AI Limit: A Stylish Soulsjourney, Stuck in the Shadows?

AI Limit is a fresh Soulslike journey, inspired by some top-tier games within the genre, yet finds it challenging to carve its unique niche.

In the Soulslike genre, there’s been an influx of games, with titles like Stellar Blade and Lords of the Fallen attempting to introduce unique concepts, such as Lords of the Fallen offering a parallel spirit realm to explore. However, other games tend to favor a more conservative and conventional approach. AI Limit falls into this category.

The debut project by SenseGames, titled AI Limit, is reminiscent of the Souls series in gameplay. This can be both beneficial and challenging for the game. While AI Limit may not exactly innovate, it offers a challenging gaming experience that dedicated Souls fans will appreciate.

This is very much a game where you “git gud” or die trying.

AI Limit screenshots

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What is AI Limit about?

As Arrisa, a Blader – an artificially created humanoid, you’ve been assigned the mission of restoring the world following the devastation wrought by monstrous entities called Necros who apparently brought about the downfall of civilization. To accomplish this task, you must locate and mend Branches, similar to Bonfires in Dark Souls, which serve as crucial checkpoints throughout your journey.

Following an awakening in a sewer sheltering frightened individuals, Arrisa finds herself puzzled about her arrival there. However, she manages to recall her assigned task. Interestingly, she’s not alone as another Blader is lurking within the tunnels. It doesn’t take long to realize that these artificial beings have transformed into zombie-like creatures, aggressively assaulting humans whenever they appear.

Although the story may not be particularly innovative, with a post-apocalyptic backdrop reminiscent of numerous other games like Stellar Blade, enthusiasts of Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and similar titles will find it familiar. However, it’s unlikely to garner praise for its originality.

Anime Dark Souls

AI Limit adopts an anime aesthetic reminiscent of Code Vein, though it may not scale the visual heights of games such as Elden Ring, it still boasts a striking appearance on PS5. The animations are incredibly fluid and controlling Arrisa is pleasurable. Initially, the environments in the game might seem dull, but once you exit the sewers, AI Limit unveils its apocalyptic playground with grandeur.

Initially, AI Limit seems quite similar to Stellar Blade due to their shared art style and Soulslike gameplay mechanics. Like Stellar Blade, a significant part of the fun in AI Limit comes from customizing Arrisa with various outfits and accessories. However, unlike Stellar Blade, these costumes serve more than just aesthetic purposes; they actually have functionalities attached to them.

These items serve a dual purpose as they function similarly to armor. Consequently, if you discover a piece of equipment that appeals to you, keep in mind that you may need to replace it with something more tactically advantageous during combat later on. As a seasoned Souls player since 2009, I find this aspect appealing because I’m interested in understanding the battle benefits rather than simply dressing up my character.

Brutal but rewarding combat

In this game, the battle system promotes a combative playstyle, reminiscent of Bloodborne. Unlike some games where assaulting foes restores your health, here, there’s no stamina bar, allowing you to continuously attack enemies until they either succumb or find a tactic to retaliate.

In a game where combos are essential, there’s a quick instant when the sequence ends, and understanding what to do next can be the difference between life and death. This might feel surprising if you’re used to games that signal when it’s time to halt your attacks using a stamina meter.

As a gamer, I found myself tempted to overdo my attacks, only to realize the hard way that it wasn’t worth the cost. But with time, I learned to leverage these pauses, using them tactically. For instance, when you’re out of stamina, you can dodge as much as you want without consequence. This system is cleverly designed, promoting a balance between aggressive attacks and strategic retreats.

Apart from your aggressive approach, there’s a glaring issue with not being able to block attacks. However, you’re granted a unique skill to deflect incoming moves, known as parrying and riposting. Mastering this technique significantly simplifies defeating the game’s bosses, making it incredibly gratifying when executed correctly. A well-timed parry can momentarily disorient enemies, paving the way for a brutal counter-attack that drains their health rapidly and often shifts the momentum of a boss fight in your favor.

For instance, the initial boss, Lore, the Misplaced Knight, is incredibly imposing and can end your life in mere strikes. Yet, timing my precise counterattacks enabled me to defeat him without sustaining a single hit – given enough time. Although parrying attacks isn’t revolutionary, AI Limit managed to make it feel innovative.

Staying in Sync

AI Limit’s leaders mean business, and seasoned Souls series veterans will quickly discover their serious side. Mindless button-mashing or relying on luck won’t cut it here – you’ll need to thoroughly understand the game’s mechanics and anticipate enemy attack patterns instead. Although there are no adjustable difficulty levels, AI Limit ensures a fair playing field, making it possible for novice players to pave their own way to triumph.

What makes AI Limit unique compared to other games is its Sync Rate system, a feature that functions similarly to stamina in games such as Dark Souls, but with a twist. This mechanic not only determines your power level, but also decides which extraordinary abilities you can execute.

The Sync Rate gauge is currently at 100%, and to maintain maximum strength, it’s important to keep this value as high as you can. Using special abilities and spells will lower it, making Arissa more exposed. This results in a constant balancing act between risk and reward, a dynamic that is particularly noticeable during boss fights, where you might need to utilize all your available resources.

As a passionate player, I’d caution myself not to get carried away with indulging too much. The great thing is, when you overstep, your Sync can be regained by embracing combat once more – a reminder to keep up that aggressive spirit. While the Sync system brings an interesting tactical aspect to the battles and works nicely, it alone doesn’t quite set AI Limit apart from other games in its genre.

The verdict

AI Limit serves as a valuable supplement to Sony’s China Hero Project, offering indie Chinese game developers a chance to create games compatible with the PlayStation 5.

Although the game draws significant inspiration from Bloodborne, Dark Souls, and Stellar Blade, it doesn’t quite reach their level. This is due to the fact that it seems to be more of a homage instead of a game pushing the genre to new heights. Despite AI Limit being enjoyable, it doesn’t offer anything particularly fresh or innovative.

If you’re yearning for an immersive gaming experience reminiscent of traditional Soulslike titles, but with a stylish anime aesthetic and consistently engaging gameplay, AI Limit remains a worthwhile choice for entertainment.

2025-03-26 09:19