Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity and Never 7 – The End of Infinity Double Pack review

Before serving as the director for the Zero Escape series and the two AI: The Somnium Files titles, Kotaro Uchikoshi broke into the industry as a scenario writer. Intriguingly, the same kind of existential ruminations found in his more recent efforts are also evident in Uchikoshi’s early works, as evidenced in the re-releases of 2000’s Never 7: The End of Infinity and 2002’s Ever 17: The Out of Infinity. Repeatedly, crisis reveals a character’s true nature.

Never 7 introduces players to Makoto Ishihara, who’s a third-year psychology major and a rather likable loafer. Unfortunately, his academic negligence has forced him to attend a seminar camp to help make up for missing classes. But you won’t be investing hours studying how people handle grief or succumb to delusion. Instead, you’ll spend time on the island getaway getting to know five different potential romantic partners and shaking off the feeling that a nightmare might actually be a premonition.

I Can Save Her

Distinct dialog choices might pair you with hard-drinking Yuka Kawashima, trust-avoidant Saki Asakura, or prank-pulling Kurumi Morino. Yes, each gal leans on comedic trope, but shrewdly, it’s often revealed to be a coping mechanism as you grow closer across each different route. And undoubtedly, you will develop feelings for them across each route, thanks to character arcs where each waifu opens up to you.

Without spoiling anything, misfortune occurs before the end of the week, with breezy romance replaced by a sense of dire urgency. If you’re familiar with Uchikoshi’s work, then you probably won’t be too surprised by a structure that appreciates compelling plot twists or that culminates with head-spinning meta-narrative. The only issue is chronic repetition with minor deviations across most routes. Yet, as you’re protecting your favorite waifu, there’s might be a similar hope that the localization team can similarly salvage things. You see, Never 7 is teeming with typos. At launch, it’s bad enough to distract players from the plot, which is as just as heartbreaking as any in-game tragedy.

Humanity’s Hubris Takes a Hit (Again)

Available either as a separate purchase or part of a package, Ever 17 is set in the same universe as Never 7. But save for a few disclosures that help clarify some of the ambiguities of its predecessor, Ever 17’s capably stands on its own. The novel’s setting is LeMU, a luxurious underground water park, that’s seemingly designed with every conceivable safety measure.

Expectedly, a leak emerges, trapping the game’s dual protagonists and severing communication to the outside world. Like Zero Escape, there’s an ominous countdown, with water pressure threatening to implode what’s left of the subterranean recreation center. Expectedly, partnering with others might just be the best strategy for making it out alive.

Play as Takeshi Kuranari and you’ll revisit some of Never 7’s romantic inclinations. Despite imminent danger, the headstrong protagonist makes time to get to know the delectably cold and cynical Tsugumi Komachi or mild-mannered Sora Akanegasaki, who’s better in a crunch than dealing with a romantic crush.

Meanwhile, some of the same characters reappear in storyline for the amnesiac protagonist who’s referred to as “The Kid”. This outlook offers a different perspective of central story events, reframing Takeshi’s experiences. Once players have completed all the regular routes, Ever 17 unlocks an addition storyline that offers one hell of the better mindfucks found in the medium. Sadly, it’s undermined by the same localization problem as Never 7. They’re so egregious that occasionally you’ll see editor’s notes. If that gets fixed, increase the final score by ten percent. Hopefully, developer MAGES can flourish under pressure, too.

Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity and Never 7 – The End of Infinity Double Pack
was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher.