AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES Nirvana Initiative

AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative tells a fascinating story with some weird and wonderful characters and more than a few twists and turns.

86%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

optimization, grinding

87% User Score Based on 1,724 reviews

Critic Score 86%Based on 31 reviews

Platforms

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About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES Nirvana Initiative screenshot

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,755 reviews

story274 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

The game features a compelling and intricate mystery that keeps players engaged throughout.
The character development is strong, with a mix of returning favorites and new characters that add depth to the story.
The gameplay mechanics, particularly the Somnium puzzles, have been improved, making them more intuitive and enjoyable.

The story is convoluted and features several plot holes, making it difficult to follow at times.
The humor often falls flat, relying heavily on sexual innuendos that can detract from the overall narrative.
The pacing is uneven, with some sections feeling drawn out and others rushing through important plot points.

story
1,371 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
74%
6%
The story of "AI: The Somnium Files - Nirvana Initiative" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it retains the charm and humor of its predecessor, it suffers from a convoluted plot and less impactful twists. Critics argue that the narrative feels more linear and less character-driven compared to the first game, with some plot points feeling forced or contrived to accommodate the twists. Despite these criticisms, the game is praised for its engaging characters and intriguing mysteries, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the series, though it may not reach the same heights as the original.
- “I spent so much time with these characters, and this world, and the music, and the writing, and the intricate story.”
- “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 story is fantastic and thought-provoking, genuinely going to be hard to get this game out of my head for a long time.”
- “This sequel is a lot sillier, significantly more perverted, and, more than anything else, stupid.”
- “The nonlinear storytelling, meant to create mystery and intrigue, also confuses more than enlightens.”
- “The story is much more plot-driven rather than character-driven like it was in the last game, and the mystery is obscured by unreliable narrators and the game itself obscuring important information rather than the chain of causality like in the original.”
gameplay
309 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
78%
4%
The gameplay in "AI: The Somnium Files - Nirvana Initiative" has received significant praise for its improvements over the first game, with many reviewers noting enhanced mechanics, more engaging somnium puzzles, and the introduction of new elements like VR investigations. While some players found the gameplay to be more intuitive and less reliant on trial-and-error, others criticized certain mechanics as unnecessary or frustrating. Overall, the game is seen as a solid evolution of its predecessor, offering a mix of enjoyable puzzles and character interactions, though opinions on the story's depth and coherence vary.
- “The new VR section mechanic is an excellent addition that allows players to piece together clues in crime scenes logically.”
- “Gameplay-wise, even if the story was hitting some cool moments, the gameplay has built upon the original, refined it and made it so much better.”
- “Somniums are better developed and have interesting new mechanics, making the gameplay a lot less 'trial and error' than the first.”
- “The only negative thing to say is that the main gameplay mechanic of solving somniums is still very barebones and can cause frustrations.”
- “The game suffers from 'style over substance.' I don't want to give away any spoilers, but it feels like the mechanics exist just for the sake of having mechanics, and the twists are there just for the sake of having twists.”
- “The gameplay felt a little bit lacking.”
humor
185 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is a mix of absurdity, pop culture references, and innuendo, often eliciting laughter through character interactions and quirky scenarios. While many players appreciate the comedic elements and find them engaging, some critiques highlight that the humor can feel forced or rely too heavily on callbacks to the first game, leading to a less impactful experience overall. Despite these mixed feelings, the game retains a playful tone that appeals to fans of the genre, balancing humor with serious narrative moments.
- “I also think the writing is absolutely hilarious and this game made me laugh a ton, mostly by picking the wrong answers, which is where a lot of the charm comes from.”
- “The music, story, characters, and choices combined together with the pop culture references make this game funny and easily a great choice for those who love mystery visual novels.”
- “The game has a great story and characters, but it can also be really funny when it wants to be.”
- “I was skipping most of the dialogue because it was unfunny and cringy.”
- “This game is long-winded, even preachier with the politics of the message, has idiotic character moments that are beyond baffling, plot holes larger than caverns that can't be overlooked, and is so painfully... painfully unfunny that I'm shocked it released like this.”
- “I found myself thinking 'that's just weird and not funny at all' many times during the opening hours of the game.”
music
134 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
52%
6%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack for its ability to enhance the emotional and atmospheric elements of the story, while others noted a reliance on reused tracks from the previous installment. New compositions are generally well-received, though some players found the frequent musical numbers and dance sequences to be excessive or cringy. Overall, the music is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to the experience despite some criticisms regarding repetitiveness and the quality of certain songs.
- “The new music stands out, blending eerie atmospheric tracks with pulse-pounding pieces that perfectly accompany tense or emotional moments.”
- “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 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 music had a lot less moments of 'wow, this is stunning'.”
- “The ending song is also worse than the first game.”
- “The music is not too memorable.”
emotional
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
4%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mixed response from players, with many noting that while it features touching moments and a strong soundtrack that enhances emotional scenes, it often lacks the depth and personal connection found in the original game. Some players felt that the emotional highs were less impactful, with certain character interactions and endings failing to resonate as deeply as anticipated. Overall, the game successfully delivers a range of emotions, from humor to heartbreak, but does not consistently achieve the same level of emotional weight as its predecessor.
- “The new music stands out, blending eerie atmospheric tracks with pulse-pounding pieces that perfectly accompany tense or emotional moments.”
- “Even though I hated Iris and Ota from the first game, I still somehow got emotional when the first game wanted me to.”
