Ever 17 is the second game in the Infinity series by Kotaro Uchikoshi to be remastered for modern platforms. Compared to Never 7, this game feels much more polished and coherent, with a stronger focus on the sci-fi elements that deliver mind-bending twists—a signature style Uchikoshi is known for in his later works. The story also includes themes you’d typically expect from a Uchikoshi game, with the main character being a college student who finds himself in an unfamiliar and mysterious situation.
The protagonist, Takeshi Kuranari, is an ordinary college student whose life takes a dramatic turn when he visits an underwater theme park called LeMU. During his trip, he becomes trapped in the park alongside a handful of other individuals, and together they must find a way to escape this underwater nightmare. If this setup reminds you of Uchikoshi’s more recent games, you’re not wrong to think so.
The remastered version features an improved art style that stays true to the original while looking more visually appealing than Never 7. Even though the game was originally released over two decades ago, the writing still holds up remarkably well. The best part is that you don’t need to play the other games in the series to enjoy this one—it works perfectly as a standalone story. There are only subtle thematic connections between Never 7 and Ever 17, so you can start with either game without missing much.
While it might sound like a thriller, Ever 17 has its fair share of slice-of-life moments. Between the tense and stressful scenes, there are long stretches of calm where the story takes its time to introduce the main cast. This, however, is also one of the game’s drawbacks—it takes a while to really get going. If you can push through the slower opening hours, the story does improve significantly. Like Never 7, the game features different character routes that depend on the choices you make early on.
Exploring these routes helps build the world’s lore and gives a deeper understanding of the story. While the narrative is stronger here, the English localization still has occasional issues, like typos, which make it feel like there wasn’t enough quality control. The new sci-fi setting adds a layer of mystery that was missing in Never 7. LeMU might seem like an exciting underwater theme park at first, but it hides dark secrets that create a sense of despair for the characters.
Another strength of the game is how Uchikoshi has put more effort into developing the cast. The characters feel more fleshed out, making it easier to connect with them. As mentioned earlier, the experience is more linear compared to the time loops in Never 7. While the different routes offer unique perspectives, they sometimes repeat the same scenarios, which can’t be skipped. Additionally, some scenes feel like filler and don’t contribute much to the story. Trimming these could have helped improve the pacing.
The different endings in the game offer a fresh perspective on the events, showing them through the eyes of different characters. Completing every route eventually leads to a final outcome that completely shifts how you see the world and its characters. While some twists can be figured out if you pay close attention to the in-game hints, I was still completely surprised as the mystery slowly unfolded. The game doesn’t lean too heavily on romance, keeping the focus firmly on LeMU and the mystery surrounding it.
Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity Game Information
- Price: $29.99
- Publisher: Spike Chunsoft
- Developer: MAGES
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
