Another insane chapter, consitent highs some amazing writing throughout and is able to continually introduce new characters without it becoming overwhelming and have them all fit in quite nicely. It's also able to grow and develop the main cast in great ways even when they have minimal interaction with the plot eg Beato

Now for whatever random ass thoughts I come up with:

Erika is simutansley a character I really love because shes very funny, but also I hate her with my whole being she is a being of evil and she deserves the worst in life, which I guess she got during the ending anyway tbf. Also Bern is messed up, like if my theory that isn't really a theory because there isn't really any other explanation that she's Rika because she clearly is, what happend to her man... Rika was like a bit insane sure but like this is just evil on another level, also the witches are confirmed Lesbians, Lets go Lesbians! I still hate them both though they are EVIL and they are too cruel to my man Battler he don't deserve this. (or doesss hee.?>?>??> wowoowo idk yet I guess)

Battler is amazing in this Episode, and his relationship with Beato is very sweet, and the ??? with Battler and Beato was amazing no matter how short it was. And there relationship going the way it is was defintley not something I anticipated when I started Umineko, esp with Ch2 and such but like it just works better that it has any right to. My main question now is if Battler will be able to through with killing her, I feel he prob can but I'll see I'm not confident rigth now.

Battler becoming a witch in the ??? was crazy too I still don't know what Gold Truth is though if I'm being truthful, I have a rough idea but I could not explain it to you if you asked.

Music was as always very very good, so is the VA just amazing performances all round.

Cool seeing a focus on Natsuhi again after Ch1 Shes a very interesting character and the way you perceive this episode defintley showcases alot about her, and the ending is so sad because Erika you didn't need to do all that...

Also Erika Furude is like come on, Bern she has a 1 letter dif from Rika like messed up, she got lazy.

Also the chapter made me cry again, which is the second time Umineko has been able do that, I teared up a bit during the ending of the Main Episode but during the ??? I actually full on cried.

Overall another amazing chapter that I feel doesn't have the highest highs of Umineko, I think Ep4 still has the best moments so far, but Ep5 is so consitently amazing and well written that it deserves 5 stars, because there was never a point in the pacing where I felt we focused too much on one story, I thought the pacing here was actually incredible especially compared to Ep4.

Also Higurashi Spoilers for a little while as a bonus to my review:
I 100% agree that Higurashi should be read before Umineko, because it doesn't tie fully into the plot and it's even treated as both a book and a VN to the characters, but Umineko defintely uses ideas and concepts from Higurashi quite well, like all the mentions of miracles for example is talked about semi frequently in Umineko and the ideas behind that are explained in Higurashi quite well and what it takes for it to happen and the ideas that game holds and shares. Also fragments kinda feel like something that isn't explained very well in Uminkeo but it's done perfectlly if you've read Higurashi. I feel even if you hadn't read Higurashi you'd figure it out relativly quickly what they meant but it kinda doesn't go into much detail. And finally my main thought about this, is Bern. In some ways I feel it's very sad to read Higurashi then go to Umineko just because I can see what's become of Rika, like maybe she did get to live out a happy life sure in Hinamizawa until like she died or whatever but seeing her basically become Takano is kinda sad. I hope she has some sort of redemption becuase she is so god damm cruel and mean it's unreal. Anyway random rambling over

anway Umineko so far is amazing and I'm not good enough to sum up my thoughts in a way that people would like to read but oh well. it's actually one of my favourite stories ever and I've not even finished it yet, so I don't know if that says more about me or the game(book)(whatever)

I wish I could give this 5 stars but I kinda had my issues with the first half, it wasn't bad but the pacing was kinda horrible, Anges start was kinda slow and I wasn't too interested and the stuff on Rokenjima was kinda more treading over the same ground that was already done in previous episodes, and there was barely any Battler Beatrice stuff so all sides of the story were kinda just feeling slow and not too interesting for me.

The second half of the Episode, I'm not too sure when I'd say it happened but with Anges story it really started to interest me around when she summoned Mammon and her story very much began to take form, it defintely adds a lot of new mysteries to be solved but the best moment was very much Ange on the Rokenjima with Kasumi and the scene with Marias book was honestly heartbreaking, I actually cried during that scene (the fact it was 3am might've also helped, but it was a very sad scene) especialliy the reveal of Marias uu ing because god damm that destroyed me. The ending with Battler and Ange was great too.

