What Is Varsapura And Why Is Everyone Talking About It
HoYoverse is clearly not slowing down. While Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero are still very much alive, the studio has already announced more projects, including Petite Planet and Honkai spin off Nexus Anima. Now there is another new kid on the block: Varsapura.
Varsapura is a fresh action game that mixes paranormal horror with stylish combat. Think a little bit of Control, a little bit of HoYoverse flair, and a lot of corrupted black goo messing with peoples minds. You appear to work for a mysterious government style agency that deals with supernatural threats, mental decay, and weird beings sneaking in from somewhere else.
The surprise is that this time HoYoverse is flirting with a more grounded style. The world is inspired by real locations, especially Singapore. In the demo you can spot recognizable buildings, street names, and a city layout that actually looks like a place people live in instead of a floating fantasy island.
That realistic push makes the one big flaw stand out even more. The character models look cheap and plasticky, especially compared to the studios usual work. If you are used to the polish of Genshin or Star Rail, the protagonist in Varsapura looks like she escaped from a bargain bin asset pack. The eyes are huge and glossy, the face is plain, and it does not quite match the moody, grounded environments she is walking through.
The result is a strange clash. The world feels detailed and atmospheric while the hero looks like a default character with an anime filter on top. For a studio that invented some of the most recognizable gacha characters around, Varsapuras models are a surprising step back.
A Dark Paranormal Setup With A Goofy Edge
Once you get past the faces, there is a lot to like. Varsapura leans into light horror, not in a full on survival sense, but with a creepy, paranormal vibe. The main character is pulled into a strange encounter with a mysterious figure literally named Mr Shadow. Subtle naming is not really the goal here.
These sequences feel like HoYoverse playing with the idea of mental corruption and otherworldly entities. The black gunk spreading through the world does not just look like slime, it represents emotional and psychological decay. It is a very on the nose metaphor but it does give the game a strong identity compared to the studios usual fantasy and sci fi universes.
In between the spooky moments, you still get HoYoverse brand slapstick. At one point the cast rides to a crime scene in an absurdly tiny police car that looks like it escaped from a clown show. The tone sits somewhere between serious paranormal investigation and meme ready anime comedy, which will feel right at home if you already like the studios writing style.
Supporting characters help sell the setting. Patrol officer Sayuki fights alongside the protagonist and somehow turns bureaucracy into a weapon. It gives the world that familiar HoYo taste where even side characters feel like they are built for future banners and fan art.
Combat That Feels Like Zenless Zone Zero With A Paranormal Twist
If you enjoy modern HoYoverse combat, Varsapura will look familiar right away. The core system resembles Zenless Zone Zero with a focus on fast action and character swapping.
- You control a small squad of characters.
- You swap between them mid fight to chain abilities and ultimates.
- You dash and dodge around enemy attacks, then punish openings with flashy skills.
What really stands out is the choice of weapons. The main hero swings an umbrella like it is the most normal thing ever. Her ultimate is a clear nod to Persona 3 where she performs a stylized self shot to trigger a storm of rain based damage. It is dramatic, a little dark, and very cool on screen.
Sayuki might be even better. Instead of a sword or gun she uses paperwork. Regular attacks are just her beating enemies down with an overstuffed file folder. One of her abilities drops an entire stack of documents on top of enemies. If you knock foes into the stack, they take extra damage. It is a simple mechanic but it makes the combat feel playful and makes Sayuki instantly memorable.
The demo also hints at stealth elements. Certain abilities can temporarily stun or disable enemies, letting you sneak around or set up ambushes. It is not a pure stealth game, but those touches keep encounters from feeling like pure button mashing.
Later in the demo, the game shows more open world exploration as the protagonist and Sayuki drive to an investigation site. The trip is mostly an excuse to throw in another battle featuring a third character with a huge flail weapon. This mystery fighter gets no dialogue in the slice that was shown, but clearly exists to tease future teammates and banner bait.
Between the quirky weapons, snappy swapping, and familiar ultimate chaining, Varsapura feels like the next logical step in HoYoverses action formula. If you liked how Zenless Zone Zero plays but want a darker paranormal world to explore, this looks like it might be your thing.
There is still plenty to be cautious about. It will almost certainly be a gacha game, and with that comes all the usual questions about monetization, grind, and character power creep. The visual design of the main cast also needs serious love before launch if HoYoverse wants them to stand next to icons from Genshin or Star Rail.
Even so, the foundation is promising. A Singapore inspired paranormal city, horror flavored investigation, goofy yet clever weapon ideas, and tried and tested HoYo action combat all combine into something that feels fresh for the studio while still clearly carrying its DNA. If they can give the characters the same level of care as the world and systems, Varsapura could be one of the more interesting new gacha action games on the horizon.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/its-a-shame-hoyoverses-new-game-is-sporting-offensively-cheap-looking-character-models-because-everything-else-has-me-sold-on-its-paranormal-cop-mystery/
