Zero Escape series director and scenario writer Kotaro Uchikoshi has unveiled AI: The Somnium Files, a detective adventure game that will be released worldwide on Nintendo Switch.
In the game, you'll be investigating the mystery behind a series of murders in a technologically-advanced modern day Tokyo, Japan. The game begins with a bizarre murder case where a body is found with an eye gouged out of the skull - a nice, cheery start then. Playing as a detective named Kaname Date, you'll be on the trail of the serial killer behind the murder. Date’s left eye is artificial, with an AI unit inside that he uses to solve crimes.
Yusuke Kozaki (Fire Emblem: Awakening, No More Heroes) is the lead character designer for the title, and Kotaro Uchikoshi is known for his work on games such as Zero Escape, Punch Line, and Ever17: The Out of Infinity, often writing unconventional plot twists and offbeat humour. During the game's reveal presentation, which took place at the Spike Chunsoft Anime Expo, Uchikoshi also revealed a second character named Iris, a high school student YouTuber who creates her own series of 'let's play' videos.
The game doesn't have a confirmed release date just yet but we'll make sure to keep an eye out for more news as it comes.
Do you like the sound of this one?
Comments 27
Looks interesting. I'm a big fan of the Zero Escape games, would be nice if they brought them over to Switch too.
I love the Zero escapes games and the little teaser trailer AI: The Somnium Files, looks promising.
Not seen this before. Made me think of that zero gravity game on the vita for some reason.
I’ve just finished Zero Escape Virtue’s Last Reward on 3DS today! I’m hooked and I’ll definitely get this!
I got, but never progressed far in Virtue's Last Reward. This looks amazing though and I totally want it.
Definitely interested! Looks nice!
wallet is already itching, to scratch it i need some more gameplay vids.
I've been putting off buying the remastered Zero Escape games on PC because I hoped they might come to the Switch.
@Whalehome Nice! The next in the series, Zero Time Dilemma, is really good too in my opinion. Well worth playing them all if you haven't already
Loved the Zero Escape games. So I'm looking forward to another dark, gritty adventure game.
I’ve only tried the second Zero Escape and didn’t enjoy it that much but consider me interested in this one.
You had me at "Zero Escape Director". I'm all over this (side note, who knew upside down carousel horses could appear so creepy lol)
Putting aside that Punch Line thing (unsure how I'm going to feel about that, given the bizarre premise), I LOVE Uchikoshi's work.
Needless to say, I can't imagine this not being a day one buy for Nintendo Switch.
I'm interested but cautious, remembering how awful Zero Time Dilemma was.
The Zero Escape trilogy is amazing. No doubt this will be great!
So this is what "Project Psync" turned into?
Awesome! Zero Escape games are brilliant.
Hopefully they'll also port Ever17: The Out of Infinity to Switch.
@BLD Zero Time Dilemma may have been a bit of an anti-climax but calling it "awful" is a major over-exaggeration.
This looks good:). Definitley interested. I am interested in Detective games(makes you think) So I will probably get it at some point. But until Nintendo listen to the fans and add SD card save data backup, prefferably before the launch of the Online Service, I will hold off until it is added.
I’ll buy anything from this developer. Day freaking one!!
@BLD without spoiling anything, what did you not like about Zero Time Dilemma?
Looks interesting. Will keep an eye on it.
Big zero time fan so this will be a insta buy.
@Whalehome
Basically the reveal at the ending involves elements being hidden from the player. As in, literally off-screen. And you're supposed to accept that every character in the game knew this thing, and that somehow you the player never knew this one element. Because the game's camera never showed you. Except you would have had to have seen this element at a few points, and somehow that's never brought up.
The prequel games had crazy elements too of course. But they were always meticulously justified and foreshadowed. Sure a lot of those tricks they used to conceal certain facts were contrived, but it felt like a puzzle you could have pieced together yourself. ZTD though, it lies to you and steals your puzzle pieces.
That's without getting into how this final puzzle piece, offscreen or not, totally jumps the shark. Or how many plot threads are just left hanging, including elements from previous games.
And although the game's structure up to that point was unique, I didn't find the story up to that point compelling. The gameplay puzzles felt weak. And the cutscene models and acting were incredibly stiff and low-budget.
Yes yes yes!! Praise the Funyarinpa and Uchikoshi of course. Massive Zero Escape fan so this is a pre-order for me! This tops anything at E3 for me.
I really like the Zero Escape games, so this one is probably gonna be really fun to play. Hope its release is not too far away.
Looks very interesting and with great quality. Looking forward this one though I’m not familiar with the Developer and the games you are all commenting. Looks like a great win for the Switch!
Definitely going to pick this up. Looks very promising, especially since it's from the director of the Zero Escape series plus it also has Kozaki working on char. designs. (I find Kozaki's work with No More Heroes to be far better than his work with Fire Emblem mainly because I feel as though the FE designs weren't challenging him artistically.)
Lastly punchline is a trash anime. Don't bother watching that show. It's 8 episodes of crap to get to a decent 4 episode finale. 4/10 show.
I'll get this for sure. The first "Zero Escape" game was awesome, the one with all the 9's in the title. Switch is getting a lot of these "handheld" type games, which is fine by me.
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