AI2U: With You ‘Til The End is one of those quirky indie games that grabs your attention while randomly scrolling through Steam. But the real question is, is it actually fun to play? The premise is interesting, though not entirely groundbreaking. You play as the main character, trapped in a place with a “girlfriend” who won’t let you leave. It’s a harmless setup, but does it deliver? To find out, I spent some time with the game.
First, it’s worth noting that this is an early access game. That means the developers are likely planning to update it over time, adding more content and hopefully improving or fixing things as they go. The game’s main selling point is its replay value, thanks to its AI-driven gimmick. The developers claim that the AI generates unique responses to your questions, but does that really make a difference?
Starting off, AI2U is visually pleasant and runs smoothly, even on devices like the Steam Deck. That said, there’s still room for improvement. The game isn’t really designed for controllers, so you’ll need a mouse and keyboard to play properly. The keyboard is especially important since you’ll be typing responses to interact with the AI characters. The gameplay is mostly first-person, where you explore different locations, interact with objects, and talk to NPCs. It’s a simple setup, but whether it works well depends on how the AI holds up.
The game currently has three different girlfriends, each with their own unique personality. I appreciated how the developers made the game open-ended, giving you a set of objectives and letting you figure out how to complete them. There are multiple endings, which is a nice touch, but after playing for a while, I started to notice a sense of repetitiveness creeping in.
The idea of using AI to generate responses is interesting, but it has its limitations. While the developers claim the AI creates unique answers, the reality is that the responses often feel repetitive or monotone. The writing ends up feeling lackluster because of this. The AI-driven dialogue lacks the human touch, making it feel robotic and uninspired. Personally, I’d prefer a game with human-written dialogue, even if it’s more limited, as it tends to feel more thoughtful and engaging.
That said, I do admire the developers’ ambition. They’ve taken on a big challenge, and I hope they can improve the game over time. Right now, though, I can’t fully recommend it, especially since it’s still in early access. If you’ve used AI apps before, you’ll likely notice the same issue here—the responses lack heart and can become frustrating after a while. It’s a promising concept, but it needs more polish to truly shine.
Some parts of the game feel like they don’t add much to the experience, like the items you collect. I struggled to figure out their purpose, and the inventory system and UI don’t feel as polished or user-friendly as what you’d find in other indie games. There are also a few minor bugs, like the voice-to-text feature not working as smoothly as it should. Performance can be hit or miss too, especially since the game runs on the Unity engine, which doesn’t always feel well-optimized for lower-end hardware.
AI2U is an interesting concept with potential, but the current gameplay loop ends up feeling a bit dull after a while. I do like how the developers kept things open-ended, leaving a lot to the player’s imagination. Some of the endings are clever, and I appreciated how the game rewards you for paying attention to details and exploring your surroundings. The AI NPCs, however, are a mixed bag. While their dialogue isn’t my favorite, the interactions do have a certain charm at first. Unfortunately, that charm fades the longer you play, as the novelty wears off and the limitations of the AI become more apparent.
AI2U: With You ‘Til The End Game Information
- Price: $9.99
- Publisher: AlterStaff Inc.
- Developer: AlterStaff Inc.
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
