saikoroshi was surprisingly good! the epilogue to higurashi you didn't know you wanted, even though it trampled on matsuribayashi's perfect ending just a bit.
hirukowashi was ok. i have nothing to really say about it, although i guess i have to play higurashi daybreak now.
batsukoishi? ew, gross, vile, disgusting. actual affront to humanity.
ratings: saikoroshi 9/10, hirukowashi 7/10, batsukoishi 1/10
hirukowashi was ok. i have nothing to really say about it, although i guess i have to play higurashi daybreak now.
batsukoishi? ew, gross, vile, disgusting. actual affront to humanity.
ratings: saikoroshi 9/10, hirukowashi 7/10, batsukoishi 1/10
This review contains spoilers
Rei is a very conflicting collection of works for me. On one hand it definitely has its place with adding onto the main story in one particular key way but on the other hand...well, you're about to find out.
Saikoroshi
This is the high point of the bonus collection and honestly the only scenario I'd feel fully comfortable recommending to people. While I was absolutely crushed to see the scenario play out at first (as I'm sure was the intention) to the point where I didn't want to consider this scenario fully canon, I grew to learn what it was teaching and its merits as an epilogue to the series. In my opinion, it really helps Rika's character reach that much more a satisfying conclusion. It also helps flesh out Hanyuu's intentions more. Definitely a great read, even if it makes the perfect ending that Matsuribayashi had stumble a bit.
Batsukoishi
What the fuck. No. No. No. What the fuck is this. I don't like this. I NEVER liked this even in the main chapters but at least I could put up with it because it was mixed in with some of the greatest storytelling ever but this is just that shit turned up to max degeneracy. I know the intro said SPECIFICALLY that it would be that way COME ON THIS HAS GOTTA BE THE MOST CGs to a single chapter. God dammit. KYS KYS KYS.
A critic must suffer for their art I guess /j.
Hirokuwashi
Note that I have only played the PC version and am planning on playing the console version at a later date. I've been told they're really different but they can't be THAT different, right? (clueless)
Anyways, Hirokuwashi PC wasn't terrible. I just found myself really bored by it for some reason, even though it contained the same hype moments such as a cool majong game like from Himatsubushi. I mean hey we got bisexuality but at the cost of Rena going after 3 adults. Yikes. At least it's not Batsukoishi levels of bad but that's a low fucking bar to clear.
Maybe I also didn't care for this mini-chapter for that specific reason. I'm too attached to Rena as a character at this point to put up with any bullshit that happens to her. ESPECIALLY if it means toying with her emotions. That also meant leaving more of a bitter taste in my mouth when it came to Tomitake, Takano and Ooishi as characters. Come on guys.
But, the end was very cute and honestly quite sobering. Keiichi's oblivion to Rena's feelings took me back to my days in high school where I would just reject in hindsight QUITE OBVIOUS clues that some girl liked me due to my low ass self-esteem and lack of social skills. That still frustrates me but hey I'm dating the girl of my dreams now so it all worked out. I just hope it works out for those friends too.
Anyways TL;DR read Saikoroshi if you weren't quite satisfied by Matsuribayashi, AVOID BATSUKOISHI AT ALL COSTS, and maybe read Hirokuwashi if you're bored. At least read it with 07th mod to get a cool ass anime intro. They made TWO DIFFERENT ONES for both version, how.
Saikoroshi
This is the high point of the bonus collection and honestly the only scenario I'd feel fully comfortable recommending to people. While I was absolutely crushed to see the scenario play out at first (as I'm sure was the intention) to the point where I didn't want to consider this scenario fully canon, I grew to learn what it was teaching and its merits as an epilogue to the series. In my opinion, it really helps Rika's character reach that much more a satisfying conclusion. It also helps flesh out Hanyuu's intentions more. Definitely a great read, even if it makes the perfect ending that Matsuribayashi had stumble a bit.