The stuff on Rokenjima was interesting but honestly it wasn't until after George and Jessica were killed that it became like 10/10 it was still good before then but it just didn't feel right, I don't really know how to explain that but like Gaap and Ronove being so easily beat just felt wrong and I mean it's on the player if they decided to trust the game again and I wasn't wrong. The prisoner group escaping was a fun scene and the stupid loser flag bit was very funny, also those rabbit girls are very clearly Marias chess pieces that Rosa broke the 4th one, I don't know what implications this really is going to have other than I guess they're Marias furniture? or magic is all toys? very much a focus on like Childhood and innocene here with magic and Beatos only friend in the golden land being Maria reinforces that, Beato defintley does seem to be kinda stuck in a child like kinda way? idk how to put it but that's my theory for now.

Battler and Beatrice don't really interact much this chapter, blue truth is very interesting but I kinda felt it was introduced super early and then since there's no arguing during the game itself it's just kinda pushed away until the very end of the game in the tea party basically, I feel if maybe it was used a bit in the game it could've been better maybe? but idk not like I forgot what it was I just thought it was odd how little it was used I guess? idk. Tea Party was crazy, with like the real ending being hidden away there, nuts, the bit with Battler alone on the island was really cool and then the game with Battler and Beato at the end was great and it was nice to see what actually appeared to be genuine feelings from Beato even if they were all just being thunk, but she very much seemed like she wanted to die with the intentional provking of Battler, the ignoring the fact the some of the blue was just factually wrong due to the red (as pointed out in the ??? anyway but still) but right now I very much believe she just wants to die, she still confuses me but it feels like Beato is being forced in some way or something akin to that, I can't say for sure but alot of lines kinda make it feel that way, idk if it's lambdatletla(I have ZERO clue how to spell her name) but that would make sense, the punishment game mentioned in the ??? as well seem to point to something like that too. The final scene of Battler and Beatrice was sweet but I still don't trust it, I get Beatrice want's to die, so she lays her heart bare, whatever that means here and the mystery is Battlers own death but I don't fully understand it all tbh, I guess for now I'll interpret it as it seems but I have doubts. also the bombs in the food !! (sucked that I got spoiled on that amazing theory but oh well)

Lots of cool reveals and information and twist and turns etc that I don't have the writing skills or brain to fully write and comprehend in a way that anyone else would care about, which is fine though tbh. A amazing chapter that I feel has ass pacing which kinda ruins the first half but the second half was so good I feel it mostly makes up for it. Very very excited for the Answers arc.
(also uuhhh, Music was insanely good as always, they used some Higurashi SFX which they hadn't before like the phasor lots of cool stuff here, and I played with Umineko project too btw)

Starters, this was INSANE what a chapter, I was already blown away with Chapter 1 & 2 I thought they were really good, I was thinking it'd get better but it wouldn't ever get THIS good like I hoenstly lack words to descrive how I feel, I hoenstly felt every emotion reading this chapter so much crazy shit happens and it all works and makes sense and I love it all and just so much godd damm stuff happening here it's made me go crazy.

I'll try and write a proper rough review, but I mean all my reviews for the WTC games so far are more just me writing my rough thoughts with no real like analysis etc which I mean is fine by me, so expect more rambiling until I perish.

