Out of all of the motion roguelikes that ape Vampire Survivors’ type, Holocure is the one one to infuse it with vtubers, the streamers who use 2D anime avatars you have in all probability seen throughout Twitch and YouTube. However even if you happen to aren’t acquainted with the vtuber company that employs these ones, Hololive, Holocure is surprisingly slick to play–and it is fully free.
Holocure began as an early entry fan recreation final 12 months and exploded in reputation as soon as Hololive’s vtubers began taking part in it on their streams. All 38 of its pixel-art characters are based mostly on Hololive’s well-liked vtubers, like Gawr Gura and Usada Pekora, and it has tons of references for followers. Gawr Gura, for instance, is a shark woman from Atlantis that assaults with a trident and may summon a large shark that wipes out a whole display of enemies.
You solely begin off with 5 (of 38) vtubers to play as, however you choose up cash to gacha roll for extra. Those self same cash can be utilized to lift primary stats like well being, motion pace, and protection, or upgrades that allow you to improve your weapons inside a stage. Holocure has many of the upgrades and gadgets you’d count on in a Vampire Survivors-like recreation, but it surely’s all wrapped up in a goofy, colourful type—and it has a killer soundtrack, too.
When you drop right into a stage and begin auto-attacking skeletons and different vtuber mascots, you stage up and acquire new powers. Because the Ninomae Ina’nis, a vtuber that appears like Cthulhu in the event that they had been an anime woman, I used to be not solely slapping folks with my big tentacle, however dropping AoE lava buckets and utilizing her personal tears to knock again enemies. When you’re a number of minutes right into a run, your display shall be filled with all kinds of enemies, skills, and big bosses chasing you round. A lot of the enjoyable is seeing what every thing does and attempting to provide you with efficient mixtures of skills and assaults.
Holocure’s lead developer, Kay Yu, was the lead animator on River Metropolis Women and it exhibits. Hololive’s vtubers all have lore and are based mostly on issues like legendary creatures or ideas, like a phoenix or chaos, and the assaults and gadgets within the recreation emphasize that. It is mainly like taking part in Smash Bros if all of the Nintendo characters had YouTube channels.
You are undoubtedly not required to know something in regards to the characters or vtubers typically to have enjoyable with it although. Holocure is a satisfying little recreation to load up and play if you happen to’ve already squeezed Vampire Survivors dry or have been determined for considered one of these with some new quirks.
The sport is not fairly completed but, however as we speak it made its debut on Steam. Kay Yu and the remainder of the crew have been including new vtubers and options for over a 12 months now. You’ll be able to comply with the Holocure Twitter (X?) account for updates and teasers on what’s being added subsequent.
Holocure is on the market free of charge on Steam.