AI: The Somnium Files gameplay review video by Argentleo
1AI: The Somnium Files is a mystery adventure game that has 2 areas of gameplay: investigation and somnium exploration. The story progresses through branching paths leading to multiple different endings, based on choices the player makes; the player only gets a full view of the story by playing through each route.[4] Rather than starting over from the beginning several times to see different paths, the player can skip directly to the branching points using an in-game flow chart.
During the investigation, the player character, Special Agent Kaname Date, uses his artificial intelligence unit, Aiba, to assist Date while performing his duties. Her features include X-ray vision and zooming, to further the investigation in the real world. This part of the game takes place in a 2D, visual novel style format.
During the somnium gameplay, Date uses a device called the Psync Machine to enter the memories of suspects or key witnesses who do not want to share information with him, in the form of dreamscapes called the "Somnium", to find clues and extract the information by solving puzzles. The puzzles involve examining objects and choosing an action to perform with it, as well as solving mental locks – obstacles standing in the way of clues – allowing the player to sink deeper into the character's subconscious. There is a six-minute time limit before the dreamscape collapses, and as actions take time to perform, the player must be careful in deciding what to do. Within the somnium gameplay, Aiba takes the form of a humanoid and acts as the player avatar, while being able to explore in a 3D environment.