Over the past few years, Xbox has done an excellent job bringing Japanese titles to its Game Pass service and crushing the idea that there are no Japanese games available on Xbox platforms. While most of these inclusions have come from big studios such as Square Enix and Capcom, one surprising Xbox Game Pass addition was the surprise release of AI: The Somnium Files, a detective adventure game from Danganronpa developer Spike Chunsoft. AI: The Somnium Files not only joined the service earlier this week as a surprise announcement during Microsoft's Tokyo Game Show 2021 showcase, but it also marked the game's debut on Xbox platforms altogether.
The only downside to AI: The Somnium Files joining Xbox Game Pass is the timing. The game joins the service on the same day as AAA games such as Marvel's Avengers and Scarlet Nexus, and just before the storm of new AAA day one releases like Back 4 Blood, Forza Horizon 5, and Halo: Infinite. Even among these major titles, AI: The Somnium Files should be played by Xbox Game Pass subscribers, as it is one of the most unique and gripping detective games of the last console generation.
AI's Gripping, Non-Linear Mystery
Right from the beginning, AI: The Somnium Files' story immediately intrigues by centering around a detective named Kaname Date, who is investigating a serial murder case regarding a killer who has been removing its victims' left eyes before killing them. When he arrives he finds the latest victim's daughter, Mizuki, traumatized by witnessing the murder of her mother. He then uses a device known as Somnium to travel inside her brain and recount the moments leading up to her mother's death. Throughout this, Date is accompanied by Aiba, the AI implemented into his cybernetic eye. As the game continues, it focuses on the two as they investigate the ongoing murders while traveling into the minds of other victims and suspects attached to the case.
What really sets the game apart from other visual novels/adventure games is that most of the story is constructed in a non-linear fashion, with a complex and heavily branching flow chart forcing the player to chase what initially seem to be dead ends in hopes of gaining more clues regarding the case. One of the reasons AI: The Somnium Files' complex story works so well is because it's written and directed by Kotaro Uchikoshi, who is the creator of the beloved Zero Escape trilogy consisting of 999: 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors, Virtue's Last Reward, and Zero Time Dilemma. Anyone familiar with Uchikoshi's works will know that the writer is consistantly able to make often complex stories very easy to digest thanks to his wonderful character writing, with AI: The Somnium Files being some of his best work yet in this regard.
AI's Unique, Complex Cast of Characters
Another reason AI: The Somnium Files is worth Xbox Game Pass subscribers' time is its incredible characters, including its two protagonists, Date and Aiba. Given Aiba's nature as an artificial intelligence developed into Date's cybernetic eye, it would be safe to assume that her character boils down to nothing but a JARVIS-like robotic voice guiding Date through his investigations. This couldn't be further from the truth however, as her personality is more often comparable to Halo's Cortana, acting as a genuine companion to Date and often providing copious amounts of banter as they interview suspects and investigate the crime scenes. The relationship between Date and Aiba is ultimately the heart and soul of AI: The Somnium Files, as the two grow a strong bond throughout the game.
Suporting these two protagonists are a plethora of wonderful secondary characters such as the aforementioned Mizuki, who ends up sharing somewhat of a sibling-like bond with Date after the two intially start off on bad terms. There's Iris Sagan, also known as A-Set, an internet streamer who gets involved with the case alongside her friend/fanboy Ota. The game's approach to character-centric storytelling is similar to titles such as Psychonauts, as it initially introduces characters that seem like they might have very little to offer in regards to strong characterization and memorability, but the player very quickly gains a strong understanding of the trauma and complexities of the cast. By the end of it, the game manages to expand its cast so much that it ends up being comparable to even the best casts of the Ace Attorney franchise.
These are just a few of the reasons Xbox Game Pass members shouldn't miss AI: The Somnium Files now that it is up on the service. It is also worth mentioning that in Spring 2022 Spike Chunsoft will also be releasing AI: The Somnium Files - The Nirvana Initiative, a full sequel to the original written by Kotaro Uchikoshi. The sequel follows a new protagonist and is set over six years after the events of the original, however it's probably best newcomers don't look into it too much to avoid spoilers for the original game.
AI: The Somnium Files is available now for PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, and Xbox One.