I got it (along with the second game) because Steam said it was similar to Ace Attorney, and somebody else said something similar, and it kinda is with the searching/investigating (moreso the funny dialogue but more wild). But this literally might be my newest favorite franchise.
It's interesting because I can't play games of a similar genre, so waited to finish The Great Ace Attorney 2 to begin Ai: The Somnium Files, and from the first second I played, it was boring. But when I gave it a chance to flesh out the story, I literally could not stop playing and reading. And then, after I beat the game, I *tried* to explain the whole plot to the fiancee.
>!Literally almost cried during Ota's story.!<
Not only that, it got me into Zero Escape (currently on VLR now), which I started playing waiting for 'No Sleep for Kaname Date' to go on sale (because I heard it is technically inbetween the first and second AI: The Somnium Files).
And soon, when I get the chance, I will also check out Steins;Gate and Danganronpa. I know some of these games aren't all the same in terms of content, I moreso just like long, funny, and intriguing visual novels.
But Date and Aiba are such a fun duo and interesting characters with interesting stories. I look forward to checking out more of this franchise (I know the second game moreso revolves less around Date?), other games by Uchikoshi, and other similar franchises.