Say it in Red | Episode 38: Ever17

Don't we all need a vacation sometime? Isn't now the perfect moment to take a week off, get away from our busy lives, and go deep down beneath the surface of the ocean? Isn't is relaxing to spend time, trapped in a collapsing underwater amusement park, eating fried tuna and harboring mysterious 4th-dimensional beings in the back of our consciousness? LeMu vacation packages are now available, and don't worry - despite the imminent collapse of the facility, you'll have plenty of time to unwind.

Note: Please check this week's content warnings at the end of this description.

This week, Sara and Runa dive deep underwater and hang out in a subaquatic theme park in one of Uchikoshi's previous works, Ever17: The Out of Infinity (2002). in May of 2017, a group of strangers all become trapped within the deep sea amusement park LeMu as an unknown disaster causes catastrophic pressure leaks and widespread system failures. Despite their dire circumstances, the park's geothermal generators remain online and the system's AI is able to keep everything running smoothly for now. In seven days, the entire facility will collapse to the ocean floor... but until then, they've got plenty of time to play around this abandoned amusement park. Naturally, the threat of not one but two mysterious viruses is a slight cause for concern. There's also the matter of the suspicious pharmaceutical corporation that funds the theme park, as well as its top secret ocean floor research laboratory titled "HIMMEL" or Heaven, but really it's not too bad! We've got seven whole days! Surely, someone will rescue us  in that time. Surely, nothing bad will happen before then. Surely, we won't intentionally lure an extra-dimensional entity who is capable of hopping between perspectives and influencing the people he attaches to.

Ever17 is, in some ways, a traditional dating sim that allows you to choose between one of two protagonists (Takeshi and The Kid/Shonen) and it utilizes a simple point-based affection system to determine your route and ending. The trappings of a dating sim conceal an intricate puzzle box, however, and by the end you'll be hopping back and forth between characters rapidly, trying to discover the truth behind The Kid's missing memories, figuring out what year it really is, and learning why there's always still one life sign remaining in the facility even after everyone has seemingly evacuated. Ever17's themes, structure, and plot elements also connect to the most recent Uchikoshi work we've covered - AI: Nirvana Initiative, so we recommend listeners check that out before listening to this episode as well!

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Content Warnings for this Episode:

Discussions of Sexual Assault, Victim Blaming, Sexual Violence, Coercion: 00:53:30 to 1:03:00

Major Spoilers for the game Remember11: 02:50:45 to 02:35:15