PSA: Quick explanation for anyone unaware of this game's release history.

[NotAfan]

Since this is bound to confuse people who never played the original and may not understand the inevitable threads criticizing or demanding this or that, and the store page makes a point to not clear it up, here's a quick attempt to explain this game's release history and what you'll be buying:

- Ever17 - The Out of Infinity was a visual novel developed by KID, originally released in 2002 for PC, Dreamcast and PS2. It got an official, albeit subpar, localization in 2005 by Hirameki Translations for PC. The story was mainly written by Kotaro Uchikoshi, but it also had contributions from Takumi Nakazawa (who was also the director), Kitarou Sasanari and Nobuaki Umeda.
- The VN is part of the Infinity Series, which is a trilogy consisting of Never7 - The End of Infinity, Ever 17 - The Out of Infinity, Remember11 - The Age of Infinity. They share the same setting, but are otherwise self-contained. Never7 and Remember11 never got official localizations. Never7 is getting re-released as well, no word on Remember11 for now.
- In 2006, KID went bankrupt and its IPs changed hands multiple times over the years, eventually landing on 5pb. which would become MAGES. The trilogy had a re-release for the PSP, but those were never localized.
- In 2011, 5pb (before being called MAGES) developed a remake for Ever17, dropping the sub title "The Out of Infinity", for the XBOX 360. Despite maintaining some chunks of the original script and reusing a lot of the original art for CGs, it featured a significantly revised and expanded script written by Yamada Shichirou, and there was no input from the original staff. It also featured 3D character sprites and a revamped soundtrack by the same composer, Takeshi ♥♥♥. It was never officially localized for the West.

The version of the game MAGES is re-releasing now is the XBOX 360 one, without the 3D sprites and localized for the first time. I don't know if the expanded script is good as I don't know Japanese, will be finding out with the rest of you.
Answering questions that I'm sure will be asked frequently:

- No, there seems to be no plans of re-releasing the original version, Japanese or English. The only way to legally acquire that one in English is looking for used copies of Hirameki's physical release.
- No, Never7 never had a remake, so that one is a straight up rerelease from the original.
- Yes, going from screenshots, the original CGs seem to be cropped, because the game was originally 4:3 and subsequent re-releases/remakes zoomed and cropped them for 16:9 aspect ratio.
- No, there will be no 18+ patch because the game never featured explicit adult content to begin with, both in its original release and this one.

EDIT: for some reason, Steam's language filter is flaggin Takeshi A.B,O's name as a dirty word, hence why I just typed it like this.

[Geist]

I hope it at least has the original soundtrack.

[kilicool64]

Originally posted by Geist:

I hope it at least has the original soundtrack.

No, this review confirms that it's using the remixed soundtrack from the remake: https://www.kirikiribasara.com/2025/02/25/ever17-review-a-new-perspective-on-a-sci-fi-classic/

At least I'd expect replacing that to be a fairly easy effort.

[NotAfan]

Originally posted by Geist:

I hope it at least has the original soundtrack.

The remixed soundtrack is done by the original composer at least, so your mileage may vary on wether you enjoy it or not.
I personaly really like the remixed rendition of Karma and the new opening song.

[katsub]

thanks for the info

[Geist]

I think I will wait it out or skip. Don't want to ruin the memory I have of the original.

[Polysorbate]

I already played the original and it'll continue to be available to anyone who wants it in the usual ways. I think I'll give this a shot even if it's not entirely faithful to the original. It's 2025, we have to be grateful they didn't randomly make any characters gay/trans/etc.

Originally posted by NotAfan:

Takeshi ♥♥♥

Imagine finding out whiteoids declared your name to be a slur lmao