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AI: The Somnium Files was review bombed on Metacritic (From 8.2 to 1.9 in 1 day)

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Odesu

Odesu

Member
Oct 26, 2017
5,535
So this is weird:

Kotaro Uchokoshi's (Zero Escape) latest game AI: The Somnium Files is several months old. However, it now got heavily review bombed on Metacritic with the User Score of the Switch version tanking from 8.2 to 1.9 in just a single day, gaining 311 review ratings in the process (from 77 to 388).

There is speculation on reddit that this has to do with an explicitly pro LGBTQ+ scene happening late in the game. This is the scene in question:

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This is kind of a weird case though. So far it doesn't seem clear where exactly this campaign to review bomb the game originated - and why it only happened so late after it was released. I just figured this would be a great time to remind everyone of the existence of AI: The Somnium Files - it's a really, really special game, full of great characters, an awesome story, amazing soundtrack and seemingly quite a budget you're not really used to in this genre. I was already a big fan of the Zero Escape franchise but I truly think that this is Uchikoshi's best game. If you ever had any affinity for Telltale games for example you should really give this one a try.
 
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Maximo

Maximo

Member
Oct 25, 2017
9,149
Good game? I keep giving this a pass over but with this pro LGBTQ+ message im interested again.
 
Mimosa

Mimosa

Community & Social Media Manager
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Oct 23, 2019
795
The lead game designer was SO SAD about this - I explained to him the phenomenon of "review bombing", and I hope he feels better.

This was honestly my GOTY for 2019, and I hope that the counterpoint of the reviewbombing is that more people will become aware of it and play it.

So uh, yeah - please play AI: The Somnium Files.
 
foxuzamaki

foxuzamaki

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
21,545
I have the game and done my part but thanks for putting it back in the spotlight
 
Korigama

Korigama

Member
Oct 25, 2017
20,470
Extremely random for such gutter trash to care enough to do this so late after it launched, yeah. Been on my radar since I tried the demo, will by all means be picking it up myself after not having the chance to do so last year.
 

Deleted member 20831

Banned
Oct 28, 2017
1,951
Metacritic needs to have some sort of stronger vetting process for user reviews to filter out review bombing, because its literally a joke every time or almost all the time and reflects mood swings of mob mentality pathetic people who may not even own the game.

Edit: I stopped following Metacritic user reviews long time ago, it should be put up in not to touch or mention tag about anything related user reviews on that site until they put effort towards fixing it.

Edit 2: Steam has a filter for user reviews (in the form of purchases on the platform) and also a review graph which helps immensely.

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HockeyBird

Member
Oct 27, 2017
12,584
The game is on sale on the Switch eshop at the moment for anyone interested. I've been meaning to pick this up and try it.
 
Lobster Roll

Lobster Roll

signature-less, now and forever
Member
Sep 24, 2019
34,259
Oddly, review bombing works again. This time, many people (myself included) are going to give the game more purchases and more support. I was on the fence for this game, but they're definitely getting my dollars now. They tried to tear the game down, and they instead signal-boosted it. Morons.
 
LAA

LAA

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Oct 28, 2017
2,318
That's... weird. Why now of all times. I cant even see most of the review bombs funnily enough. If it is due to the pro LGBTQ+ dialogue at the end, just sad and again question why only now people are choosing to review bomb it because of that ha. Very strange.
Game is great and doesnt deserve it.
 
MickZan

MickZan

Banned
Oct 28, 2017
1,404
Really want to play this. 60 euros a bit too steep, but once it drops a bit I'm in.
 

Deleted member 8861

User requested account closure
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Oct 26, 2017
10,564
AI was a solid fucking game and if dipshit GG-ers got to it I'm going to be very pissed. BRB, opening a Metacritic account.
 
Korigama

Korigama

Member
Oct 25, 2017
20,470
Soriku said:
This is the only positive of this lol, morons.

But yeah they are waaaaaaaay LTTP.

