AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES Nirvana Initiative

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,520 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • humor
AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES Nirvana Initiative Game Cover
AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative tells a fascinating story with some weird and wonderful characters and more than a few twists and turns.
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Newly-appointed Special Agent Mizuki and her AI partner Aiba are tasked to solve the bizarre Half Body serial killings in this sequel to the critically acclaimed AI: The Somnium Files.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,520 reviews
story242 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • Engaging and mind-bending story with unexpected twists that keep players guessing.
  • Improved gameplay mechanics, including more intuitive Somnium puzzles and the addition of VR investigations.
  • Strong character development, particularly for new characters Ryuki and Tama, while still featuring beloved returning characters.
  • The plot twist feels contrived and undermines the narrative cohesion established in the first game.
  • Some characters from the first game are sidelined or flanderized, leading to a lack of depth and development.
  • The pacing is inconsistent, with a slow start and a rushed conclusion that leaves many questions unanswered.
  • story1,161 mentions

    The story of "AI: The Somnium Files - Nirvana Initiative" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it features intriguing twists and character development, it often feels convoluted and less cohesive than its predecessor. Critics highlight that the plot relies heavily on contrived twists and conveniences, leading to a sense of frustration and confusion, particularly in the latter parts of the game. Despite these issues, the game maintains engaging character interactions and humor, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the series, though it may not reach the same narrative heights as the first game.

    • “The story is carefully constructed, with twists and turns that keep you on edge, pushing you to piece together clues from both timelines to solve a complex and gripping mystery.”
    • “The sense of duality—whether it’s in the form of split timelines or the contrasts between dreams and reality—adds layers of depth to the storytelling, making it a narrative puzzle that rewards those who pay attention to every detail.”
    • “Character development remains a strong point, with returning faces from the first game bringing a sense of continuity and new characters injecting fresh dynamics into the story.”
    • “The first game had a similar twist where one key piece of information made me open up the chart and piece everything together, which is one of the best personal experiences I've ever had with any fictional story, but in this game, so much is forced and insufferable while you are playing it to make that payoff feel worth it.”
    • “The story does not hold up as well in comparison to its predecessor.”
    • “The story is a blend of steins gate and re:zero.”
  • gameplay247 mentions

    The gameplay in "AI: The Somnium Files - Nirvana Initiative" has seen significant improvements over its predecessor, with more polished mechanics, diverse and engaging somnium puzzles, and the introduction of new elements like VR investigations. While some players appreciate the enhanced logic and creativity in the gameplay, others find certain mechanics frustrating or unnecessary, leading to a mixed reception regarding the overall experience. Despite these critiques, many agree that the gameplay is generally more enjoyable and refined, making it a solid follow-up for fans of the series.

    • “I think the new additions to gameplay are good and were a good inclusion so the game didn't feel repetitive and stale by doing the exact same things as the first game.”
    • “The surreal, often disturbing nature of these dreamscapes provides not only a unique gameplay experience but also deeper insight into the characters' psyches, making the narrative feel more personal and impactful.”
    • “In terms of gameplay, it’s actually even stronger than the first game - there are all sorts of new mechanics and gameplay interactions that expand on those in the first game, and the somniums are less 'trial and error' and more intuitive than before.”
    • “The gameplay felt a little bit lacking.”
    • “The gameplay is the same as the first one; most of the additional stuff is just quality of life improvements in somniums where you can go back with an unlimited time mode.”
    • “The gameplay is a lot less 'trial and error' than the first.”
  • humor149 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it sharp and engaging, while others feel it falls flat or relies too heavily on crude, teenage jokes. Many reviews highlight that while the humor retains some of the charm from the first game, it often feels forced or repetitive, with a notable shift towards more inappropriate content that may not resonate with all audiences. Overall, the game offers a quirky blend of absurdity and wit, but its comedic effectiveness varies significantly among players.

    • “The game has a great story and characters, but it can also be really funny when it wants to be.”
    • “The interactions between Tama and Ryuki as well as Aiba and Mizuki are genuinely funny and enjoyable, especially within somniums.”
    • “The humor: ranges from dad jokes to terrible and trashy innuendo.”
    • “I was skipping most of the dialogue because it was unfunny and cringy.”
    • “I do find some of the humor cringey, and I wish some characters had more time to interact with each other.”
    • “I found myself thinking, 'that's just weird and not funny at all,' many times during the opening hours of the game.”
  • music115 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack for its ability to complement the narrative and emotional moments effectively. While some tracks are seen as memorable and enjoyable, others feel repetitive or less impactful compared to the first game, particularly the dance sequences and certain recurring songs. Overall, the soundtrack is generally regarded as strong, featuring a mix of familiar themes and new compositions that enhance the gaming experience.

