AI LIMIT Review (PS5 & PC)

AI Limit has nothing to do with Artificial Intelligence, at least in the way you might imagine. Its AI influence doesn’t go much beyond the protagonist, an immortal “Blader” that appears as human yet created with unknown technology. In any case, it’s an anime that dabbles its feet into Soulslike waters. 

Yes, even with the rampant inflow of Soulslike games, developer SenseGames remains keen on tapping into whatever unexplored potential the genre still has. Combining anime and Soulslike is a step forward to standing out, with The First Berserker: Khazan, oddly launched on the same day, also experimenting with the same idea.

You’re likely wondering how much of the Soulslikes’ mechanics AI Limit has borrowed. Veterans will definitely appreciate familiarity with tried-and-true combat systems they’ve come to love. However, newcomers will also be keen on what it does differently to entice them into finally trying out the genre. For any doubts and perceived misconceptions you might have, our AI Limit review puts them to rest below.

Arise, Savior

You know (or have heard of) this: the protagonist wakes up in the middle of nowhere, clueless about who they are. AI Limit, in this case, has Arrisa, a Blader, waking up in a sewer, literally. Obviously, the world around you is in bad shape and in desperate need of saving. So, off you go, piecing together the environmental storytelling clues you come by and the NPCs' stories you meet to understand what happened in Havenswell. 

You might find notes, too, that reveal a bit more about the past and future and how you might be able to help. But to be honest, as with most Souls like anyway, the way to help is to kill anything in your path. Enemies will come in droves. So, you want to really dig deep into the arsenal provided for you alongside managing your resources. And when you reach the end of the level, there’s a big, bad boss to contend with.

If it all sounds grueling, it’s because it is. Soulslike games are meant to push you to the core, often demanding mastery of fast-paced combat and precisely timed dodges and parries. AI Limit isn’t all too different, even going further to feature Branches (Dark Souls’ bonfires), where you respawn after death and upgrade. So, there’s always the opportunity to try again and again, hence the seemingly endless trial-and-error, also common with Soulslikes, before finally getting it right. 

Easy Does It

Yet AI Limit’s combat system makes it easier for you. It’s certainly a more accessible Soulslike, albeit still harboring its kinks. One way it tries to ease your journey is by taking away any stamina bars. It’s nearly strange not having a stamina bar detecting how much physical intensity you’re putting your character through. Sprinting and melee combat often drain stamina, demanding that you catch your breath after a few locks in. 

It’s been a huge staple in Soulslike games to mind your stamina. You don’t want to run out in the thick of battle, leaving you vulnerable. Hence, a way of adding tactical play. So, AI Limit getting rid of it entirely, I’m unsure, is a wise choice. It means you can dash, dodge, and parry, among other shenanigans, for as long as you want without any repercussions, stamina-wise. 

Another way AI Limit eases your burden is by taking away the need to trek back to your body whenever you die to retrieve your resources. Instead, all it does is take away a certain percentage of your resources after death. Certainly, a punishing aspect there when you consider how expensive trading is in AI Limit as well as scarce resources. Yet you always swim in the comfort that either way, you’ll never face the risk of losing all of your resources. 

Mixed Bag

And then there’s the combat design issues, where the bosses are surprisingly easy to beat. Souls-like veterans will know (and likely derive satisfaction) from how torturous bosses can be. They challenge you, truly, often causing frustration before igniting a special kind of satisfaction when you finally take them down. AI Limit takes away all of that back-and-forth. Some bosses can even be taken down with a few strings of parries, their health bars easily drained. It leaves little motivation to switch to any of the other abilities at your disposal.

But these can all be good news for some gamers looking for accessibility. In the end, AI Limit’s combat system is snappy and responsive. The combat system works flawlessly. It just is questionable based on the punishing path Soulslike games usually take. 

On the other hand, AI Limit adds the Sync Gauge. To fill it up, you’ll need to get up close and personal with enemies. Whether it’s punching quick light attack combos, dashing into enemies with impeccable invisibility, or taking advantage of a lack of a stamina bar, the Sync Gauge will comply. As your reward, you’ll begin to inflict higher damage when the gauge hits a certain level.

What’s more? It’ll boost your weapon abilities and magic spells to deal even more devastating damage. But when the Sync Gauge drains, either from taking damage or using weapon abilities and spells, you’re in trouble. Your character will inflict less damage, and your attacks and defense will become nigh ineffective. At this point, you might as well tuck your tail between your legs and run for safety.

Balance Issues

You can immediately see the issue with this mechanic. At best, you’ll be a beast on the battlefield, quickly decimating foes. A high Sync Gauge can be an unstoppable force. However, the opposite can leave you desperately weak, not to mention the difficulty of filling up the Sync Gauge again once it reaches a certain low point. Going up is easy, coming down is easy, but going up again, well, that’s nigh impossible.

Unfortunately, it’s the only risk-versus-reward factor you consider in battle. The others are pre-battle. Admittedly, AI Limit has an in-depth customization system with plenty of abilities and weapons at your disposal. You can have lots of fun tinkering around with different load-outs and matches. Plus, you can wield two weapons and switch them on the fly. Yet, with parries overpowered, and enemies’ movement being junky, among other uninspiring repetitive and bland attack patterns, you’re left with little desire to comb through every resource. 

On the Whole

I’ve hardly spoken about the story because it’s serviceable at best. You won’t get a dramatic build-up of events here. Characters are uninteresting, with the protagonist leading the charge on the most boring lead. Apparently, the “Mud” has corrupted the world, unleashing monsters. But you can also eat mud for survival. And it’s all simply a little too dry. 

I’ll say, though, that the environment speaks volumes. You can understand the plight of this world simply from environmental clues and storytelling. And emerging from the sewers to the surface world, it’s clear to spot the glaring difference in progress. 

Visually, AI Limit’s anime style gets the job done. Its characters use a striking cel-shaded style, while the environments can be especially eerie at times. They evoke feeling in you, sadness over the suffering Havenswell has faced. But you can’t help, all along, feeling sorry over the lost opportunity for true greatness. Both the world and the combat system could have scaled further beyond simply serviceable. 

Verdict

It’s a competitive world for any new Soulslike game entering the foray. With The First Berserker: Khazan out now, even Soulslike games infusing anime have worthy contenders. So, what would make you choose AI Limit over the other options available in the market? Well, for starters, its Sync Gauge system alters the usual Soulslike combat system mechanics, for better or worse. 

It encourages you to play on the aggressive side to reap the benefits of Sync. If you let your guard down, though, even making a slight mistake, it could be endgame. At no cost should you have a low Sync Gauge, or your character will get a harsh beating. 

To make up for any crude losses, though, AI Limit tosses the stamina bar. So, you can dash, dodge, and parry as long as you please. It also gets rid of having to return to your body to retrieve your resources after death. Instead, you only lose a certain percentage of your loot. These all make your journey through Havenswell a touch bit easier. 

Yet even with the steps taken to carve out a unique path for AI Limit, it still remains in the shadow of other greats. There are certainly better Soulslike games out there. But you can also do worse. So, I suppose the question is whether you’re looking for an accessible Soulslike. You’d also have to forgive the bland storytelling and repetitive missions. Bosses can be easy to beat, too. 

Does a punishing run matter most to you? AI Limit isn’t the way to go. But if you’re looking for a serviceable story and combat system, feel free to check out AI Limit.