I don't even know where to start with my review here, I'll be honest the first few bit of the game kinda boored me, not much was happening the stuff with Battler and Beatrice was amazing but the actual stuff on the island just kinda felt really boaring and a retread of stuff we've already seen in Ch1 & 2 and with the actual Island I'd say it didn't get good until Eva found the treasure then stuff started to interest me. But the other story happening with Beatrice and Battler was really intersting me but I've got alot of thoughts about that so I guess I'll get there in a second. Anyway, despite focus on Eva at the start I was kinda iffy on her still, but as the plot has gone on here I started to like her more, might sound odd but seeing that she actually honestly cares and loves her family (immeadte, as in husband and George) but like it was nice to see that she actually cared, becasue on first impression and Ep1 I was kinda thinking that she would just hate them but it was nice to be proven wrong. I have zero theroies with Eva witch tbh, and if I'm being honest I have very few theories at this point, when reading Higurashi I was able to come up with a few theories that ultimatlley held some weight by the end, but in Umineko I've got nothing I'm still lost in terms of figuring shit out by myself... I guess Higurashi was just more based in reality and therefore easier to try and theorise, but like I don't know shit about witches, and like they have to be real theres no way they aren't right? like I know Battler closed his ears as Beato explained stuff and that suggests that maybe they aren't? but I don't knowww my brain melts but like they have to be, like there is no rational explanation for half the shit in this chapter. anyhow sidetracked, uhh island stuff was cool though boring at start got pretty hooked once the stories got interwined, brings up loads of questions that I don't have too much to say on right now, just overall crazy good, defintley made me like the main cast a whole lot more.

Now, Beato and Battler stuff is where it gets all crazy, after reading all this stuff I can't trust Beato ever again bro what the fuck was that!! I was fully in belief that she was trying to change, and I guess I still kinda too since I mean she seemed somewhat conflicted in the very end witth like the way her sprite was looking but like maybe that wasn't meant to mean anything?? idk maybe it was still a trick?? I have NOCLUUE, and in the ??? with Lankas(whatevertherestofhernameis) is like blackmailing/ forcing/ using / idk???? Beato to win and and like my brain can't take it it's all too much. It was so nice to see them getting along in the end theres so many cool moment s here and then it was all a lie? or like I have no clue, I don't even know what to feel. Like I suppose Beatos whole change maybe came about quite quickly? and like suggests she was faking? or like I just... I don't even know what's genuine or not at this point, Battlers got it rough man... I can only have full trust in him, and I really hope that him and Beatrice can like get along but I really doubt it now, it just aint happening, but I guess with how it was looking there couldn't of been any more games between the two of them if they got along properly? so it makes sense because they wern't just going to like remove Beato as the villain (?) like 3 episodes/games in. I apoligse for anyone who decicded to read this because this is such a mess but my mind is in pieces... I actually was tearing up near the end with the stuff with Beatrice and her changing and all that and then the ending just like destroyed me I was acutally like going crazy, but I mean my own fault for trusting R07 tbh.

I apoligse for this mess of a "review" but my brain is in pieces and the only cure is clearly to go read more Umineko I'm sure... but still this is honestly one of the most well written things I've read recentely, I am completley hooked one everything happening, like I just need to see how the stuff with Battler and Beatrice plays out. and just everything, so much stuff I didn't even mention here but honestly reading this made me foreget that there are 5 more episodes to read and like this episodes felt like it in itself could've been the finale. and as always gotta say the VA work done here is insanely good, everyone does such a great performance, like i'd be fine reading without it but holy shit it really increases the quality like it still would been a insanely good chapter without it but the VA work pushes into being even better somehow. Also music is insane here too! just a overall crazy good chapter that I'm not good enough at writing to say, and I missed out so much stuff I could've said etc, overall a crazy chapter with so many twists and turns and character growth and nongrowth because whatever the hell happend and the ending and I have gone insane because Umineko is actaully peak ficition, I can't believe the people were this right

Another amazing chapter, Ch1 was better in my eyes, but the highs here are much higher than Ch1 and perhaps WTC as a whole up to this point.

The scenes between Battler and Beatrice in the (mind dungeon? thing?) are sooo good and well written, the back and forth they have is amazing, the VA work is incredible, the way Beatrices VA shouts Batleeeeeeeeeer is iconic.

Battler and Beatrice relationship so far is very strange and is what I'm most curious about. She even tells him to call her Beato which is a sign of respect? I don't even know and then she makes him furniture? it's all so crazy, but their chemistry is nutss, Though I have zero clue how the werid time prison they're in works. Is the Battler there the same from Ep1? sure seems likes it, so is there 2 Battlers, one from Ep1 and then the Ep2 Battler? I guess I'll see but idk. Also I cannot get over the fact that the tea party comes of initally as a afterparty just like Higurashi but then it's actually canon and kinda like vital to the plot?? especially here, Battler coming back in the tea party is amazing, it's just a shame he asks Maria to ask him to eat her out like what the fuck man... I loved you, Battler you're such a good protag why must you say these things!!!

