AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative

 PC
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 104 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 83 out of 104
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 104
  3. Negative: 12 out of 104

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  1. JasonWazza
    Aug 15, 2022
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. So to go into this Review, i have played all the Zero Escape games and played Ai Somnium files 1, my rating for the first game is a 9 and this one is a 3, and there is a lot making this change.

    So there will be major spoilers, because a lot of my issues to do with the game are very spoiler heavy, but Spoiler free, the grand twist is terrible, and literally ruins a lot of the game that you've already played, even before you know of the twist, if you think logically, you will be annoyed at the fact your characters aren't asking obvious questions, and the reason is this major twist, but the Twist only exists for the Player and Aiba, all other characters, have normal progression and don't understand your issue.

    So big spoiler is, every in game 24 hours, you swap between 6 years in the past, and the current day for all characters, with Ryuki, he hasn't aged but this is kind of written off with the fact that he has issues, but Mizuki, they literally decided you know what, Clone Mizuki is going to be a thing, and again the issue with this becomes, future Mizuki (we are lead to believe she is always in the future) will discover bodies that Future Ryuki (We are lead to believe Ryuki is always in the past) discovered, and none of the characters question this, but i was constantly yelling questions at my computer wanting an explanation as to how only the first body being 6 years different seems to occur to the characters.

    Now i haven't gone back and played all the sections as Chronological but that's because i hate the change they did, and don't understand why it couldn't have just been Chronological, but the game also has to constantly make up crap for why magically we change to Future from Past and hide it from the Player.

    And what does the Twist add to the game?

    Honestly nothing, I worked out the twist was time stuff going on about half way into Mizuki's route, as they constantly try and put hints to this, in really terrible ways, but none of the time stuff actually gives the game a more interesting perspective, and doesn't explain what the player has played, outside of a cop out of "oh you didn't understand what was going on, that's because i made it so."

    Ai Somnium Files 1 earned that twist at the end, AI Somnium files 2 doesn't earn that twist, and quite frankly even if it had, didn't pull it off in an effective enough way for it to have a good payoff.

    Also this game really seems to like the one singular dance number it has, to the point that it will subject you to it so many times that it isn't funny.

    This game also avoids the reasoning behind why the characters can learn stuff from other pathways entirely, by basically saying "yeah it's a game, and you player are playing it and can bring that information." Not once does it otherwise try and explain that fact that you can learn things off split pathes and bring it back as information.    … Expand
  2. AINISUCKS
    Sep 6, 2022
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Awful game, play the first and don't look back. If you didn't play the first game, the story doesn't make much sense and if you played this game first, then the new characters will bore you to death. Fan favourite Mizuki gets her backstory hung, drawn and quartered in favour for her OC big sister, BIBI. No longer is it about a grumpy old guy and his surrogate daughter. It's now two sisters with superhuman powers who have to stop mustache twirling scientist, who is dead before the game really starts.… Expand
  3. zugetzu
    Jun 30, 2022
    4
    If you want to play this game then go into it with the mindset of "Murder Mystery, Comedy, Anime". It can definitely be a good time so long as you don't think about all the plot holes and some of the "action scenes" as it has some interesting and intriguing moments. Unfortunately these interesting and intriguing moments are almost always cut short by being extremely anime or a QTE fightIf you want to play this game then go into it with the mindset of "Murder Mystery, Comedy, Anime". It can definitely be a good time so long as you don't think about all the plot holes and some of the "action scenes" as it has some interesting and intriguing moments. Unfortunately these interesting and intriguing moments are almost always cut short by being extremely anime or a QTE fight scene that's absurdly stupid, an example: Expert assassins with guns and hired gunmen run into melee to fight rather than shooting.
    The game feels like it wants to be a anime comedy while also being steins;gate/Zero escape. The moments that stand out as interesting and memorable are those more grounded and "science theory" moments but they are very often interrupted to get more "anime" screen time, such as the aforementioned "action"/"Idol dance + Song" scenes.
    The game also creates a lot of plot holes for the 1st game. There is also a possible attempt to connect the ZE and AI universes with a reoccurring unnamed character that is specifically only mentioned in this and ZE:VLR.
    Overall I'd say it's a high 4 or a low 5 out of 10. A good time if you want to have something Anime that attempts to be more interesting than 95% of the anime games but ultimately fails.    … Expand
  4. Treima
    Jan 28, 2023
    4
    I've never seen a game so thematically strong and with really well-thought out twists and turns piss it all away with puerile humor, unlikable and unrelateable characters, and lazy structuring. It is a disappointment, even compared to its mostly okay predecessor game.
  5. Awkylold
    Jan 24, 2023
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Most excited I've been for a game, most disappointed I've been at a game. What a letdown.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Best PC Game of 2022
62
#62 Most Discussed PC Game of 2022

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Impulsegamer
    Jul 11, 2022
    86
    AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative is a superior game compared to its predecessor in almost every aspect. While some of the puzzle segments are a bit long-winded and can be quite complicated, the experiences they provide alone are incredibly worth it, and the characters make the game so fun to play.
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  2. Hey Poor Player
    Jun 27, 2022
    90
    AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative isn’t a perfect game, but it offers one of the best mysteries I’ve ever seen in a game. Combine that with a wonderful cast and somnium sequences that blow away the original game, and you have a visual novel that is a must-play for anyone interested in the genre. AI: The Somnium Files was minor Uchikosi, but nirvanA Initiative stands among his best work.
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  3. Destructoid
    Jun 26, 2022
    85
    If you’re looking for a compelling detective adventure with heart and smarts, it’s easy to recommend AI: The Sominum Files – nirvanA Initiative. It feels like the realization of what this world can be, and a promising step forward from its predecessor. It might still have a few wrinkles, but by the final credits roll, it’ll likely win over any investigator’s heart.
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