[Title Rewrite] Sleepless Nights for Kaname Date – A Review of AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES on Nintendo Switch 2

Alright, so there I was, eyes glued to this game — “No Sleep For Kaname Date.” I mean, what kind of title is that, right? You ever get curious about stuff just from a name? Anyway, this one’s showing up on the new Nintendo Switch 2, and I’m kinda hyped because, but also, well… you know how it is.

Picture this: you’ve just solved the whole New Cyclops Serial Killings thing — yeah, good times, right? So just when you think you can kick back, boom! Internet idol Iris Sagan, AKA “A-set,” gets snatched by a UFO. Say what?! This game’s got her in some escape scenario called The Third Eye Game. Seriously, a UFO and escaped games — someone had fun with this script.

Now you get to jump in as Special Agent Kaname Date — and let’s be real, who didn’t love them before? — with AI-Ball Aiba, your trusty sidekick who, let’s face it, sometimes steals the show. You’re supposed to figure out this crazy mystery before it all turns upside down. Oh, and there are these weird dudes in black chasing Date around, which, by the way, feels straight out of a No More Heroes episode. Not that I’m complaining.

The narrative sets us right before the AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES – nirvanA Initiative. So, if you’re into deep dives and Escape Room challenges, strap in. I’ve waded through the previous stuff, and honestly, it’s a wild mix of investigative goodness and a splash of, well, chaos?

Voice acting’s another thing here. You got Greg Chun, Jackie Lastra — the whole crew gives it a real feel. I mean, who doesn’t love good voice acting? Makes or breaks it, really.

Let’s break down the playstyle now. It’s split into these three chunks: Investigation, Escape, and Somnium. Sounds basic? Trust me, it’s a roller coaster. The Investigation bit’s all about spotting sneaky details in the environment. Mess around with your trusty left eye — and no, not in a creepy way — to piece together where Iris might be.

Escape sections? Kinda says it all, but there’s more. You’re solving puzzles to break free from places. Tweak some locks, poke around, and yeah, don’t forget to focus your ZL-button magic when things get hazy. Hard mode locks this, though, so prepare for some nail-biting moments. Click and swipe stuff. Done.

And then, the Somnium segments — kind of the game’s heart, if you ask me. Dive into dreamlands of suspects, clue-hunting with just six minutes ticking away. Pressure’s on to unveil the secrets buried deep. So yeah, focus up and maybe you’ll snag those extra seconds by smashing those Mental Locks.

You got choices, difficulty-wise. Play it cool with Story mode or crank it up to Standard or Hard. Crisis Time, retries, time limits — it’s a buffet of frustration. Figure out what works for you — or don’t, I’m not your boss.

Collect Eyes as you cruise through if you’re not lost yet — they’re like your passport to fun extras. Trust me, it’s worth it. The game drops soon, $39.99 feels… fair? But don’t quote me, your wallet is your call.

And finally, hey, don’t take my word for all this like gospel. Spent a good chunk with the Nintendo Switch 2 version, courtesy of Spike Chunsoft (cheers for that, by the way). Ready to dive in? Don’t say I didn’t warn you.