AI: The Somnium Files

If only I could experience it fresh all over again.

Not done yet, but good so far.
However, I'm posting this to give awareness that a few parts can crash, so save frequently so you don't lose a lot of progress.
reporting back since I just finished it:
Fantastic game, but as far as I know, it will still crash at the PSyncing Warehouse part. My recommendation (even though it fucking BLOWS) is to save after every step and slowly inch yourself forwards since there's no specific point it crashes, just here and there.

”An excellent crime thriller adventure that bring you into emotional ride.”
AI: The Somnium Files (AI) is an adventure game with visual novel element, developed by Spike Chunsoft. The story is written by Kotaro Uchikoshi (director of Zero Escape series and 999). I’ve to admit I never play any his previous games before. So, this review is based on my perspective for Uchikoshi’s work first time.
ThE DarK CasE
The story set in a near-future Tokyo. You’re detective Kaname Date, assigned to investigate crime scene. Date is working as a part of special team along with his artificial intelligence partner named Aiba, solving mysterious case and hunts the clue in suspect dream.
You progress through story by exploring places in real-world Tokyo. It features free camera from Date’s perspective as you’re free to inspect environment (indicated by green color until it turns grey). Most of scenes end up by further interacting and getting all information from people. The story also has branching paths and multiple ending based on major decision making like other visual novels.
Things that make AI becomes different is sub details and its presentation. The way character reacts to dialogue and to other NPCs, 90% of dialogues are fully voiced (even though it’s Japanese dub lip sync). It may sounds nothing new, but I consider it’s a major step up in VN genre to make characters feel much more alive and believable.
In ThE FeeL
The writing is this game fantastic. It’s full of feeling and touching moments. In the same time, it doesn’t hold back mature contents, present in gruesome and twisted way. The characters are well-developed, thoughtful, and dynamic as I feel attached to them even they are just minor characters. The argument and banter between characters are pure gold, not to mention amount of random jokes and puns back and forth (lots of dad jokes, dirty jokes, references from games, anime, show, meme, pop culture, etc.). They’re on almost everything you inspect and may change every time you revisit the scene. It’s totally random and sometimes hard to catch up all things. It’s optional, but they are WORTH checking and some may further character development in story. Keep me giggle in joy.
The story expands in multiple routes. Some routes will explain the facts that are not present in another route. The purpose is to encourage player to learn a piece of information and side stories as it’s all connected and well-explained to the end. The story pacing is great, it doesn’t hold you for too long, but keep revealing after and after. Some may be predictable due to obvious hints; some just caught me off guard with twists and turns. I also personally like the way that story ties to modern trend, scientific term, and Japanese culture despite of sci-fi elements.
For me, AI Story is a rollercoaster ride of feeling and life lesson, written in much more mature term (both drama and comady). Many times I actually feel care about characters, laugh how ridiculous humor is, shed the tear because feeling of loss or how cruel the world is. Sometimes, it tries so hard to be serious, but it won’t, but I had mixed feeling in good way and very satisfied.
IntO The DReaM
Aside of exploration and investigation in real world, you’ll be introduce to Somnium (Dream in Latin). You will be tasked to interact with random objects in dream world in order to solve puzzle and discover hidden truth of suspect’s mind within 6 minutes. In Somnium, things are not bound by common logics. Sometimes, you’ve to think out of the box how each object relates to each other.
As you control Alba in third-person perspective, time only move faster when you move and perform certain action (with fixed time). Time move very slowly when you stand still as it let you take time observing environment and map. Some action will grant you TIMIE which serve as time modifier for next action. The more you play, the more you learn how to utilize TIMIE to survive in 6 min Somnium (such as trade bad TIMIE to low-timed action).
You may find puzzle in Somnium like trial and error gameplay, but they’re placed for reason and somehow relates to the plot. Some actions are just expose funny commentary, but again they’re worth checking. Failure is very forgiving as you can reload checkpoint or restart if you messed up. So, take time and experience Somnium by yourself.
Personal Suggestion: Even you’re free in your decision. I strongly suggest experiencing left side of flowchart first by choosing Left Bird Cage in early Somnium as it provides better background and character foundation for main story.
You may expect some action sequences that rely on easy quick-time event. Unlike other crime- thrilling story, action scene is where you’re chilling and enjoy how silly and creative it was.
The playtime can be vary from 15-30 hours depended how much you invest time on detail and side stuffs. Finding collectables in Somnium and inspect stuff to fulfill your appendix. Don’t worry to start over if you miss, the game features flowchart to select specific point of story including Somnium. “Ctrl” button allow you to skip old event in high speed and “Log” with fully voice when you lost track. They are well-designed and convenient.
SOunD oF MinD
Voice acting is a phenomenon. I could feel how much fun they have during performance especially English dubs. Each voice actor/actress completely nails the role and personality of each character. It strongly builds up emotional elements (distinct and natural) and keeps engaging and pacing for me.
Soundtracks are great as well, composed by talented Keisuke Ito. The variety of music set the mood very well in most scenes. Even though music can be repetitive sometime due to short loop, it’s chilling, catchy, trippy, or just hit emotional spot so hard. Both voice and sound are one of main factors that enhance overall experience in satisfied level.
GRApicH
The game is powered by Unity engine featuring simple and clean 3D environment and Cel-shade anime like characters design by Yusuke Kozaki. It’s distinct and maybe ridiculous sometimes, but I’m appreciated the direction. Sometimes, anime-like characters can express emotion more efficiently.
GLItcH in LinE
AI is not a perfect game; there are some odd transitions between the scenes and character ragdoll that could do better. Event reminder help to keep audience in track, but sometimes it feels over usage and repetitive.
There’s technical issue for just Window 7 users which relate to current Unity engine as dialogue with video may not continue due to video buffer issue and force you to reload save from main menu. It’s not a big deal for me, but it can be annoying and immersion breaking. My best suggest is to apply beta branch by entering: Windows7Beta in betas of game properties.
VERDicT
AI is such a delightful and well-balanced experience I had in long time and worth every penny. The artstyle and uniqueness might not be for everyone’s taste which is fine. But for player / streamer who enjoy similar genre even you never play Uchikoshi’s previous works. This a love letter to adventure/VN that may put a warm smile on your face. Both yourself and audiences
If you found this review helpful, please consider and give a thumb up or feedback to improve my review

