AI Limit Game Review: Post-Apocalyptic Action Meets Stylish Combat

AI Limit – A Bladers Gamble in a World of Shadows

Let’s not sugarcoat it: AI Limit arrives at one of the most crowded moments for soulslike fans. With Khazan still in players’ minds and Elden Ring: Nightrein just around the corner, AI Limit could've easily drowned in the sea of heavy hitters. And while it doesn't exactly rise to the top, it does manage to tread water—sometimes beautifully, sometimes frustratingly.

Lost in a Toxic World… and in Her Own Head

In AI Limit, you step into the post-apocalyptic boots of Arissa, a "Blader" who wakes up with a bad case of amnesia. Yep, you guessed it—classic JRPG setup. She has no idea who she is, where she came from, or why she’s stuck in a world literally dripping with danger. The planet is now ruled by a black, gooey substance that’s deadly to humans, yet ironically the only thing keeping Arissa alive. Delicious.

The goal? Restore balance to a crumbling world and uncover Arissa’s forgotten past. It’s a familiar setup, sure, but the game does try to shake up the soulslike formula just a bit.

Instead of relying solely on vague item descriptions or cryptic environmental clues, NPCs talk—and Arissa actually talks back. That’s rare in this genre. The dialogue isn’t always award-winning, but it adds welcome context and helps flesh out the crumbling society around you.

Along the way, you’ll also discover notes and documents that reveal glimpses of the world before everything fell apart. Think of it as a blend of traditional storytelling and FromSoftware-style environmental lore—but with more conversations and fewer "Huh?" moments.

It’s not revolutionary, but it’s a step in the right direction for storytelling in soulslikes.

Combat: Fast, Flashy… Frustrating

Let’s get to the meat of it: combat. In any soulslike, the action needs to hit just right—and AI Limit takes its own swing at the formula. Instead of feeling like Dark Souls’ heavier, methodical combat, this one channels the speed and aggression of Bloodborne.

You’ve got the usual suspects: light and heavy attacks, roll dodges, and a range of weapon abilities that tie into Arissa’s mysterious red arm. That arm is more than just for show—it can equip swappable powers like Parries, shields, or damage buffs that let you tweak your playstyle in real time.

But here’s the kicker: there’s no stamina bar, and you can’t cancel animations. That’s a major design choice—and not everyone’s gonna love it. If you commit to a swing and realize too late that a boss is winding up for a counter, too bad. You’re locked in.

This results in some early-game frustration, especially since some enemy tells aren’t super clear. Expect a few rage-deaths before things start to click.

Still, once you learn enemy patterns and get a feel for the timing, the combat finds its rhythm. It’s not as deep as Sekiro or as crunchy as Dark Souls, but it is satisfying in its own, slick way—once you adapt.

Just be ready to die learning. A lot.

A Tale of Two Voices (Neither Great)

AI Limit is part of Sony’s China Hero Project, spotlighting fresh indie talent from China—and that’s super exciting. But one thing that clearly didn’t get the same attention as the visuals? Voice acting.

The game features both Chinese and English voice tracks, and neither really hits the mark. The Chinese dub feels slightly more natural overall, but still lacks the emotional weight you’d expect from a game trying to sell a gritty, post-apocalyptic atmosphere. As for the English dub… let’s just say it sounds like someone recorded it during their lunch break.

Even Arissa, our main character, sounds disengaged. Her tone rarely changes, even during life-or-death situations or major reveals. It’s like she’s reading a recipe, not living through the collapse of civilization.

Most of the supporting characters don’t fare much better. Some lines are awkward, others feel robotic, and you might find yourself skipping dialogue just to get back to the action. That's a shame, because the game tries to tell a story with more depth than most soulslikes.

With stronger performances, those moments could’ve really landed. Instead, they often fall flat.

It doesn’t ruin the game—but it definitely keeps it from being truly immersive.

When It Works, Its Gorgeous

If there’s one thing AI Limit absolutely nails, it’s the visuals. This game looks amazing—no exaggeration. From the very first scene, it’s clear that the art team poured love into every texture, every design, and every glowing ruin.

Let’s start with Arissa. Her design is unique enough to feel like a true main character, even though she’s mostly a blank slate in terms of personality. Her crimson robotic arm is both functional and visually striking—instantly memorable.

You can also customize her look with a variety of outfits, some cool, some a little silly (maid dress, anyone?), but it adds a fun layer of personality. Thankfully, these cosmetics don’t feel like afterthoughts—they’re detailed and diverse.

Then there are the Necros, the game’s twisted enemy mobs. While some share visual DNA, there's enough variation that it doesn’t feel lazy. You're not just fighting "reskinned guys with swords" every five minutes, and that’s a huge plus in today’s copy-paste game market.

And let’s not forget the world design. Each region is crafted with care, whether you're navigating neon-lit ruins or trudging through decay-soaked industrial zones. There’s real atmosphere here, and it pulls you in.

Even when the gameplay stumbles, the visual experience keeps you coming back.

Tech Woes That Break the Immersion

Now let’s talk tech… and yeah, this one hurts.

On paper, AI Limit should run on modest specs. But on a rig sporting an RTX 3050ti and an i7-11700, I hit PowerPoint presentation levels of performance after just five minutes. Weirdly, it runs better on the Steam Deck, which the devs clearly optimized for. Still, the fact that you might need a reinstall just to get past the first loading screen? Not a great look.

A Soundtrack That Shows Up Late

The soundtrack? Mixed bag. The intro track hits hard, and some boss fight tunes like Disorder and Survivors of Heavenswell actually slap. But most of the time? You’re stuck with ambient noise. And not in a cool, haunting Elden Ring way—more like, “did the audio cut out?” way.

Final Verdict: Should You Play AI Limit?

Land of Geek Rating: 7/10 – Stylish but Rough Around the Edges

AI Limit gets a solid 7 from us. It’s not revolutionary, but there’s a heart and soul in this one that’s worth acknowledging. It’s a flawed but memorable experience that shows a ton of potential for whatever this studio tackles next. With a few patches and polish, this could easily become a cult favorite among Soulslike fans.

✅ Pros:

• Stunning Visual Design – From Arissa’s red arm to the twisted Necros, the game looks fantastic.
• Fast, Fluid Combat – Inspired by Bloodborne with a fun arm-based skill system.
• Unique Identity – Not just a Dark Souls clone; it tries new things.
• Steam Deck Friendly – Surprisingly smooth performance on handheld.
• Solid World-Building – Plenty to discover via NPCs, lore notes, and environment design.

❌ Cons:

• Performance Issues – Random crashes, poor optimization on PC.
• Stiff Voice Acting – Lacks emotion and polish, even for the protagonist.
• No Animation Canceling – Can lead to frustrating deaths, especially early on.
• Forgettable Music – Outside boss fights, the soundtrack often fades into the background.
• Occasional Bugs – Including infinite load screens and install issues.

Honestly? AI Limit is a decent first swing from a new studio. It doesn’t revolutionize anything, but it offers a stylish, fast-paced adventure with some neat ideas—like the arm-based skill system and more vocal protagonist. The combat can be rewarding if you’re patient, and the world design is eye-candy level good.

But… it’s also clunky, occasionally buggy, and let down by a flat script and tech issues. If you're a die-hard soulslike fan with a tolerance for jank, you’ll find moments of genuine enjoyment here. Otherwise, maybe wait for a patch—or a price drop.

Stay sharp, Blader. There’s always another world to cleanse. For more action-packed RPG coverage, keep it locked to Land of Geek Magazine!

#AI Limit#soulslike games#gaming reviews#China Hero Project#action RPG