AI LIMIT Beginner's Guide | Everything You Should Know

As a fan of the Souls genre, I've been having a great time with AI Limit, and I'm already close to 100 hours into the game. The game stands out by being easier to get into in terms of level of challenge (if you're new to the genre) and also reasonably cheaper. For just under $30, it gives you an experience that stays true to the genre while adding new features and a new setting.

The game, however, doesn't tell you many things apart from how to play. There are so many secrets in the game that you have to dig and mechanics that you need to figure out by playing. Fear not; I've made a list of tips that can help you get a good start and understand the game better. You can also check my colleague's in-depth review (from the link below) if you're confused about any of the game's features.

Anyway, here's what you need to know about AI Limit before you step into the Havenswell.

Setting and Story (Don't Tell)

In the future, where the game is set, society has fallen apart after the world's end. You step into the role of Arrisa, a Blader, a new life form with immortality powers. Awakening in the sewers of Havenswell, the last surviving city, you have little memory of who you are.

As you progress, you uncover your true identity while dealing with a mysterious substance called Mud, which has given rise to monstrous creatures known as Necros.

Pay Attention to the Sync Meter

AI Limit's gameplay, particularly the combat mechanism, is mostly centered around the Sync mechanic. It's different from other games like Souls that use the energy system. Since there's no stamina bar, instead of managing your stamina, you hit enemies to fill up your Sync meter.

When you take damage, the Sync meter goes down, and the lower it gets, the less damage you deal to the enemies. This system lets you use unique spells and powers on your weapons, which rewards an aggressive style of play. The more you attack, the stronger you get.

Understand the Character Movement and Weapon Movesets

It is easy to move and dodge, like Bloodborne's quick-step dodge. This move gives you a sense of being alive and lets you avoid hits very well. This quick-step dodge is so well implemented in the game that you hardly have to use parry.

Simply dodge behind the enemy right before they're attacking and strike them from behind. You just need to move quickly and accurately to stay alive, whether you're fighting a single tough boss or a group of enemies.

Also, every weapon type has a unique moveset. Smaller weapons like the Blades have a faster combo but do less damage, while a Halbard has a slower combo but does a ton of damage. Since you can carry two weapons, you switch weapons in mid-combo to perform a special attack.

Understand their movesets before fully upgrading them. You may not use a particular weapon after some time. So, don't fully upgrade a weapon since the higher-grade upgrade materials aren't farmable. You only receive them late in the game.

Don't Feel Shy About Defending

Combat isn't just about always attacking; you have a lot of ways to defend yourself. Apart from the bosses, there are some powerful enemies that tend to attack in a pattern or combo. Wait till that combo is finished before attacking them. Otherwise, you'll always take damage.

If you're good at parrying, you can perfectly time for parries, which let you block hits that are coming to you. But not all attacks can be parried. There's also a Shield, which is a more standard way to block, but the more you block, the more Sync you lose.

So, perfect dodges are the best defense in the game to attack enemies from behind. Even though the game urges you to play aggressively, don't hesitate to defend when needed.

Level Up ASAP You Have Enough Crystals

You can level up and get better stats by resting at Branches, like bonfires in a regular souls-like game. Progression is also linked to the Nucleus System, which lets you choose between risky and safe ways to collect souls.

You can change this system to make you more successful in battle based on how you play. I'll recommend leveling up as soon as you have enough Crystals. Because each time you die, you'll lose 5% of your total Crystals, and unlike regular souls, you can't retrieve them.

Don't Miss Exploring Branching Paths. They're Highly Rewarding

The game world is jam-packed with secret passages, vertical exploration, and rods that lead to one another. Optional bosses, looping shortcuts to earlier regions, and hard platforming parts requiring precise leaps are all on the menu.

You'll see plenty of branching paths in every chapter, and I recommend exploring them all. These levels have been designed to reward players who spend a lot of time exploring and finding all of the secrets. You also end up collecting tons of crystals from each area to level up even further.

All the Endings and Side Quests

The decisions you make, as you progress through AI Limit, determine one of three possible endings. I'll have a separate guide on how to get all the endings (stay tuned for that). However, each NPC has a distinct storyline that contributes to the game's lore and makes the plot more interesting. So don't miss out on these side quests.

Since AI Limit doesn't have a quest tracker, even if you're confused with any side quest, whenever you find any item, the game will tell you who to reach out to and give that item to. This way, you can easily complete any side quest if you're confused.  Completing these side missions allows you to learn more about the characters and the post-apocalyptic world.

Boss Fights Aren't That Difficult

Unlike the demo, in which the first boss took me around 50 tries to kill, the difficulty level of AI Limit seems to be lower than that of more conventional soul-like games. Perhaps the developers have lowered the difficulty after receiving players' feedback during the PS5 demo release.

However, for those who are familiar with the genre, bosses usually only take a few tries to beat. Because enemy stagger thresholds aren't too high, you can effectively lock down adversaries by chaining blows. Though there are bosses, particularly the Hunters of Bladers, it is a difficult fight to get into. Her second phase will surely test you.

I recommend facing her when you reach at least level 50. Otherwise, her one combo will take your entire life bar. Once again, if you master the quick-step, no boss fight in this game is super hard.

Outfits and Throwable Items

AI Limit has plenty of beautiful outfits for Arrisa. Most of them are easily purchasable from the in-game vendors/machines, but some are hidden and rewarded after certain boss fights. Don't miss out on exploring the hidden and branching paths. Just like the endings, I'll be doing another guide on how to find all the outfits. So stay tuned.

As for the Throwable items, these are extremely limited in the game. Don't waste them once you find a few. Throwable items sometimes come in really handy when you have to lure an enemy towards you from a distance to avoid being crowded by a group of them.

Final Thoughts

The idea behind AI Limit comes from games like souls-like, but it's somewhat easier to play and has its own unique taste. It's definitely worth a look if you like the souls-like genre. The combat is fun, and I loved the anime-style visuals. There is more than meets the eye in AI Limit because its world is interesting to explore.

Enjoy the game!

Also, check our in-depth AI LIMIT Review and other guides below:

• AI Limit Guide | All Features, Mechanics, Tips & Tricks