After Zero Time Dilemma I had low expectations coming into this. And not only AI didn't disappoint, I can state that it is the best game by Uchikoshi I've ever played. The story is conclusive unlike Zero Escape series, it answers all the questions you have, it doesn't break the rules, and the only finnicky thing it has is probably just a reference to Zero Escape/Infinity Series. Gameplay-wise it's somewhat like Ace Attorney, but court debate is replaced with dreams where you have to solve pretty trivial puzzles and manage your time. The difficulty is just right for this kinda game. So just buy it pls ;_;

From the writers of the Zero Escape series and published by the people that referance their own games in games comes a murder mystery sci-fi adventure visual novel.
Gameplay:
- The main gameplay is point and click with the game letting you click almost every existing item on the screen to possibly trigger some funny banter dialouge between the 2 main characters. With every advancment of the story the same item might produce new dialouge with a continuing joke.
- Somnium stages is a game section where you go into a person's dream and control a character from a 3rd person view to do various things in order to get deeper into the dream. These stages have a 6 minute time limit which slows down 100 times slower when you don't move in order to look around and plan your next move because each action costs time.
- Presenting evidence. During interrogations you need to pick the right evidence to present in order to progress the story and questioning.
- QTE. There are a few QTEs that happen throughout the story and it's basically whacky action shinanigans that you shouldn't take seriously lol
Story:
While the story of AI Somnium Files is centred around a murder mystery it's actually more character focused story. The investigation felt eerily realistic with what little clues we have on hand to find the culprit that there's nothing much we can do aside from wandering around asking for witness testimony to gain more clues. With all the characters somehow being connected to one another the whole mystery came back around full circle with a lot of unspoken hints in game mechanics and mundane occurance that it all somehow made perfect sense in the end.
Characters:
Date is an unusual main character to say the least. At first glance you'd think he's more of a serious detective that thinks logically and takes his job seriously. After being with him 1 hour or 2 you start to realize he's a goofball that makes a lot of pun jokes and is a pervert with a short temper. Depending on your preferance you might dislike the main character in this case because he's not particularly charsimatic without context.
Aiba on the other hand is Date's left eye... I'm not gonna elaborate on that XD
Voice Acting:
I played the game in english dub and I think it was amazing, the voice actors did a really great job in adapting the voices to certain situations and make it sound authentic without over dramatizing their part during serious situations.
I heard some of the japanese VA and I didn't like it as much as the english one for once. It just didn't sound as funny during funny scenes or didn't sound as intense during confrontation scenes compared to it's english counter part.
Although I kind of wish the ending song was in japanese just because of how weird the lyrics are in english lol
Overall I loved this game and you should definitly buy it if you love visual novels and mysteries (wait till sale because I can't defend that price)

This was worth every penny, one of the best "gaming" experiences iv'e had this year and one of the best and most mind boggling awesome stories. 10/10 one of the best detective stories, strongly recommend!

In short, this is Uchikoshi's best game since 999.