- “Incredible writing that keeps you constantly guessing at what the answers to the various mysteries are, characters that have so much personality and I made genuine emotional attachments to, caring about what happened to them through the whole game.”
- “The story felt dull and uninspired, with characters that lacked depth and plot twists that were predictable. I must say the prequel game is much better.”
- “I didn't feel any emotional connection to the characters or their struggles; it all felt flat and unengaging.”
- “The attempts at emotional moments fell flat, leaving me feeling more disconnected than invested in the narrative.”
graphics
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
67%
6%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the distinct anime-inspired art style and overall aesthetic, while others criticize the lack of customization options and the presence of graphical glitches and aliasing issues. Some players note that the visuals are not particularly demanding and can appear subpar in certain scenes, yet the game still manages to deliver a captivating experience through its unique design choices and engaging story elements. Overall, while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they are considered adequate for the genre, with some improvements over the previous installment.
- “All of them are extremely well thought out and aesthetically fantastic in every way.”
- “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 game lacks basic graphics options beyond resolution and vsync, which is disappointing.”
- “In certain scenes, the visuals look terrible, with character models suffering from heavy aliasing—even on max settings.”
- “There was also less graphics customization options in the launcher when compared to the previous game.”
character development
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
55%
13%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant lack of growth for new characters and a regression in the development of returning ones. While some appreciate the vibrant character designs and the dynamics introduced by new characters, others feel that the narrative choices hinder character depth, resulting in a disjointed experience that fails to build on the strengths of the first game. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the visuals and design are commendable, the character development is often lacking and inconsistent.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “I especially found Ryuki and Tama's relationship to be very satisfying from a character development perspective.”
- “Not to mention the complete lack of character development; Mizuki literally has zero growth.”
- “The characters aren't all that fleshed out, and there is little to no character development.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
53%
18%
The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the eerie music and compelling mystery that enhance the experience, while others feel it lacks the depth and consistency of the first installment. Although the game introduces new twists and expands on character lore, some find the humor detracts from the overall tone, particularly in a murder mystery context. Overall, while the atmosphere is captivating and technically sound, opinions vary on its effectiveness compared to the previous game.
- “The new music stands out, blending eerie atmospheric tracks with pulse-pounding pieces that perfectly accompany tense or emotional moments.”
- “Always very fitting, creating an amazing atmosphere, especially in the dream sequences.”
- “They really sell the mystery and atmosphere of the game.”
- “I didn't really dig the atmosphere of the first game.”
- “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.”
optimization
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
64%
18%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some users noting performance issues and bugs, particularly in cut scenes that may not look optimized for higher resolutions. However, many players appreciate the strong voice acting and animations, indicating that the game's performance is generally stable across different platforms, with no significant differences between handheld and docked modes. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and excessive musical performances, the overall experience remains enjoyable for players.
- “Some performances are better than others, but they are always at least good.”
- “It seems to be about as performance-intense as the first game, but with better lighting and animations.”
- “This was a passion project, and I could feel that in the cast's performances, as well as the localization work.”
- “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 unnecessary 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.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
15%
71%
Reviews indicate that while the game introduces enjoyable elements, the grinding aspect can feel tedious, particularly with unnecessary mini-games for currency and repetitive action scenes. However, some players appreciate improvements in gameplay mechanics and puzzle design, making certain grinding elements more engaging than in previous installments. Overall, the balance between fun and grind remains a point of contention among players.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “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?”
- “☐ you'll need a second life for grinding”
- “Nor did the tedious action scenes full of faceless goons, which was one of the weakest parts of the first game.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marked by frequent bugs, particularly in combat and certain somnium challenges, leading to inconsistent difficulty levels that can frustrate players. While there are occasional graphical glitches and minor inconsistencies with the first game, they are generally not severe enough to detract significantly from the overall experience. Overall, the game's aesthetic aligns with its early digital roots, but players should not expect AAA graphics or flawless performance.
- “Combat was buggy.”
- “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 easy, while others, like the masked woman's somnium, were incredibly buggy and unclear about 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.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while the first installment suffered from a low replayability factor 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.”
- “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 (if maybe a bit overcorrected to linearity).”
- “There's replayability in experiencing both dubs (I think English is pretty decent), unlocking costumes, and concept art.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The game's monetization model features an in-game currency for purchases, but it lacks microtransactions, which is a positive aspect. However, players feel that the content appears to be a cash grab, recycling previous elements rather than delivering a compelling new story, and the advertising is perceived as overly dark.
- “While the game does include an in-game currency for purchases, it’s entirely story-driven, so at least there are no microtransactions.”
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't disrupt the gameplay experience, allowing players to enjoy the story without constant prompts to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers optional purchases without forcing them on players, making it a more enjoyable experience.”
- “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.”

86%Critics’ scoreBased on 31 critic reviews

Buy AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES Nirvana Initiative

46h Median play time

43h Average play time

35-50h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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This game contains adult content

85%4.3kreviews