Revision 3

Consciousness space (also referred to as the Otherworld) is a supernatural dimension in Varsapura where the boundary between physical reality and the collective unconscious dissolves. This concept is closely tied to the Cognosea framework that governs the game's supernatural events. When a Cognosea disruption occurs, consciousness space overlaps with the material world, creating zones where the normal rules of physics and geometry no longer apply.

What is consciousness space?

Varsapura's world operates on the premise that two parallel spaces coexist: the physical world and a psychic realm formed by humanity's collective subconscious. In consciousness space, thoughts, emotions, fears, and repressed memories take tangible form. Humanity's collective subconscious manifests as rainfall in this dimension, which is why the City of Rain experiences perpetual downpour. The rain is not normal weather; it is a symptom of the thin barrier between spaces.

The Otherworld

During Cognosea disruption events, SEAL agents can use camera-like devices to collectively open dimensional gateways into the Otherworld. The Otherworld is an alternate version of the city where consciousness space has fully merged with physical space. Inside these gateways:

• Architecture shifts into surreal configurations that do not follow normal geometry

• Corridors can loop impossibly or lead to places that should not be physically connected

• Environmental hazards related to Mindrot are more concentrated and dangerous

• The visual atmosphere becomes distorted, with unsettled skies and warped lighting

Gameplay implications

The gameplay demo showed portal-like gateways leading into the Otherworld. These areas had distinct visual designs compared to the normal city. The environments inside were more abstract and dreamlike, with floating structures and impossible spatial relationships. Players navigate these spaces during missions that require addressing the source of a Cognosea disruption.

The Otherworld appeared to contain both exploration segments and combat encounters against shadow monsters in their native environment. Since these creatures originate from Mindrot (which itself comes from the collective unconscious), fighting them in consciousness space puts the player closer to the source of the threat.

Mindbogs

Within consciousness space, players encounter Mindbogs: localized distortions that infect spaces and enemies, introducing rules that can either help or hinder the player. Mindbogs manifest as shifting geometry, floating debris, temporary gravity wells, and psychic constructs. Each Mindbog can alter the conditions of an encounter, forcing players to adapt their approach. The presence of Mindbogs distinguishes consciousness space encounters from regular combat in the material world, adding an unpredictable environmental layer on top of enemy threats.

Connection to the rain of thought

The rain of thought concept explains the mechanism behind consciousness space. Humanity's collective emotions and thoughts drain as rain. When this drainage functions normally, the barrier between spaces remains stable. When it drains improperly, Mindrot accumulates, the barrier weakens, and consciousness space begins bleeding into the physical world. The Cognosea events that SEAL responds to are essentially containment operations for these dimensional breaches.

Open questions

Much about consciousness space remains unclear. Whether players can freely enter the Otherworld outside of mission contexts, whether the dimension has its own persistent inhabitants beyond shadow monsters, and how deeply the game explores the psychological dimensions of this space are all unconfirmed. The inner world mechanic may expand on the concept by allowing exploration of individual characters' psychological landscapes, but details are limited.