AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative New Characters, Investigative Elements, and Story Details Revealed

Earlier this week, Spike Chunsoft, Inc. — the developer and publishers of the upcoming AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES sequel, AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative — revealed more details on the title's story, investigative gameplay elements, and characters both new and returning.

nirvanA Initiative's story is split into two perspectives, each taking place at a different point in time. In the present day, the left half of a body is discovered. Even stranger, the victim's right half had already appeared mysteriously six years prior, though despite that six year gap, the new left half of the corpse hasn't even started to decompose. This side of the plot follows Mizuki, a freshly appointed ABIS, and her AI partner Aibi as they investigate the Half Body serial murders. In her quest, Mizuki attempts to gain assistance from Ryuki, her predecessor on the same case from six years ago.

It is Ryuki who nirvanA Initiative follows in the story's past, after the right half of a corpse interrupts a game show webcast by suddenly appearing in the studio. Much like the game's present, Ryuki is joined by an AI partner, though this one is named Tama. Mizuki also makes an appearance at the young age of 12 years old.

The game itself also features two major sections: Investigation and Somnium. However, today we are only discussing Investigation, where the player can interview suspects and witnesses, investigate crime scenes, and just explore the game's real world to learn as much information and acquire as much evidence as possible. To assist in these proceedings, both Mizuki and Ryuki have a prosthesis known as an AI-Ball in their left eyes. Housing helpful and advanced artificial intelligence and other tools, like night vision or X-ray vision. With the power of the AI-Ball, they can sneakily look inside a closed box or at the changes in someone's very body temperature.

The AI-Ball comes with several new features in nirvanA Initiative, including Wink Psync, which allows the playable agents to read thoughts and visialise strong memories to see through lies and fears when normal questionings don't bear fruit; Virtual Reality, which gives the player a visual space in which they can gather clues based on scanned X-rays and thermal imaging as well as solve codes and puzzles that can be found at a given crime scene; and Truth Reenactment, which provides the agents with all of the clues they've located after using Virtual Reality so they can explore the flow of a given incident and see if any questions or contradictions in the evidence or conclusions drawn thereof appear. Once the truth behind a case can be revealed without any contradictions getting in the way, Truth Reenactment will also provide the agents with a visual reenactment of the incidents surrounding that case.

However, that's not all. nirvanA Initiative also includes several more characters new and old. First we have someone that fans of the first AI: The Somnium Files should recognise: Iris, an internet idol voiced in English by Jackie Lastra and in Japanese by Nao Shiraki. She's affiliated with the agency Lemniscate and her idol name is A-set, though her fans primarily call her Tesa. Iris is a fan of the occult and urban legends, a senior at Sekiba High, a member of the dance club, and friends with Mizuki. She was there in the studio with Mizuki six years ago during the fateful game show webcast when the right half of a mysterious body appeared.

The host of that show, whose stage name is Andes Komeji, is also one of the newly introduced characters. Voiced in English by Brent Mukai and in Japanese by Shinobi Matsumoto, Komeji was once a "Quiz King", but is now a comedian. He wasn't a stranger prior to hosting the game show in question, but hadn't yet been able to see much success in his prior appearances.

Lastly, we have Kizuna, one of Iris' good friends. Voiced in English by AmaLee and in Japanese by Emiri Suyama, Kizuna is the daughter of the super wealthy Chieda family and another senior at Sekiba High who is also a contest-winning member of the dance club alongside Iris. Kizuna has also gotten to know Mizuki as a friend through Iris.

AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative will release in Europe and North America on the 24th of June later this year for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.