Anyway Battler & Beatrice are amazing characters and I'm very invested in them and just need to see more of them. I could talk about other characters but I won't get sidetracked. This review will stay shortish. So finish here!

Overall writing is crazy good and I love all of Beatrices and Battlers interactions, I got loads of questions and my theorys don't be makin sense, so hyped to read the rest. BUT uhh Isn't Battler not believing in magic and the such just like wrong? like bro is in some sort of time chamber?? and like the red text? I mean does Battler believe in magic just not accept Beatrice? IDK man... it crazy. Adore this episode though!!

Spoilers for all of Higurashi as well!!!

Played with Umineko Project.

I beat all of Higurashi to get here (and Higurashi is peak tbh go play it if you haven't!!!) and so far... very well worth it.

Maybe a bit too high of a rating I'll admit, espeically considering how slow the start is and how alot is kinda setting up everything, but god it's done so well I just have to. So read my messy review where I'll touch on stuff I liked!

First of all, the intro is kinda slow and it defintley takes a while for the plot to start moving, but when it does it really gets moving. But till I talk about that, I think the intro does a good job at introducing us to the whole cast, and theres lots of characters but the story doesn't overwhelm you it pretty slowly introduces you to them I feel, and that allows you to get a general feel of them and not have them be just overshadowed instantly, which I felt was done really well in that throughout the game all characters had time in the spotlight and not just cast aside (unless they were you know dead of course...) which in comparison to Higurashi Chapter 1 alot of the central cast for the series are ignored there, with it only really focusing on 3 or so characters and even then only really 2, but here in Umineko it has 18 characters and they all get enough time for you to actually remember them to a degree, which in a VN of this length and a cast this big is very impressive.

I wont talk about every character, so instead I'll only really talk about 2 that stood out the most to me, first is Natsuhi, she starts off defintley being the main family member I cared the least about, especially with how mean she is towards the servants, and she kinda stays uninteresting only living in her husbands shadow and then once he dies she really becomes a more indepent character and I start to really like her. I loved seeing her take control and actually become more independant, especially near the end of the game, it was really sweet seeing her doing her best to protect Jessica even as misguided as she was her development was very noticable and I do hope she is able to become more independant in later chapters even if husband is still alive. Finally Battler, the man himself. In the intro he caught my attention because it's always nice to see a flawed protaginst, and it's a bold choice to have the protag first inroduction be screaming and terrifired of boats + planes , and he just continues to get more intersting after that too. Before I say some great scenes he has.... he is sadly infected with a bit of generic anime pervet trope, which oddly enough he still has like not complete pervet? like Idk what the hell his reasoning is with Shannon in that one scene but like you do that Battler, because like ?. Also Jessica is your cousin you freak. Anyway battler is the GOAT, after the inital deaths he goes from pretty cool guy to amazing character that instantly becomes one of my favourites just ever maybe? like he gets really cool, I love how he takes on the chessboard thinking approach used by Kyrie, I love that and how he uses his confidence that he clearly has from before to be able to step in, in stuff like with Eva and Natsuhi arugment I loved how he buts in there, it's great. I love his way of thinking and how rational he was trying to be etc. So far I love him and am very very hyped to see where he goes as a character, and am also wondering if they'll repeat the Higurashi type of development, where characters were able to grow from past chapters even if they can't remember them, which I'm also assuming means that there's a timeloop here too?

The Higurashi stuff here confuses me tbh, Battler straight up mention it by name and a specific scene from Chapter 3 but then theres all the stuff with miracles and throwing the dice and the ending is the exact same thing that Keiichi wrote... it's all so confusing. So far I'm glad I played Higurashi beforehand because theres very clearly some intentional nods especialyl with the miracle stuff, but also I kinda feel a portion of the mystery has been lost, because I already know the mystical can exist here is Beatrice going to be like Hanyuu? and also timeloop etc. Regardless glad to play this as a "sequel?" since I think it could be one? still? zero clue though. maybe it's more of a spirutal sequel or a fragment where higurashi is a story? I'll see... glad the game has the same ability to get me thinking so hard about it already.

