Code_18

About Code_18

As with the rest of the Infinity series, Code_18 is a visual novel in which the player makes progress through the linear story by talking to characters and listening to dialogue. Disposing of the escape scenarios of earlier Infinity games, the core gameplay features the player character Hayato Hino exploring his school environment and interacting with five female characters with whom he can develop relationships. The state of Hayato's romantic relationships, together with choices made during the story, can alter the flow of events to a degree; some options can trigger alternative bad endings for characters, and the game's full ending is altered depending on whom Hayato has formed a romantic relationship with.

In Code_18, the player takes the role of Hayato Hino, a high school student at Ryuusei Academy in Tokyo, and a member of the school's Second Science Club. Among other characters are Hikari Haruna, a friend of Hayato's, who often visits the club despite not being a member; Tamaki Tatekawa, a wealthy girl with otaku hobbies; Yuzu Soraki, a tomboy who is an acquaintance of Hayato's; Nanari Torikura, a quiet girl who often reads alone; Arika Tokitou, who appears to dislike Hayato.

The game opens on September 11, 2018. When Hayato is about to test his "Dragon Unit" flight pack on the school's roof, a girl falls from the sky, wearing a similar device. He tries to save her, but falls to his death; after this, he is transported back in time without any memory of the event, and manages to save her. Her name turns out to be Arika Tokitou. Ryuusei Academy and the Second Science Club prepare for a school festival that is scheduled for a month later, when Hayato's science professor, Genkuro Kanbara, gives him a smartphone chip composed of an "Agastia Stone", which theoretically would allow him to receive voice messages from the future. He installs it and does receive messages from the future, but is unable to tell what they are saying.

At one point, due to an accident with the Dragon Unit, Hayato's house blows up, forcing him to sleep in the science clubroom. He and the rest of the club decide that for the festival, they should put on a live performance for Hikari. During the month, Hayato and Hikari get closer, and he moves in with her. He helps her overcome issues with self-confidence and to succeed at the live performance, and they become a couple. At the end of the festival, time moves backwards to September 11 again; the same month loops several times, with Hayato being unaware of it and having no memory of past loops. During each loop, he gets closely involved with one of the game's female characters, helps them with the festival, and with resolving their personal problems. While Arika is distant at first, she starts to lighten up to Hayato the more loops he goes through.