No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files Reviews
Despite the pervasive perversion from Kaname Date himself, the puzzles were fun and the story was wild enough to get me to forgive and forget in the name of a killer visual novel.
Set directly after the events of his first adventure, Kaname Date has yet another mystery to solve.
No Sleep for Kaname is a good spin-off for existing AI: The Somnium Files fans. While the Somnium segments haven't evolved much since their introduction in the first game, the new escape puzzle games are a welcome addition to the series. Despite a new writer taking the helm for this entry, the writing is tonally consistent and the characters are as charming as ever.
No Sleep For Kaname Date might not move forward the narrative of this franchise in a major way, but it does provide a really entertaining and engaging side story to AI: The Somnium Files that fans of anything from the mind of Kotaro Uchikoshi will absolutely adore.
Even though it is much shorter and less ambitious than the other titles in the series, “No Sleep for Kaname Date” is a good time, albeit with the stipulation that it should not be the introduction to the series for anyone and strictly for the fans of special agent Date and his misadventures.
To get the most out of No Sleep For Kaname Date, as a spin-off and an interquel, you need to align your expectations in advance. What it sacrifices for in the typical mind-bending mystery, it makes up for with excellent comedy writing.
No Sleep for Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES is a wonderfully effective mashup of puzzle-based gaming styles held together by fun characters and a chaotic story. A knowledge of the series is useful, but this entry served as my introduction, and I still had a blast.
I'm so glad Kaname Date is back. No Sleep for Kaname Date is such an enjoyable romp through the familiar world that refines the formula, confidently adding escape sequences that fit so naturally into the gameplay loop you'd think that they've always been there. While the story and mystery don't completely hold up throughout, the character interactions and pure personality of the cast more than make up for it. For AITSF fans, it's an absolute must-play. For newcomers to the series, it's a compelling reason to dive into the series from the start.
A good excuse to see Date and the gang again, even if it could be under better circumstances.
No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files is a fun experience with tons of wacky times with Kaname Date. It also has some great storytelling.
Conspiracy abounds in this charming Somnium side story replete with perplexing puzzles.
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Obviously the simplest solution to get some Uchikoshi-helmed escape games would be if the Zero Escape trilogy were cleaned up a bit and brought out on modern Nintendo hardware. But in lieu of that, No Sleep for Kaname Date will probably keep you up for a bit as you try and puzzle through some of the nastier puzzles.
No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files is a kind of filler release, and that’s okay. Not every game needs to be something that overs tens of hours of highly emotional plot and deep gameplay, and the first two AI: The Somnium Files games have already established an intelligent pedigree for the series.
No Sleep for Kaname Date is a side-game that does not provide a lot new in terms of gameplay, instead acting as an additional, enjoyable bonus story for existing fans. As long as a player goes into this not expecting the next chapter in the AI: The Somnium Files story, but an addendum to the first two games, then they’ll have a good time hanging out with Date and Aiba once again.
No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES isn't one of the best games in the series but the escape room segments are handled exceptionally well and I had great fun hanging out with the familiar characters. 🐰
No Sleep For Kaname Date brings back the winning formula of the previous two titles, combining entertaining puzzles with an engaging story. While the plot remains simple, it is supported by creative ideas that are sure to surprise players. The puzzles, which form the core of the experience, offer variety and originality, even if the gameplay itself is beginning to feel slightly outdated. Performance on both Nintendo Switch systems is commendable, delivering solid results regardless of which console you own.
Review in Italian | Read full review
No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES is just an amazing addition to the series. The fact they kept this hidden from us for so long until the Nintendo Switch 2 direct is amazing. When I saw that we were getting another entry into the AI series, I nearly fell out of my chair with excitement. I hope the developers go on to make a fourth game or by some miracle this series gets an anime like Danganronpa did. I give No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES the Thumb Culture Platinum Award
New escape sequences are the highlight of No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES. It’s a shame that its low-stakes story makes it hard to really connect with the overall experience. If you just want to hang out with the series’ cast, you’ll get that here, and there’s definitely joy to be found in doing so, as a lot of members of this cast are fantastic. Despite this, the overall story ultimately feels held back by being stuck between two established stories, and the entire experience feels afraid to take any risks. Fans of the series will have a nice time with this one, but it certainly doesn’t offer a good point of entry for new players.
"The truth is out there."
Review in Finnish | Read full review