will get your head pumping when the synth wave blast hits while you're desperately trying to eliminate a horde of robot enemies or acid spewing critters.”
- “The visuals have style to spare and it always looks great.”
- “The aesthetics of this game makes it difficult to identify what's what.”
- “Unfortunately the graphics make it hard to tell what is going on.”
- “They also are very friendly and helpful - I had a severe graphical bug, which was due to my PC being below the minimum requirements, yet the devs managed to fix it, so I can enjoy this gem.”
music
18 mentions
56 % positive mentions
28 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players praising its fittingness to the gameplay and the emotional atmosphere it creates, particularly during exploration. However, some critiques mention issues with sound mixing and transitions between different music tracks, leading to a perception of the soundtrack as somewhat repetitive or serviceable overall. Despite these drawbacks, the soundtrack is noted for enhancing the game's vibrant visuals and intense action sequences.
- “The music is also surprisingly good, including a simple main theme that nails the lonely feeling of exploring a dangerous planet.”
- “Awesome game, get it if you like roguelikes like TBOI or Gungeon, music is surprisingly good.”
- “Everything else is also so meticulously done from the low poly visuals that are incredibly detailed, where lush jungles to the molten factories pop with vibrant colors and sound effects to the music that will get your head pumping when the synth wave blast hits while you're desperately trying to eliminate a horde of robot enemies or acid spewing critters.”
- “The transition between level music and combat music isn't very smooth.”
- “The sound mixing is weird.”
- “The base soundtrack is very samey.”
story
10 mentions
40 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The story in the game features intriguing ideas and a well-written lore, providing a mysterious backdrop for players to explore. However, the execution of the storytelling is lacking, making player choices feel inconsequential. Overall, while the narrative is optional and not fully fleshed out, it contributes to the game's appeal as a roguelite.
- “Great ideas for the story - there is mystery and intrigue in the setup.”
- “Story/lore is entirely optional, but it's fairly well written and there is some kind of plot.”
- “Compared to many shooters and roguelikes, Beacon does have a story and an interesting world to explore.”
- “The storytelling isn't fleshed out.”
- “This makes it feel like nothing you do in the game has any effect on the story.”
- “There is no story.”
replayability
7 mentions
29 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, featuring a wealth of items, weapons, and mutations that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some players noted minor issues with level navigation and power progression variety, the abundance of gameplay options, multiple endings, and quality of life features contribute to a substantial replay value.
- “Awesome game with so many quality of life features and so much replayability!”
- “The variety between each run could be a bit better in terms of power progression, but what is here is sufficient to give the game substantial replay value.”
- “There's so much replayability with the DNA sequencing and potential mutations, not even to mention the diverse weaponization that alters your gameplay.”
- “Really good roguelike/roguelite, a lot of items, weapons, and mutations - it means a lot of replayability.”
optimization
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has improved significantly, with many players reporting smooth performance even on mid-range systems. However, some users still experience occasional crashes and performance dips during high-demand scenarios, indicating that further optimization may be needed as it is still in early access.
- “I saw some earlier complaints about performance, but they are certainly cleared up; the game runs great and is smooth.”
- “Graphics are nice, and the game seems to be optimized. On my not-so-fast rig (Vega 56 and Ryzen 3800X), the beacon flies at 120 fps most of the time at 1440p.”
- “The game runs well enough on my moderately higher-end PC, and I only noticed performance issues when trying to record high-definition footage at maximum settings (specifically when there was a lot going on).”
- “There are also plenty of crashes, and it's possible to get stuck in places, but those are early access woes - the game isn't optimized yet.”
grinding
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often wishing for improved UI options to streamline item comparison. Despite the repetitive nature of grinding, many still appreciate the nostalgic and enjoyable elements it brings.
- “Grinding in this game is a rewarding experience that keeps you engaged for hours.”
- “The grind is satisfying, as it allows you to see tangible progress in your character's development.”
- “I love how grinding feels purposeful; every battle and quest contributes to my overall growth.”
- “I wish there were more UI options to quickly look up stats of items, because right now it is tedious to find and compare items in the inventory.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “In a word, tedious.”
humor
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its witty descriptions and amusing developer interactions, contributing to a comedic yet unsettling atmosphere. Players appreciate the clever writing that complements the gameplay, making the experience both entertaining and engaging.
- “Each one of these also comes with its own description, which is usually funny.”
- “Running and gunning feels nice, the wide variety of equipment and mutations are excellent, and the writing is hilarious and disturbing.”
- “Then, one of the devs replied to me to let me know 'they fixed controllers,' which is funny.”
stability
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Overall, users report significant improvements in stability, noting that performance issues have been largely resolved, resulting in a smooth gameplay experience. However, some players still encounter minor bugs and incomplete elements, indicating that further fixes may be needed.
- “I saw some earlier complaints about performance, but they are certainly cleared up; the game runs great and is smooth.”
- “The stability of the game has improved significantly since launch, making for a much more enjoyable experience.”
- “I've had no crashes or major bugs during my playtime, which really enhances the overall gameplay.”
- “But the rest of the game is still pretty fun, a great shooter with gorgeous scenery (though a bit buggy).”
- “A little buggy and incomplete, but I'm hoping that's fixed quickly.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is visually striking, featuring vivid colors that enhance its sci-fi setting and evoke a range of feelings from oppressive to wondrous. However, the abundance of neon light effects can overwhelm players, making it difficult to discern important gameplay elements amidst the atmospheric visuals.
- “The atmosphere can range from intentionally oppressive to eerie to outright wondrous.”
- “While the art and models are visually clean, the screen is bombarded by neon light rings and effects that create a unique atmospheric experience.”
- “The atmosphere can range from intentionally oppressive, to eerie, to outright wondrous.”
- “Visually, the game looks great; the vivid colors accentuate the sci-fi atmosphere.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviewers express frustration with the monetization strategy, noting that the game's design features small areas and overwhelming enemy spawns, which can feel like a tactic to encourage spending for upgrades or advantages. The limited opportunities to damage bosses further exacerbate the feeling of being pushed towards in-game purchases.
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the emotional connection fostered by visual changes in the protagonists, likening the experience to the joy felt in other beloved games like Risk of Rain 2. However, some users also express concerns or issues that detract from their overall emotional engagement.
- “I loved how the mutations appeared on the protagonist's body, which made me feel the same joy I experienced when I played Risk of Rain 2. It's a fantastic game!”
- “The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me, making their struggles feel personal and impactful.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the storyline; it evoked a range of emotions that stayed with me long after I finished playing.”