Batsukoishi
What the fuck. No. No. No. What the fuck is this. I don't like this. I NEVER liked this even in the main chapters but at least I could put up with it because it was mixed in with some of the greatest storytelling ever but this is just that shit turned up to max degeneracy. I know the intro said SPECIFICALLY that it would be that way COME ON THIS HAS GOTTA BE THE MOST CGs to a single chapter. God dammit. KYS KYS KYS.
A critic must suffer for their art I guess /j.
Hirokuwashi
Note that I have only played the PC version and am planning on playing the console version at a later date. I've been told they're really different but they can't be THAT different, right? (clueless)
Anyways, Hirokuwashi PC wasn't terrible. I just found myself really bored by it for some reason, even though it contained the same hype moments such as a cool majong game like from Himatsubushi. I mean hey we got bisexuality but at the cost of Rena going after 3 adults. Yikes. At least it's not Batsukoishi levels of bad but that's a low fucking bar to clear.
Maybe I also didn't care for this mini-chapter for that specific reason. I'm too attached to Rena as a character at this point to put up with any bullshit that happens to her. ESPECIALLY if it means toying with her emotions. That also meant leaving more of a bitter taste in my mouth when it came to Tomitake, Takano and Ooishi as characters. Come on guys.
But, the end was very cute and honestly quite sobering. Keiichi's oblivion to Rena's feelings took me back to my days in high school where I would just reject in hindsight QUITE OBVIOUS clues that some girl liked me due to my low ass self-esteem and lack of social skills. That still frustrates me but hey I'm dating the girl of my dreams now so it all worked out. I just hope it works out for those friends too.
Anyways TL;DR read Saikoroshi if you weren't quite satisfied by Matsuribayashi, AVOID BATSUKOISHI AT ALL COSTS, and maybe read Hirokuwashi if you're bored. At least read it with 07th mod to get a cool ass anime intro. They made TWO DIFFERENT ONES for both version, how.
saikoroshi got me like https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1122340126308192298/1158001332544868352/w.gif
You know a story is good when you read the worst fucking translation of it and walk out of it incredibly moved and wowed, ANYWAY THAT WAS REI FOR ME(Saikoroshi specifically lets not talk about the other chapters as they sure do infact exist!). The recontextualization of rikas character as well as the exploration of how trauma can affect ones self of coupled with its exploration of sin and a beautifully balanced exploration of struggling and acceptance this story offers and in addition to this ALL OF THESE THINGS tying into each other in typical ryukishi fashion make this easily one of the best higurashi chapters EVER (for me, idc if you hate it lol).
PLEASE READ SAIKOROSHI GOU RIKA MAKES A BIT MORE SENSE AND IF YOU DO AND IT JUST HAS SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR ANYONE WHO COULD EMPATHISE WITH HIGURASHI AS A STORY BUT SAW IT AS AN UNACHIEVABLE IDEAL THANK YOU RYUKISHI YOU RULE
PLEASE READ SAIKOROSHI GOU RIKA MAKES A BIT MORE SENSE AND IF YOU DO AND IT JUST HAS SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR ANYONE WHO COULD EMPATHISE WITH HIGURASHI AS A STORY BUT SAW IT AS AN UNACHIEVABLE IDEAL THANK YOU RYUKISHI YOU RULE
lo único que vale la pena es la historia de Rika la cual se me hizo bastante interesante y un mejor final para Higurashi, mejor comparado a lo que hubo en el question arc (además de que creo que tiene alguna conexión con Umineko)
sobre los dos arcos extras pues no te esperes algo de la calidad de los arcos de consolas, estos dos arcos fue como si le dijeran a un random que hace fanfics "oye, escríbeme dos mini historias que no tenga nada que ver con higurashi, pero que tenga fanservice que nosotros solo le pondremos por encima los sprites para meterlos en Rei, que el fanservice siempre vende". al menos la historia de Rena fue más o menos éntrete, pero la de Keishi terminé dropeandolo... y tal vez si eres de esos que se ofenden por el lolicon entonces no te recomiendo leerlo, ya que podrías considerar el humor como "apología a ser "pedro", aunque fue agradable a la vista ver esas CG (?