Going in I thought Beatrice would be here, but to go the whole first chapter with her being absent (kinda) is really cool and am glad that happened, though with the prerequistes for her summoning I'm wondering how she'll actualyl become someone that interacts with Battler.

Music was reallly good, especially fishy aroma (It had fishy in the tile but I do not remember full title) lots of other banges though.

Overall writing was impeciablle, really good start that has very much intrigued me to where the story is going and how much is it going to differ from Higurashi. Also this chapter was so good, I read way too much of it in one day, and kinda distracted me from some other stuff I should of been doing, so I think that shows how good this chapter was, and it's just the first one.

And it's over... (mostly) I'll get to Rei & Hou and the animes that is a sequel? somehow? I don't get that yet and I guess I'll wait till I watch it, but then that will also be after I finish Umineko since it's also a sequel to that?? I guess I'll see, but now is time to talk about Ch8 not the rest of the series.

I will write a review for all of Kei at a later date but I want to think a bit more so here's a semi full review of this chapter.

In a weird way this chapter reminded me most of MGS4, there's alot of fanservice and also theres a few scenes in the ending that are very similar which is more of a coincidence with how well the rest of the game feels like it. Now it may be odd to start the review like this but Ch8 is a very messy chapter, it has alot it needs to do in order to tie up all the loose ends, and as a whole I'd say it does a good job but when you examine it closely there's defintley flaws that start to shine.

I'll start with the fragments becuase I'm very mixed on them, on one hand I thought they were all written really well, and didn't always reveal everything but regardless it still is the big answer moment for alot of questions and in some ways I kind of wish they could've come about in a better actualyl paced out section, but then at the same time I realise that would be impossible in the constraints of this chapter, so this method works quite well. The kinda semi puzzle thing that it's got going on is neat as well and I enjoyed figuring out which fragment I could read next. I also like that it doesn't answer every question with it leading a few still up in the air.

My main issue with this chapter, is that it kinda feels fanservicey, I usaully don't mind if I'm being honest, but stuff like the fight in the mountain just kinda felt like... a bit too much. I'm not super annoyed by it and I did enjoy it, but it just feels a bit like going too far if I'm being honest. and I know that the whole miricale and belief and it makes sense and I don't really hate it, yet at the same time my brain protests... If I'm being honest, in future rereads of Higurashi I almost defintley won't have as much of a issue with these type of scenes but for now this is just how I feel.

The chapter does have some great scenes, especially those that focus on the adults, which in a way are the main focus here, like the club just kinda gets sidelined here and honestly, I'm all for it, becuase I love the adult cast. You go through the rest of the chapters unsure if you should trust any of them and finally getting to acutally trust them and watch them help is really great. Akasaka becoming crazy powerful is also in the realm of maybe going a bit too far... but he's great and I'm happy with it.

Having to wrap everything up defintley makes this chapter harder to focus on specific characters, so in the time that it does have it focuses very much on Takano, which again makes alot of sense because we know very little about her before this chapter yet she's the main villain and focus of the story, which in a way meant that this chapters fate was kinda unavoidable, because her position as a character up to this point was great and the slow reveal of the truth is done excelentlly, but then that also means that in this chapter we have to rush out everything about her rather than slowly do it, which again makes this chapter have such a disproportiante focus, which I suppose having 7 other chapters focus on the club members in one way or the other is fine, but I guess I just wanted to see them in the focus a bit more.

Another thing to note, is the slow transition away from horror is very interesting, and it does reflect the story, and the horror really couldn't be kept up as we get more answers, because ch1 in the context I have now wouldn't be as scary because I know what's happening, so if they tried to do something like that here it just wouldn't work, nor is it realyl suitable to the story. The game still has some horrible imagery it describes, especially with the finger at the start and Renas fragment with ripping her leg open with the razor and all that entails, just really made me feel sick.

I feel I'll never be satsifed with what I write here, because I expected it to be a disjointed mess (and it is) but I still feel I have more to say, yet I feel it'll be very hard to truly write my feelings out, because in many ways I love this chapter because it does alot super well, but on the other hand I feel it goes too far sometimes and kinda is too happy, which is such a odd complaint, especially when I like the ending quite alot. I guess I'll try and sort my mind out when I write my Kei review....

