AI Limit - PS5 Review

A white-haired, pale woman with red eyes and wearing a black dress with various straps on it reaches towards the screen with her left hand. Her left hand comprises red crystal-like shards. Her right hand looks like her left but with white bone-like plates breaking off, and it’s holding a futuristic-looking sword. Just to the left of the woman reads the text AI Limit in black lettering. The background of the image is pure white with a very pale city outline.

Read Time:4 Minute, 18 Second

I haven’t played a soul-like game for a good while, but luckily one has popped up on my radar. And that is AI Limit. A game created by Sense Games and takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. I’m looking to face some tough bosses and build myself to be overpowered as well. You’ll be able to snag AI Limit on PlayStation when it launches on the March 27th. There will also be two editions available, one is the standard. The other is Deluxe and will net you a couple of in-game items, such as a sword and Mud Balls. Worried the game might not be for you, then luckily a demo is also out so you can try it before you buy.

Push past your limits and win!

Stood looking out to a ruined city, various stone pillars that curve are visible. Far in the distance is a enormous wall with a bridge just in view in the upper right corner of the image. Our character has candle scattered around nearby which all looked lit. — This is only the beginning,

Gameplay

At its core, AI Limit plays much like a soul-like. You have a bit of freedom to build Arisa, how you want. This is done through stats which are improved through currency collected by slaying enemies. This lets the player tailor her to better fit their play-style. I’ve mentioned before I prefer being the guy who prefers strength builds. As you progress, new gear and weapons will become available to you and will help better improve certain defensive stats. While playing I didn’t feel like my stats got any better when equipping various outfits, however, which felt disappointing.

The character is slashing and dodging a boss. When hit she flinches and a black blood effect shows. The boss looks like a skeletal being with spiked appendages. Its back spurts out flailing tentacles. The biome they're both fighting in is a dessert with various sized rocks scattered around. — I’m trying here.

Now, usually in these games you have a stamina bar, instead AI Limit gives us the Synch bar. It kinda works as both a magic meter and provides a damage buff. If the meter hits the grey zone, you’ll take more damage from enemies. To maintain it, just keep attacking or pop an item to help replenish it. In addition, weapons use the Synch bar to perform skills. I was split-minded by the Synch bar since it made combat a bit too easy at times.

Graphics & Audio

In terms of the game’s lighting, textures and animations, AI Limit looks great. However, that’s about where the interest ends for me. Designs of NPCs, the player character, enemies and even bosses are generic. I feel like I’ve seen their designs before in many types of media, and none of them stick out to me. The environments fare no better, as again besides the odd swampy area it feels like a blur of empty, dilapidated buildings and concrete areas. Ambient music plays, but mostly there are barely any environmental sounds and hardly any other music that stands out. I expected some battle music or at least some more noticeable boss music. The entire game is incredibly quiet even during combat, and this, combined with the bland blurring environments and samey NPCs, makes the whole visual and audible experience feel forgettable.

Arisa dodging an enemies attack. The enemy itself isn't there besides their weapon. Both are fighting on a dilapidated balcony. — Attack of the Killer Pickaxe!

I also had a very consistent and odd visual bug after I died; enemies’ entire character models, faces or hats would go completely invisible. It’s not game-breaking and is resolved easily by going back to the main menu.

Longevity

I spent a good amount of time with AI Limited, but I’ll admit a lot of this was with frustration. And honestly, a little bit of boredom. Some areas seem to go on forever while others felt wasted to me. There are NPC you’ll come across that have a quest and their own stories for you to uncover. Lore is more told through notes.

Final Thoughts

AI Limit is okay for a souls-like, combat can seem slow and I never felt all that powerful in the end. Most of the enemies I came across came in two forms, stupidly beefy, or just cannon fodder. Hell, I wouldn’t even say the beefy ones were all that tough, either. Most of my deaths came from the environment, which is what causes most of the game to be a challenge. I’d fall to my death by accident or there would be lasers that just wouldn’t let up while fighting mobs.

Bosses offer some challenges, but I’d say that is mainly down to me running around the arena to actually hit them. Or I would get hit by an attack I assumed ended. The story bored me, and the main character was just so bland. The NPCs were okay, and I enjoyed Vika. But felt the game’s overall world and lore take a big nose dive.

In the end, AI Limit is just okay. I can see it being just a blur to me in the future. So I’m awarding it, the Thumb Culture Silver Award. Pick it up if you’re looking for a new soul-like, but if you never hear of it again, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Disclaimer: A code was received to write this review.

About Author

Kyle McGrath

I’ve enjoyed video games for as long as I remember and I don’t think there isn’t a game I wouldn’t play. For reviews, I try my best to make them simple and easy to understand. With so many games released daily, I attempt to play them all.

See author's posts

AI Limit – PS5 Review