Two halves, one new mystery, and more Psyncing is in store
Another mystery in the AI world is on the way. AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative will launch on June 24, 2022.
The sequel to 2019’s AI: The Somnium Files, the nirvanA Initiative is a new mystery with a familiar face in the lead role. Mizuki from the first game joins newcomer Ryuki as Special Agents, tasked with solving the Half Body serial killings. The left half of a body is found, corresponding to a right half found six years prior. Yet the right half shows no signs of decay from the elapsed time.
So Mizuki and Ryuki will fall into a tangled web of mystery and conspiracy. Joining them are their AI partners Aiba and Tama. It looks like murder, Psync dives, and even dancing are all still in the cards for the AI sequel. You can check out the new story trailer below:
The nirvanA Initiative is developed by Spike Chunsoft, with AI: The Somnium Files and Zero Escape scenario creator Kotaro Uchikoshi still attached to the project. The first game’s timeline mechanics felt familiar to Zero Escape, but also mixed in some novel gameplay ideas with the Psync segments that felt like older-style adventure games.
I’ve been back and forth on how I feel about the first AI: The Somnium Files, so a sequel is certainly an interesting prospect. I dig that Mizuki gets to play a starring role here, as one of the big breakouts of the first game. That extending metal pipe you can see in the trailer rules. Couple that with some reality-bending prospects and more brain-dive madness, and nirvanA Initiative could make for a good virtual page-turner this summer.
AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative arrives for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on June 24, 2022.
