The Ever 17/Never 7 Double Pack, brought to us by Spike Chunsoft and MAGES, revisits classic visual novels originally crafted by KID, now reimagined for the PlayStation 4. Dive into the details with our review!
The double pack treats us to refreshed versions of Never 7 – The End of Infinity and Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity. Never 7 made its debut in 2000 on platforms like the original PlayStation, the SEGA Dreamcast, and the Neo Geo Pocket, but remained exclusively in Japan until now. In contrast, Ever 17 launched a couple of years later on the PlayStation 2 and SEGA Dreamcast. Both titles owe their intriguing narratives to Kotaro Uchikoshi, a name you might recognize from the acclaimed Zero Escape series. Check out reviews from the_nmac for Zero Escape: The Nonary Games, and ThaRaven403 for Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma if you’re interested. These two games are integral pieces of the Infinity series.
Visual novels prioritize storytelling, offering intricate plots with character illustrations set in various locations, justifying the genre’s name. In these games, Japanese voice acting brings the characters to life, and you’re tasked with making pivotal choices that guide the story along different paths. This means multiple playthroughs can yield varying outcomes, enhancing replayability.
In Never 7 – The End of Infinity, you experience the story through Makoto Ishihara, a student caught in a strange situation. After dreaming about a girl’s tragic death, you wake on April 1st, haunted by the possibility that it could come true by April 6th. As part of a Seminar Retreat, relax isn’t the watchword here—expect surprises!
Upon reaching April 6, calamity befalls, but you’re sent back to April 1st, giving you another chance to alter the events of the next five days. Your choices can lead to bad endings, or if navigated skillfully, break the cycle leading you to a positive conclusion.
In its sequel, Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity, you step into the shoes of Takeshi Kuranari, a college student in an underwater theme park, LeMU, when disaster strikes, trapping you and others 51 meters underwater. Collaborating with Tsugumi and You, you must find an escape route before time runs out. Expect twists and turns that’ll keep you engaged without veering into spoiler land!
Time to talk trophies! Since you’re essentially playing two games, each one comes with its own trophy list complete with a coveted Platinum to chase after. For Never 7 – The End of Infinity, expect a mix of 8 Bronze, 2 Silver, and 9 Gold trophies. Meanwhile, Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity offers 3 Bronze, 15 Silver, and 6 Gold trophies. Unlock these by reaching a variety of endings, which I will avoid discussing here to keep surprises intact.
The Ever 17/Never 7 Double Pack offers a refreshed take on KID’s iconic visual novels for the PlayStation 4. With remakes of Never 7 – The End of Infinity and Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity, both courtesy of Kotaro Uchikoshi, fans can experience these beloved classics anew. Mark your calendars for the March 6 release, with the bundle priced at $44.99. If preferred, each game is also available individually: Never 7 – The End of Infinity at $19.99 and Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity at $29.99.
(Note: This review is based on a PlayStation 4 copy provided by Spike Chunsoft.)
