No Sleep for Kaname Date From AI THE SOMNIUM FILESreturns players to the exciting and puzzle-filled world of Spike Chunsoft’sAI: THE SOMNIUM FILESseries. Once again, detective Kaname Date and his AI-Ball partner Aiba have a mystery to investigate - this time, the bizarre kidnapping of their friend, popular idol Iris Sagan.No Sleep For Kaname Datefeatures both the returning Somnium mechanic, in which Aiba and Date solve puzzles within suspects' minds, and new Escape sections where Iris attempts to understand the truth of her abduction with help from Ota Matsushita.
Game Rant spoke toNo Sleep For Kaname Datedirector and scenario writer Kazuya Yamada, and series director and scenario supervisorKotaro Uchikoshi, about returning to the world ofAI: THE SOMNIUM FILES.The duo discussed the choice to bring back Kaname Date as the game’s protagonist, interacting with fans on social media, and the mix of new and returning characters players can expect to meet in the game. They even revealed what their very own Somniums would look like if Kaname Date took a Psync journey into their minds.This transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity.
No Sleep For Kaname DateFeatures New And Returning Characters
Q: What was it like writing Kaname Date as the main character again, after he took a smaller role innirvanA Initiative?
Yamada:In Japan, there’s an expression: “a sense of comfort, like being at your parents' home,” and that’s exactly how it felt to me, since I also wrote some of the dialogue for theSomnium parts in the first game. Kaname Date is a character who truly shines in both comedic and serious moments, so writing his lines was really enjoyable.
Q: Similarly, what was it like portraying Kuruto Ryuki differently in this game, as we see him as an eager young rookie who hasn’t yet been through the traumatic events ofnirvanA Initiative?
Yamada:RegardingRyuki, I spent a lot of time researching which characters he could or couldn’t have conversations with, and how to incorporate him into scenarios. However, by depicting “Ryuki as seen from Date’s perspective,” I believe I was able to bring out a new charm in Ryuki.
Q: What can you tell us about Akemi, the mysterious new character who is the host of “The Third Eye Game”?
Yamada:Akemi is the host and facilitator of “The Third Eye Game,” a mysteriousescape game. She is a reptilian whose hobbies include collecting cutely decorated items and browsing the internet.
Uchikoshi:Another charming new character has joined the series. As Yamada-san mentioned, she is a reptilian, but she also might be a vegetarian.
Q: Iris Sagan and Ota Matsushita become playable characters in this game, which is very exciting. What led you to choose them as protagonists and give them a larger role?
Yamada:To incorporate an escape game intoAIseriesgameplay, we needed another playable character for the escape game. Among the characters that represent theAIseries, there was no one more suitable than Iris. After that, the idea came up to make it an escape game where multiple people must communicate and cooperate with each other. Ota, who’d probably live through pretty crazy situations, was chosen as the partner.
Uchikoshi:They were the perfect choice. Fans will surely enjoy the interaction between the two of them even more.
Fans Must Solve Somniums And Escape Sections To Uncover A Mysterious Plot
Q: Why did you decide to setNo Sleep For Kaname Datebetween the events of the two previousAI: THE SOMNIUM FILESgames?
Yamada:I want to leave writing any major new developments that would significantly change a character to Uchikoshi-san, so I thought it would be better to proceed with the idea that there might still be aspects to explore within the existing timeline. My approach was to write as if I were writing a theatrical version of ananime TV series(because it’s easier to write that way).
Q:AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES: nirvanA Initiative, the previous game, came out in 2022. Did you know then that you would make another game in the series, or did the idea come later?
Yamada:Right after the release ofnirvanA Initiative, Uchikoshi-san was extremely busy, so there were no immediate plans. I spent about a year helping out with a completely different project. However, if we had continued to do nothing, we would have kept our fans waiting for too long. Additionally, the development team found themselves with too much free time, so to justify their salaries, this project was launched.
Uchikoshi:Whether it’s a game, a movie, or aNetflix drama, if there are a lot of fans, a sequel is inevitable. Conversely, if there are fewer fans, those chances become lower. So, if you keep supporting us, I’ll be so happy that arterial blood will spurt out of both my nipples!
Q: When you are designing an Escape or Somnium, what do you start with? Do you come up with the puzzles first, the theme, the solution, or something else?
Yamada:The work is divided among several people, so to some extent it depends on the person in charge, but we start by thinking about “the information that can be obtained at the stage and what events will unfold.”
From there, we decide on a “theme” and set constraints (it’s actually easier to create a stage if there are constraints). After that, wecome up with puzzle ideas in line with the theme, and put them together so that they connect together as a stage. Stage creation itself is like a puzzle game for developers.
Q: The cool thing about Somnium (and Escape sections) is that each has a unique theme, from a game show to a mad science lab to a game ofPokemon GO. Can you give us any hints about Somnium themes we might see inNo Sleep For Kaname Date?
Yamada:Thank you for saying that. (The science lab andKusemon GOwere mainly created by me…). All I can say for now is that I took inspiration from a lot of “internet memes.” I understand that people have high expectations, so please look forward to it.
Uchikoshi:As in past games, both the Somnium and the Escape sections in this game are filled with original gimmicks that are unique to theAIseries. Please play it and enjoy!
Fans Have Plenty To Theorize About RegardingNo Sleep For Kaname Date
Q: What has it been like interacting with fans on social media like X as they speculate and theorize about this game and theAI: THE SOMNIUM FILESseries as a whole?
Yamada:We actually monitor and search through posts onXmuch more closely than you might think. (The idea of making Date the protagonist was based on considering everyone’s opinions) Some people make sharp predictions, and there are times when I’m like, “I wish I had thought of that!” We will continue to take your comments into consideration, so we would appreciate it if you would continue to comment on social media.
Uchikoshi:I truly feel the love for theAIseries from so many fans. At the same time, I’m confident thatonce everyone playsNo Sleep For Kaname Date, their love for this series will further deepen!
Q: Did you encounter any challenges when developing the game for the Nintendo Switch 2, as it will be one of Spike Chunsoft’s first Switch 2 releases?
Yamada:Information was restricted across all sections, and even within the company, it was kept hidden from all but a select few members. As a result, it was extremely difficult to communicate while avoiding the disclosure of top-secret matters. Thanks to that, I’ve gotten good at lying.
Q: If Kaname Date visited a Somnium inside your mind, what do you think your own Somnium would look like?
Yamada:The Power Rangers form a rock band and challenge you with rock ’n’ roll, so Aiba searches for and steps on effects pedals scattered throughout the Somnium. Each time an effects pedal is stepped on, a painful memory from my past, likenot being selected in the lottery to buy a Nintendo Switch 2, gets released. At the end, Aiba passionately strums a Gretsch White Falcon guitar on a big stage. As the sound rings out, everyone in the venue, including me, is moved to tears, and my mental locks are released.
Uchikoshi:A world where unicorn herds run across a meadow full of beautiful flowers under a blue sky with a big rainbow, while angels strum harps by a clear stream… Uh, no, that can’t be right… More likely, it’s inside Dionysus’s wine barrel. Boob aliens and butt aliens wildly sing and dance to ROSÉ &Bruno Mars’s"APT" while devouring Kleiner Feigling liqueur and Sinaloan sushi, and inhaling mojito-flavored hookah smoke through their butts and blowing it out through their belly buttons.
Q: Fans have theorized thatNo Sleep For Kaname Datemay have a connection to Hidden Bats, the alternate reality game played on Twitter shortly beforenirvanA Initiativereleased. Can you tell us anything about this potential connection?
Yamada:I regret that I didn’t do something more, but unfortunately, it’s not that relevant, because in this installment, a certain character…well, please go through this game anddiscover the truth for yourself.
Uchikoshi:It’s dangerous to dig any deeper into that incident. They’re already aware of your presence. Delete all your data now and escape to Puerto Williams on Navarino Island. I’m sure you’ll be able to enjoy some delicious king crab there.
[END]