sobre los dos arcos extras pues no te esperes algo de la calidad de los arcos de consolas, estos dos arcos fue como si le dijeran a un random que hace fanfics "oye, escríbeme dos mini historias que no tenga nada que ver con higurashi, pero que tenga fanservice que nosotros solo le pondremos por encima los sprites para meterlos en Rei, que el fanservice siempre vende". al menos la historia de Rena fue más o menos éntrete, pero la de Keishi terminé dropeandolo... y tal vez si eres de esos que se ofenden por el lolicon entonces no te recomiendo leerlo, ya que podrías considerar el humor como "apología a ser "pedro", aunque fue agradable a la vista ver esas CG (?
Following the consensus of the rest of the reviews here:
Saikoroshi is worthwhile and presents a scenario that modifies some fundamental facts about the setting and does cool thematic things with that.
Hirukowashi feels like a breather episode in a 90s anime like Tenchi Muyo or something.
Batsukoishi is a distillate of everything about the slice of life scenes in these games that made me wanna pull my own eyes out. I closed the program once I realized that making a conscious decision to hit eject early would be more satisfying than seeing wherever this shit was going.
Saikoroshi is worthwhile and presents a scenario that modifies some fundamental facts about the setting and does cool thematic things with that.
Hirukowashi feels like a breather episode in a 90s anime like Tenchi Muyo or something.
Batsukoishi is a distillate of everything about the slice of life scenes in these games that made me wanna pull my own eyes out. I closed the program once I realized that making a conscious decision to hit eject early would be more satisfying than seeing wherever this shit was going.
This review contains spoilers
Truly the bridge between OG Higurashi and Umineko... A must read for fans, vastly better than the OVA that skipped out on all the expanded lore.
Edit: Do NOT skip the excellent Rena chapter, ignore the speed readers. It has some fan service but it's no worse than the main chapters, and skipping it will mean missing a great scene towards the end revolving Rena and how she influences everyone to always try their best.
Edit: Do NOT skip the excellent Rena chapter, ignore the speed readers. It has some fan service but it's no worse than the main chapters, and skipping it will mean missing a great scene towards the end revolving Rena and how she influences everyone to always try their best.
tl;dr read saikoroshi-hen and then immediately stop and go do something else with your time. i played with 07th-mod installed.
saikoroshi-hen: extremely compelling scenario to act as an epilogue to higurashi. not sure i really liked how quickly the last quarter of the story played out nor how it plays out, but it does introduce some new lore (both for higurashi and umineko) and poke at some "what ifs?" well enough that i'll let it pass. strong 7/10
hirukowashi-hen: rena swallows some magic rocks. hilarity ensues. -10 points for pedophilia and Evil Lesbian™ trope (at least conjoined with one another). 0/10
batsukoishi-hen: three grown men encourage a minor to sexually harass his female friends and teacher; said female friends sexually harass him back in the second half. hilarity ensures. -20 points for pedophilia and having to make me look at those renders. -10/10
all-star cast review / staff room: pretty neat insight onto umineko's development. not worth having to endure the two arcs before it, however.
saikoroshi-hen: extremely compelling scenario to act as an epilogue to higurashi. not sure i really liked how quickly the last quarter of the story played out nor how it plays out, but it does introduce some new lore (both for higurashi and umineko) and poke at some "what ifs?" well enough that i'll let it pass. strong 7/10
hirukowashi-hen: rena swallows some magic rocks. hilarity ensues. -10 points for pedophilia and Evil Lesbian™ trope (at least conjoined with one another). 0/10
batsukoishi-hen: three grown men encourage a minor to sexually harass his female friends and teacher; said female friends sexually harass him back in the second half. hilarity ensures. -20 points for pedophilia and having to make me look at those renders. -10/10
all-star cast review / staff room: pretty neat insight onto umineko's development. not worth having to endure the two arcs before it, however.