Kotaro Uchikoshi is a name many fans might recognize from his work on the Zero Escape series, but before he gained popularity in the West, he was known for the Infinity series of visual novels. These games were rarely marketed and, given the small market for visual novels at the time, they ended up being somewhat forgotten. Now, more than two decades later, Spike Chunsoft is bringing these games back with ports to PC and Nintendo Switch.
The Infinity series consists of three games, and the new ports focus on two of them: Never 7 and Ever 17. While they are part of the same series, there isn’t a strong connection between the two, so players can enjoy them in any order. The story of Never 7 follows Makoto Ishihara, who wakes up from a dream in which a girl dies right in front of him. The dream takes place on April 6, but the story then rewinds to April 1, where Makoto is preparing to attend a special university seminar.
Never 7 starts off feeling like a traditional visual novel, with a focus on romance and relationships between the characters. However, the sci-fi elements are subtly introduced through a loop mechanic. Players can make choices that lead to different outcomes, and if a tragedy occurs, they can go back in time and try again. This mechanic, while straightforward, was innovative at the time and has since influenced many other visual novels. That said, by today’s standards, the impact of the different routes feels less pronounced, and the game might not feel as groundbreaking as it did when it first released.
Makoto has the ability to sense events before they happen, like the strange dream of a death occurring on April 6. Through his memories, he pieces together that this death might be linked to the sound of a bell. The story introduces many characters, and while the opening sets up expectations for the ending, there are still plenty of unanswered questions left for players to uncover. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t handle its characters particularly well, and their introductions feel lacking. Additionally, there are occasional issues with the English localization, where the tone and nuance of conversations sometimes feel lost in translation.
The art style is plain and somewhat generic, with nothing particularly eye-catching. This is partly due to the game’s age, as it was released a long time ago. While the remaster attempts to clean up the visuals, the character designs remain unchanged. The updated character art can be hit or miss, often giving off a low-quality, generic anime vibe. The music isn’t a strong point either, so it doesn’t leave much of an impression. Combined with average writing and a rather disappointing ending, this visual novel is hard to recommend.
That said, the story does offer some interesting twists, even if much of the narrative sticks to predictable tropes. The ending leaves certain elements ambiguous, leaving players to interpret the outcome. While I didn’t connect with the characters much, I was surprised by the number of choices available and how they impact the story. Ultimately, Never 7 isn’t a visual novel that will blow fans away, but considering its original release, it might be worth exploring to see how the medium has evolved over time.
Never 7 – The End of Infinity Game Information
- Price: $19.99
- Publisher: Spike Chunsoft
- Developer: MAGES
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
