Review
Review | Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity (PC)
The remaster offers fans the opportunity to experience Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity once again or for the first time.
Welcome to the LeMU Theme Park
In the world of visual novels, the Infinity series has always maintained a dedicated following. While it hasn’t achieved mainstream success like the Science Adventure or Danganronpa series, it boasts a strong cult fanbase. Despite its legacy, only one entry has ever been officially released outside Japan. This makes the remaster of Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity a welcome addition for fans.
Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity is a remaster of the second game in the Infinity series, giving players another chance to experience this visual novel classic. Fans can go back and play not only the best entry in the series but one of the best visual novels of the 2000s. This is also a chance for a new generation of visual novel fans to experience this classic story.
The remaster of Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity was released alongside the remaster of Never 7 – The End of Infinity. The games can be purchased separately or as part of a double pack.
A Journey of Hope
Set in 2017, the story follows a group of guests at the LeMU Underwater Theme Park. A catastrophic accident results in the group being trapped in the underwater facility. As water pressure increases and oxygen runs low, they struggle to escape before time runs out. The story bounces between Takeshi, a college student, and a mysterious boy simply called the Kid. As they uncover the truth about themselves and the secrets of LeMU, they realize their fates are deeply connected. Past and future intertwine, revealing hidden identities and a reality that defies logic.
Compared to its predecessor, Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity offers a stronger narrative direction and greater depth. The defining narrative aspects, from the romantic elements to the science fiction, return but are further refined and enhanced. While Never 7 leaned more toward a romantic slice-of-life story with some sci-fi elements, Ever 17 strikes a better balance between the two. The romance remains, but the science fiction aspects play a more prominent role. Plus, if you play both titles back-to-back, you’ll truly appreciate the evolution of the narrative direction.
A Profound Confession
From a visual standpoint, Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity retains its original aesthetic style. The classic version was already a noticeable improvement over Never 7, and the remaster further refines the details while smoothing out rough edges. At the same time, it preserves the old-school charm of 2000s visual novels. This nostalgic presentation allows players who grew up during that era to connect with the experience beyond just its story.
Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity core gameplay follows the standard visual novel format. Players will have to read through dialogue and during certain points must answer a question. However, don’t expect to breeze through by skipping everything. Interaction is key—players must engage with characters and make choices that directly impact the story’s outcome. Skipping dialogue may leave you unprepared when faced with crucial decisions. Choices range from how you respond to specific questions to shaping your relationships with key characters. Every decision influences your path and the overall narrative direction of your experience.
A unique feature is the ability to easily revisit dialogue choices if you feel you’ve answered incorrectly. The moment before the decision is automatically saved, allowing for a quick load. When you reach the choice again, your previous selection is marked, serving as a reminder of your prior decision.
A Perfect Perspective
Right away, it’s easy to appreciate how fans can now experience Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity. This remains the only entry to receive a Western release, but that was back in 2005—and only on PC. Making it more accessible is a welcome change, especially for gamers who prefer the Nintendo Switch or PlayStation. It’s also exciting to see a new generation introduced to this classic, ensuring its legacy continues with fresh audiences.
As a visual novel, Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity excels in its narrative choices and direction, bolstered by strong sci-fi elements. It also revisits the concept of a time loop, intricately tying together themes of time and space. This is achieved through its memorable cast of characters and an emotionally charged story that keeps players engaged throughout the journey. The game masterfully builds suspense, keeping players in the dark before revealing its biggest secrets. Its branching narrative guarantees a unique experience with every playthrough, adding significant replay value.
Its shortcomings stem from some narrative issues that also affected the original game. Problems with pacing and occasional exposition dumps disrupt the narrative flow. However, these flaws aren’t significant enough to ruin the overall story. At worst, they are just the weakest aspects of an otherwise strong narrative. Ultimately, these issues are unlikely to bother fans, and newcomers to the series will likely overlook them.
Inherited Truth
Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity was not only the second game in the Infinity series but also its best entry. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest visual novels of the 2000s. This remaster gives both old-school and new gamers the chance to experience this classic.
The remaster offers fans the opportunity to experience Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity once again or for the first time. Players can dive into the second game in the Infinity series and enjoy its emotionally driven narrative, enhanced by sci-fi elements. The game also boasts improved gameplay mechanics and visuals, elevating the overall experience.
Disclaimer: The publisher through a PR representative provided the game used for this review.
This review is the critique and thoughts of one writer. If you want to see how other critics felt then check it out on OpenCritic.
8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides insight into the gamer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Ever 17 - The Out of Infinity (PC)
9
Pros
- Fans get to play the second game in the Infinity series.
- Romance and emotionally driven narrative with sci-fi elements.
- Improved gameplay mechanics allow you to revisit previous choices.
- Visual improvements while keeping its nostalgic charm.
Cons
- Some of the narrative shortcomings that plagued the original game.
Stan Rezaee
Stan Rezaee is the founder and Editor of 8Bit/Digi. He is a journalist and gamer from the Bay Area who has been writing about the medium for over five years.