Metacritic needs to just disable user reviews at this point.
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I would be okay with Metacritic disappearing altogether, but how much I despise that site and lament both industry and consumer obsession with it is somewhat off-topic.
 
DaiJyoubs

DaiJyoubs

Member
Oct 25, 2017
496
I saw it was actually in the top selling games in Japan when I was checking the eshop charts. Made me happy to see cause it freaking deserves it!!
That LGBT scene had me in shock because I never would've thought I'd see it out of a game like this! Made me so happy!
I would like to see where this all originated from before saying it was this scene that caused it (though it wouldn't surprise me if it was).
 
Tibarn

Tibarn

Member
Oct 31, 2017
13,369
Barcelona
That's just stupid, but if this means more people buy and play the game, I'm glad. Really good game, more people needs to play it.
 
OnionPowder

OnionPowder

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Oct 25, 2017
9,323
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Mimosa said:
The lead game designer was SO SAD about this - I explained to him the phenomenon of "review bombing", and I hope he feels better.

This was honestly my GOTY for 2019, and I hope that the counterpoint of the reviewbombing is that more people will become aware of it and play it.

So uh, yeah - please play AI: The Somnium Files.
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That's completely disheartening to hear. These are real people who will feel the affect of this over NOTHING.

For him I raised it from a 1.9 to a 2.0 with a 10 star review.
 
Ex-Psych

Ex-Psych

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Oct 25, 2017
1,321
Actually the game recently went on sale this week, being 35% off on Switch. I guess that would explain the influx of people jumping in and noticing that moment and for some reason get offended.

I plan on getting it too before the sale ends.
 
LiK

LiK

Member
Oct 25, 2017
32,018
This game was amazing and yea, I bet it was review bombed from all the pro-LGBT views in the game by bigots. Uchikoshi did not mince words about it at all. Love that man.
 
SPRidley

SPRidley

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Oct 25, 2017
8,229
I never knew about htis game. Are the game characters as fun and charismatic as in Virtue Last Reward, or more serious like in 999?
From the screens the OP posted it seems more VLR, and if thats the case im all in.
 
Zeouter

Zeouter

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Oct 27, 2017
1,605
Ireland
Weird, wonder if someone can track down the origin of the bombing campaign?

I wish it was on the Irish eShop :-(
 

Deleted member 8861

User requested account closure
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SPRidley said:
I never knew about htis game. Are the game characters as fun and charismatic as in Virtue Last Reward, or more serious like in 999?
From the screens the OP posted it seems more VLR, and if thats the case im all in.
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It cranks fun character bullshit up to eleven.

I didn't adore it anywhere as mush as 999 or VLR, but the game's still a fun fucking time!
 
LiK

LiK

Member
Oct 25, 2017
32,018
SPRidley said:
I never knew about htis game. Are the game characters as fun and charismatic as in Virtue Last Reward, or more serious like in 999?
From the screens the OP posted it seems more VLR, and if thats the case im all in.
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Same writer and creator and it's his best work yet. Amazing characters. It's more fun and funny but the story does have plenty of dark moments.
 
Tolby

Tolby

Member
Sep 24, 2019
686
Eastern Europe
The game is full of sexual stuff for straight white men. But the LGBT community having some characters and a minute of screen time is too much?
How sad.
 
Gradon

Gradon

Saw the truth behind the copied door
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Oct 25, 2017
7,461
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The Mitsuki conservation was probably posted in some gutterpit somewhere and now the incels are now super worked up about it.

AI is fantastic if not for flawed gameplay and awful sexual jokes, those aside it's a very well crafted story.
 
Korigama

Korigama

Member
Oct 25, 2017
20,470
SPRidley said:
I never knew about htis game. Are the game characters as fun and charismatic as in Virtue Last Reward, or more serious like in 999?
From the screens the OP posted it seems more VLR, and if thats the case im all in.
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Not too sure how VLR's characters count as fun and charismatic while 999's are just serious, but going on about my gripes with VLR would once again be off-topic.