    • “Musically, the game excels with a soundtrack that complements the mood perfectly, whether you're unraveling a tense mystery or navigating the emotional highs and lows of the story.”
    • “The music is great as ever with a lot of the same tracks from the first game but also a fair few new ones.”
    • “The nirvana initiative improves on its predecessor in every way, bringing in twice as many interesting, layered characters that all get their time in the sun, crazy mysteries with twists I never saw coming, intelligent writing, vastly improved puzzles, impeccable voice acting and the best soundtrack of the year.”
    • “The ending song is also worse than the first game.”
    • “I will also quickly mention that this game leans much heavier into its dance sequences and 'cringy' songs which were much fewer in the original.”
    • “The music is not too memorable.”
  • emotional62 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mixed response from players, with some praising its ability to deliver touching and heartwarming moments, while others feel that the emotional weight does not match that of its predecessor. Many highlight the sharp character interactions and a well-complemented soundtrack that enhance the emotional stakes, but some criticize the narrative for lacking personal connections and impactful scenes. Overall, while the game offers a range of emotional experiences, it often falls short of the profound impact achieved in the first installment.

    • “The interactions are sharp, often tinged with humor, but always grounded in the emotional and psychological stakes of the plot.”
    • “Even though there were a lot of physically and mentally disturbing themes in the story, this game did not fail in delivering some of the most emotional scenes I've seen in video games, both the tragic and heartwarming ones.”
    • “Fantastic story experience with heart-wrenching character arcs, very interesting twists and puzzles which are objective upgrades from the original game.”
    • “The story was boring, and the characters felt flat. The plot twists were predictable. I must say the prequel game is much better.”
    • “I didn't feel any emotional connection to the characters; their struggles seemed forced and unrelatable.”
    • “The game tried to evoke emotions, but it fell flat and left me feeling indifferent.”
  • graphics51 mentions

    The graphics in "Nirvana Initiative" maintain the distinct anime-inspired style of its predecessor, with some improvements in polish and design, particularly in the somnium settings. While the visuals are generally praised for their creativity and aesthetic appeal, some players noted that they still lack the depth and customization options expected from a modern title, and occasional graphical glitches were reported. Overall, the game is visually engaging but does not significantly advance the graphical quality compared to the first installment.

    • “Visually, 'Nirvana Initiative' maintains the distinct anime-inspired style that marked its predecessor, with a slightly more polished aesthetic.”
    • “The beautiful art style does not disappoint, and the roller coaster of emotions I experienced while playing was amazing.”
    • “The graphics are good enough for a visual novel game.”
    • “Also, it's still fairly cheap looking, which I think is well integrated into its early digital, buggy aesthetic. It's still on the level of Zero Time Dilemma junkiness, but don't go around expecting AAA graphics or anything.”
    • “Nirvana Initiative also feels like more of an expansion than a proper sequel as it doesn't really build upon the original game's graphical and design foundation in any meaningful way.”
    • “Somehow has less graphic options than the previous game.”
  • character development25 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the vibrant character designs and the depth of new characters, particularly Ryuki, while others criticize the lack of growth and continuity for returning characters from the first game. Many feel that the narrative choices hinder character development, as it attempts to cater to new players by downplaying established arcs, resulting in some characters feeling flanderized or poorly represented. Overall, while the visuals and design are commendable, the character development leaves much to be desired, especially for those familiar with the original.

    • “Character development remains a strong point, with returning faces from the first game bringing a sense of continuity and new characters injecting fresh dynamics into the story.”
    • “The new characters, by contrast, all hit hard for me - character design and backstory are things that Uchikoshi's team never miss on, and the work done in that regard in Nirvana Initiative is stellar as always.”
    • “While there are a few things I did not understand, this game is a masterpiece in the story, character development, and had interesting features I have never seen in a game.”
    • “The characters aren't all that fleshed out and there is little to no character development.”
    • “In particular, character development suffers a lot.”
    • “Some of the returning characters were honestly butchered in this, their personalities just feel way off to how they should be and a lot of character development from the first game just gets completely erased.”
  • optimization14 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game is generally solid, with most performances being at least good, though some cut scenes may not be well-optimized for higher quality displays. While there are occasional performance issues and bugs, they are often overshadowed by the engaging gameplay and strong voice acting. However, some players feel that the focus on musical performances detracts from the core experience.

