Customer Ratings & Reviews

If you are reading this review then you are wondering the same thing I was before taking the plunge, does Uchikoshi’s latest game hold a candle to the Zero Escape series? Well, the answer will always be subjective but I can confidently say the answer is both yes and no. First, the positives. Character development and world building are the reason this series is beloved. The exchange between the characters and their personalities really shine in this game. The English voice acting is very good. The music is good and the presentation is very well done. The story will take you through various twists and turns but don’t expect the level of depth from 999 or even Virtue’s Last Reward. Then again that bar is so high I doubt we’ll see their equal in a very long time if ever. My dislikes unfortunately put a rather huge blemish on an otherwise good game. The “puzzles” you have to solve in this game take place in people’s dreams thereby breaking the element of reality between objects. Things have to happen in a certain sequence to progress which in itself is good. The problem lies in the execution where elements of the puzzle don’t organically lend themselves to logic. This regresses into a process of elimination method that only works if you successfully figure out the order of operations before time runs out. Before long I was trying everything until something clicked and I could move forward. It’s tedious and not rewarding at all. A quick example of a puzzle would involve moving a box to turn on a light to move a see through wall to enter a door that exits the other side of the level so you can close the curtains and win. In my opinion the Zero Escape series benefitted from being somewhat rooted in reality and the puzzles to solve were more often than not pretty clever. This game turns reality on it’s ear and expects you to blindly poke and prod your way through to the end. It’s a shame. In conclusion I can say there are things to enjoy if you are a fan along with some fan service thrown into the mix with references made to past games. It’s great they’re there but it also reminds me of the fun I had playing the other games and how much better they were. While Ai manages to stand on it’s own, albeit clumsily, to separate itself from the series’ pedigree I feel this is the weakest in the line up. If you’re a fan you’ll no doubt find something to like about it and that alone is worth supporting the creator so he has another chance to catch lightning in a bottle.

AI: The Somnium Files is a mystery game where you take the role of an amnesiac detective and his AI partner as you try to solve the case of the New Cyclops Murders using a special device to dive into dreams of people and uncover the truth. The story is among the very best since it can drive you to the edge of your seat. There are multiple endings that all tie together and culminate into one final ending. The characters are likable and unique. The dialogue is very witty and oftentimes hilarious. The presentation is high quality with an excellent english localization. You're gonna be in for a rollercoaster ride with this game.

A must play for fans of Uchikoshi games! This is a great mystery visual novel with puzzle gameplay elements that’s engaging from beginning to end. The art & graphics are some of the best when it comes to these types of games & the voice acting is top-notch in this game. Its got its own twists & turns like the zero escape games but it has a lot that differentiates itself too. A fantastic game that should not be missed!

I'll say upfront in case you might be put off by this, but about 85% of what you do in this game is listen to people talk back and forth, with little to no input on your end. If that's not your cup of tea, you might not enjoy this game. BUT if you're ok with that, you're in for a really weird but really enjoyable sci-fi detective story with branching narratives and tightly interwoven plot threads like any good classic Noir mystery. The long segments of dialog are punctuated by sections where you go into other character's dreams and have to solve various puzzles with dream-logic rules to try and uncover a new lead in your investigation. There are some points where the game suffers for unnecessarily delving into raunchy humor, or playing creepy behavior that should probably be reported as sexual harassment for laughs - thankfully these moments don't last all that long (or can be skipped through by holding down the right trigger!). The visuals and puzzles might not impress all that much or make you scratch your head for too long, but the real draw of this game is the story. The voice actors all around turn in great performances, so you won't get fatigued from reading too much like some visual novels out there. Which was very important for me since it took me a little over 30 hours to beat the game!

This is a visual novel done by the same team that did the Nonary Games: Zero Escape. If you're familiar with that, you'll love this. For all others this is a good time killer with a story that's equal parts sci-fi weirdness and Gore. I would definitely recommend this for those who like sci fi visual novels.

Great visual novel with okay puzzles. God voice acting. Bizarre story and twists. Highly recommended.

Strange game. Very slow paced and feels like a detective, anime, point and click type game. I thought it was an RPG, but not really.

Granted I do like these types of games, this game was a pleasant surprise with its great story. It really pulls you in. If you never liked games like Zero Escape you wouldn't like this either, but give this a try if you're a fan of the genre.

Wonderful characters, great story, gorgeous music and more

Sci fi game with visual novel elements and some action. Enjoyable experience. Worth it on sale.

A thrilling murder mystery, hilarious banter between characters, and fun detective sequences make this the most entertaining game I've played this year.

Wonderdul fame think danganronpa meets zero escape and you have this. Must play for people who love a good mystery.

If you're a fan of VNs or the works of Uchikoshi then this game should be on the top of your list

Great game! Great story with great characters , good game play!

awesome awesome game, liked everythjng about it, buy buy

If you are a fan of the zero escape series pick this up!