What I'm familiar with was fun and reminded me more of Uchikoshi's work on 999 quality-wise, so that's how I was sold on it.
 
Patsy

Patsy

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Jun 7, 2019
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Oh, this hurts my fucking heart. Ai: The Somnium Files is one of my favorite games of last year, maybe even my favorite Uchikoshi game, I even bought it for multiple friends and tried my hardest to get others to play it too because the little coverage it got hurt. Mizuki's dialogue and the game even having some LGBT characters meant so, so much and the game truly doesn't deserve this shit. I hate homophobes and transphobes so much it's unreal. I haven't read any of the reviews if there even are any (partly to avoid having to read homphobic and transphobic comments), but I still wish Metacritic would do something against shit like this, like only allow people to score a game if they also write reviews or something. Sure, at the end of the day they might not mean much, but I'm sure they still hurt the developers as this is only based on homophobia and transphobia and nothing else.
 
FamousLastX

FamousLastX

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Oct 25, 2017
368
Just picked this up in the eshop sale last week, glad I did now and that I supported the game. Looking forward to diving in soon.
 
Personablue

Personablue

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Feb 10, 2019
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Not related, but i was off my the constant sex jokes and boring story. Highly disappointed and i even loved zero time dilemma
 
treble

treble

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Oct 25, 2017
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Buying this today. I have heard a lot of good things about it, but put it off until now. The demo really impressed me.
 
SPRidley

SPRidley

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Oct 25, 2017
8,229
Funyarinpa said:
It cranks fun character bullshit up to eleven.

I didn't adore it anywhere as mush as 999 or VLR, but the game's still a fun fucking time!
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Thats nice.
I really didnt enjoy the characters in 999 but had a bunch of fun with the VLR ones, so if it goes with the more fun route is at the top of my buying list now.

LiK said:
Same writer and creator and it's his best work yet. Amazing characters.
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Yeah knew it was by Uchikosi after I read the thread (didnt know he had a new game after Zero Time dilemma), just wanted to know if the character were more similar to 999 or VLR

Korigama said:
Not too sure how VLR's characters count as fun and charismatic while 999's are just serious, but going on about my gripes with VLR would once again be off-topic.

What I'm familiar with was fun and reminded me more of Uchikoshi's work on 999 quality-wise, so that's how I was sold on it.
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Well, they were serious 99% of the time, and yes, less tropey than the ones in VLR, that in my opinion, apart fropm the still seriousness of all it, had more fun characters and routes.
I also found the puzzles less maths problem and more intuition. I know people talk better about 999 in this forum, but I didnt enjoy it very much and only got VLR becuase a friend of mine gifted me the game for the Vita and I gave it a shot.
 
NioA

NioA

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Dec 16, 2019
3,623
I don't get it though, why now?
As a ZE fan I really want to get this, waiting for a sale.
 
sibarraz

sibarraz

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Another EPIC SNOWFLAKE GAMER moment from your regular gators
 
Stefarno

Stefarno

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I got to that section a couple of days ago and was really impressed.

I've rated all versions 10/10 to try and offset at least a couple of the bastards.
 
LiK

LiK

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Oct 25, 2017
32,018
SPRidley said:
Thats nice.
I really didnt enjoy the characters in 999 but had a bunch of fun with the VLR ones, so if it goes with the more fun route is at the top of my buying list now.


Yeah knew it was by Uchikosi after I read the thread (didnt know he had a new game after Zero Time dilemma), just wanted to know if the character were more similar to 999 or VLR


Well, they were serious 99% of the time, and yes, less tropey than the ones in VLR, that in my opinion, apart fropm the still seriousness of all it, had more fun characters and routes.
I also found the puzzles less maths problem and more intuition. I know people talk better about 999 in this forum, but I didnt enjoy it very much and only got VLR becuase a friend of mine gifted me the game for the Vita and I gave it a shot.
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A better comparison is Ai is basically what Ace Attorney is like if Uchi wrote it instead. Gameplay is way less heavy on brain puzzles as well.
 
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