One of my last thoughts now, is that this story kinda feels not complete, it feels like theres more to read, and I know that there is but that's all spinoff stuff and doesn't truly count, it just kinda feels like some things were left out in the open, but more minor things I suppose just like character relationships, memory of the past fragments, Satoshi etc etc which in all honestly feel like they're meant to be left open, especially stuff like character relationships because you know without a doubt there will never be a canon couple with Keiichi (even though Rena makes the most sense in terms of chemistry and just the characters in general, but the insistence with Keiichi Mion stuff, because I guess there needs to be endless shipping wars) or with Satoko and Rika because like come on you're very clearly implying that game... oh well that's perhaps expecting too much, I just like more defintive ends though that doesn't mean I hate open ends. (My main wish is that the anime sequel isn't like some form of other incident that happens like a few months later becuase I'll be pissed if it is, the end was great.

uhh other final thing to say, is damm the game kinda hates Mion she didn't get a single chapter focused on her, which kinda sucks because sure Ch2 techincally focused on her... but not really, we just got 2 Shion chapters (which I like Shion, but also these are the 2 worst chapters)
Also I might as well throw in My chapter ranking, (with top being best):
6, 7, 3, 1, 8, 4, 5, 2
And I guess my character ranking would be:
Rena, Rika / Keiichi (share a spot because they are both so good), Satoko, Shion, Mion
I love all the characters though especially in the main cast (sorry Hanyuu i wasn't sure where to put you) and that's also only in the club (and Shion I guess) butehhhhhh.

I should stop now because I've clearly got alot of messy thoughts here and prob no fun to read through, but I loved Higurashi and really enjoyed my time reading it. I'll start Hou (or Kei? or Rei?) I don't know the name but I'll do the one bonus game before starting Umineko, but I've got more Higurashi to get to and that's nice to know honestly, I want to read more about them so I hope the sequel stuff is up to the same writing quality as the main games.

Oh and actuall final final thing, is in the secret end, what??? I was very confused, but not at the same time, like I get it but who is that women that very clearly isn't Rika yet is? and that poet as well, is someone from Umineko (internet spoiled it....) but and huh? and who is the person with the fragments if not Hanyuu, but it doesn't seem to be?. The game has so many mysterys and I don't think I'm clever enough to truly be able to put together the answers but I'll think about it all the same, and I'll soon be reading Umineko too but Rei first.

Overall Really good chapter that leans a bit too towards the fanservicey route for me, which again is the point in this perfect world where we all work towards a mircale so I'm not actually that annoyed with it, and big conclusions like this are very rarely pulled off well, and here I'd say it was done pretty well overall. A happy ending that feels deserved after everything. Yet it still left me wanting to read more about the characters, so not a complete conclusion you could say (if I continue the MGS4 compariosn, that game made me happy with where the characters left off while here I just want to read more about them and see what happens, though in this scenario there is no War Economy or more danger to affect them, but I mean... I'd be happy reading anything with this cast if it's written to this quality.)

(Also big spoilers for MGS4 after this point but I did want to mention one more massive unintential similarity between them)

At the end when Okanogi (hope I spel that right) gives Takano the gun to kill her self, it's very similar to MGS4, like the gun one bullet in the chamber, he tells her to put it in her mouth, and that the problem would be solved if she was to die, and then the game does a fakeout scene of a gun being shot but her not killing herself... and MGS4 does basically all of that at the end as well, with snake being told that killing himself would put a stop to the foxdie and then also being told by a deity like person that they don't need to killthemself and that they'll die for them, though in Higurashis cases Hanyuu lives, but still Hanyuu = Big Boss. Anyway I'm a MGS4 lover and the game reminded me of it in many ways, and this came out before MGS4, so I guess Kojima copied from Higurashi huh.... and ALSO Keiichi last chapter mentions the PS3 and Metal Gear by name, it's all connected!! I'm not crazy!

Once again Higurashi delivers a amazing story. I'm not sure if I prefer ch 6 or 7 but both are 10/10s in different ways.

I'm planning on writing a more complete review of all of Kei once I'm done so I wasn't going to do a spoiler review here however I gotta say this chapters too good to not mention some stuff.

