Originally developed by the same studio that brought the Pepsiman game into existence, Never 7: The End of Infinity is actually the first entry in the Infinity series of visual novels. Written by Kotaro Uchikoshi, who would eventually go on to create the Zero Escape series, Never 7 follows a college student on a mandatory island retreat and the various social activities he engages in.
It’s wise not to expect any extreme stakes here. This is an old visual novel with a large emphasis on its romantic content. While there is a healthy dose of sci-fi elements thrown in, the characters and their interactions with Makoto, the main protagonist, are the primary focus.
A Slow Start
While there isn’t anything inherently wrong with a story lacking an obvious hook, Never 7 takes too long to gain momentum. This is somewhat made up for by the fact that there are a lot of choices to make compared to the average visual novel, making for a more interactive experience. However, this choice-heavy structure could partially be the cause of the pacing issues.
To elaborate, Never 7 features a common route that eventually branches into individual character routes. Your choices in the common route will determine which character Makoto becomes romantically involved with. It’s not quite a dating sim, but the story largely consists of mundane activities that give Makoto a chance to increase his affinity with a girl.
Instead of constructing a careful narrative flow, Never 7 often meanders with stagnant slice-of-life antics. However, that’s not to say that it can’t be relaxing to read. The seemingly low stakes can make for a calming experience. It’s also enjoyable without a guide thanks to a healthy number of save slots.
Heavy on Romance, Light on Sci-fi
Fortunately, Never 7‘s cast of characters are mostly endearing. From the energetic but often drunk Yuka to the kind but somewhat mysterious Izumi, there is likely at least someone to be fond of here. Each individual route isn’t very long, so it’s worth giving others a shot if one doesn’t happen to work for you.
Most of the cast don’t have particularly complex struggles to deal with. The character arcs tend to be somewhat simplistic, although this could be potentially seen as a strength. If you happen to like fluffy romance, there’s a decent chance you’ll have a great time with Never 7.
Of course, there are obstacles in the way of Makoto having a smooth relationship with a given character. Some of them happen to definitely be more interesting than others. This is to be expected, but with how long it takes to get to the actual meat of the routes, I wish the bar was higher.
Never 7 Shows Its Age
Never 7 isn’t exactly the prettiest-looking visual novel out there. Some of that can be excused by the fact that it’s approximately 25 years old. Despite that, everything looks somewhat awkward on a modern display. Maybe it’s some weird upscaling, as elements like the background art don’t seem to hold up very well.
However, the art style presents an undeniable old-school charm. Without having even read it before, there was a definite sense of nostalgia throughout. Couple that with the pleasant soundtrack, and it’s hard to hate the package here. Obviously, it’s nowhere near as gorgeous as something such as Witch on the Holy Night, but not everything has to be.
Besides that, Never 7 contains something of a melancholic appeal. The tone feels quite reflective, even if the subject matter is often shallow. This sense that not everything was as it seemed ultimately made me want to read more. I can’t say the payoff has been fantastic, but I appreciate the cozy vibes.
Never 7 Is a Bit Too Niche for Its Own Good
If you’re looking for a somewhat relaxing reading experience with an older anime aesthetic, Never 7: The End of Infinity should provide that for you. Outside of the bad endings, the story never gets too sad, dark, or challenging with its subject matter. The prose isn’t exactly exquisite either, but I also wasn’t expecting it to be.
Otherwise, it is a little difficult to recommend Never 7 to anyone who isn’t already a devoted visual novel fan. While it’s nowhere near an offensively terrible experience, it lacks the substance required to make it stand out. Almost every aspect of Never 7 has been done better elsewhere, so there isn’t much appeal outside of historical curiosity.
Never 7: The End of Infinity lays the groundwork for the rest of the Infinity series. Its sci-fi concepts are better explored in its follow-up, Ever 17, which is simultaneously receiving a remaster. Never 7: The End of Infinity will be available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam on March 6.
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Disclaimer: Spike Chunsoft provided Final Weapon with a copy of Never 7: The End of Infinity for review purposes.