    • “Some performances are better than others, but they are always at least good.”
    • “There are a few cut scenes that don't look optimized for higher quality; they probably would look good on a Switch screen, to be honest.”
    • “The unfortunate aspect of this, however, is how it expands in all the wrong areas... why would they focus on these stupid idol performances and 1-4 minute long action scenes nobody cares about?”
    • “There are a lot of performance issues and bugs, but those are nitpicks compared to just the sheer joy of diving into people’s minds to solve the case.”
  • atmosphere13 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the expanded lore and captivating plot, while others feel it lacks the mysterious tone of its predecessor. The incorporation of humor and certain character portrayals detracts from the intended murder mystery vibe for some, yet the dream sequences and somnium mechanics are praised for enhancing the overall experience. Despite inconsistencies and technical issues, many still find the atmosphere engaging and intriguing, making it a noteworthy aspect of the game.

    • “Always very fitting, creating an amazing atmosphere, especially in the dream sequences.”
    • “They really sell the mystery and atmosphere of the game.”
    • “A bit disturbing and creepy at times, but overall a very interesting and atmospheric experience!”
    • “It pains me to give 'not recommended' to this game, with its bizarre atmosphere and captivating plot, but it's unplayable for me now, no matter what tweaks I try to avoid crashes.”
    • “Also, I don't think leaning more into the humorous side was a good decision; I'm just not a fan of this humor, and it takes away from the atmosphere of a murder mystery.”
    • “The atmosphere, the somniums, and the relationship with the characters seem less refined; apart from that, it was a great experience.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed bag; while some improvements have been made to gameplay and puzzles, the inclusion of unnecessary mini-games for farming currency and tedious action scenes detracts from the overall experience. Many reviewers express that the grinding feels excessive, suggesting that it may require significant time investment to progress.

    • “And the gameplay, while better in some aspects, has some really unnecessary additions - who really wanted a Tamagotchi-style mini-game that's only used for farming in-game currency to unlock in-game costumes and two achievements?”
    • “Nor did the tedious action scenes full of faceless goons, which was one of the weakest parts of the first game.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game's stability is marked by occasional graphical glitches and inconsistencies in difficulty, particularly within the somnium sections, which can be frustratingly buggy. While these issues are less frequent than in the previous installment, they can disrupt the experience, though they generally do not significantly impact the overall gameplay or narrative.

    • “I found myself on multiple occasions on the verge of just closing the game because of how frustratingly inconsistent the difficulty of the somniums can be. Ryuki's difficulty was mild and not obscenely difficult, but somniums on Mizuki's side, like Gen's somnium, was incredibly easy, while others, like the masked woman's somnium, were incredibly buggy and not clear on what you should and shouldn't do.”
    • “There are occasionally graphic glitches (far less than the first game) and a few small details that seem to contradict events from the first game, but they are mostly minor and do not impact the game or the current story as it is not necessary to have played the first game.”
    • “They were kind of not too good, and at times it looked like the game freezes, but after the area loads, it's perfect.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while the first installment suffered from a low replay value due to its singular perspective and memorable ending, the sequel offers improved gameplay mechanics and additional content such as multiple dubs, unlockable costumes, and concept art, enhancing the incentive to replay.

    • “From a technical standpoint, it improves in a lot of ways - somnia, which I thought were generally pretty tedious in the last game, are now much more playable, with their underlying themes and logic being simultaneously more straightforward and more interesting.”
    • “The first AI had the issue of low replayability, due to its crazy unforgettable ending and single perspective.”
    • “There's replayability in experiencing both dubs (I think English is pretty decent), unlocking costumes, and concept art.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is perceived as a cash grab, lacking originality and depth, with a focus on rehashing previous elements rather than delivering a compelling narrative. Additionally, the advertising approach has been described as dark, potentially alienating some players.

    • “Just feels like a cash grab of 'oh these things were cool, let's do it again' instead of being a story that needed to be told.”
    • “The advertising for this game is dark.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

86% average critic score

Buy AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES Nirvana Initiative

Play time

50hMedian play time
50hAverage play time
50-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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