First of all Rika & Hanyuu are amazing. Pre ch7 I wasn't sure what to make of Rika, she was very interesting but I wasn't certain of what it could be, so I suppose that was a part of the story I was unable to figure out for myself (sorry r7) but this chapter was a amazing look into Rikas character. I adore the way Ch 6 & 7 have been using perspective to tell the story, being able to see different characters views on thing is really cool, and Rikas very pessemistic outlook compared to Keiichi is a great contrast. If I explained more it would be pointless but I gotta say I adore the way perspective shifts around. And I love the strange 3rd person perspective that doesn't really seem to be first person, but there I'm not really sure if that's just a intential way of writing or if it's meant to be from Hanyuus perspective, because for example in this chapter when Ooshi gets killed, the perspective is not one of either of them but of noone, it feels like 3rd person but I distincatlly recall some things that seemed out of place if it was. anyway enough perspective talk

Rika is a super amazing character and she's grown on massivley. I never disliked her in the past chapters but she was always the character I was most disinterested in, but here she turns it around to become maybe the most interesting character, I adore her arc in this chapter. I adore the way we see previous chapters that previously seemed unconnected tie in here and how it shows that the entire story was planned very indepth from the start.

I love the way it changes you're perspecitve on scenes in the past, like Takano in Ch3, and how the disease affected everyone up to a point and the footsteps.. it's all so good. but my input here is really nothing special so I'll try not to drone on throughout the whole review.

Another thing I adore is that despite not remembering the past events how all the characters are clearly growing after going through their whole character arc, it's neat being able to see them change despite the fact that they techincally shouldn't. Though I guess if I had to have any complaint about the writing it's how come the gang didn't start remembering past shards before? I'm not that bothered since the rest of the game(book?? I still don't know if I should really call this a game)is super well written,and honestly regardless if there is a explanation or not... I kinda don't care honestly.

Music was amazing here, all the songs at the end especially are spectacular, just great music all round (but thats normal for Higurashi at this point). Also it's nice that some of the more overused sounds aren't being used as much, sure some stuff like the general Higurashi etc are fine, but if I hear that god damm mangled string insturment sound again I'll break, there was a scene in Ch5 where they played it after like every line Shion said so it just overlaps a billion times. and that piano too gets overplay alot in the Qs arc.

Obligatory the Steam sprites are horrrible, in Ch1 I was ok with them but I honestly despise them now, they are just horrible. (sorry to the artists that worked on them though...)

I'll stop here but very very final rough thoughts, Hanyuu is great and I love her basically being the explanation for everything, very funny. Also she's just great in general. Again Rika is written really great here, and so is everyone basically. the main cast dynamic is great, but I gotta say after ch6 Keiichi and Rena work so well together I love them both, I can't believe how well written everyone is honestly. BUT I almost forgot but why the fuck was there mention of the ps triple in this chapter?????? I think I had the translation set to 0 so there was no censor but like...??? break all the canon for a cheeky 4th wall break about the ps 3?? I don't actually mind it, it's cool to see such a obvious thing from the time the game came out that I ended up finding it super charming, but god that took me out of the game so hard. Also speaking of there were way more 4th wall breaks here right? like I can't really recall a single one before this, bar the after party. Again I don't mind it that much but it's still kinda strange. Also I kinda miss the afterpartys, they were fun. though I guess being in the answers arc theres no need for them to theorise and stuff. also the new messages with R7 are super nice he seems cool.

Also I read all this in 2 days which is pretty impressive for me, shows I've been infected with Higurashi brainrot, though the game crashed like 4 times somehow, very odd (espeically since I rarely saved as I was reading non stop for a while) anyway review over.

Ch7 peak, consistent super high quality writing and providing very nice conclusions to the mysterys set up in previous chapters.

Ditto last reviews, modded - console sprites, va etc.

first of all damm Shion is actually insane.

In chapter 2 I quite liked Shion and honestly trusted her, I thought there'd be no way for her to be evil now. but gee way to be proven wrong I guess.
I mean Shion was evil even before the you know killing and that, because like she physically assulted Satoko for what being abused? like the way it was described sounded a bit too crazy. Like she picked her up by the hair and slammed her into the wall? crazy. And honestly ignoring everything else here and getting to plot discusson, I really found Shions hatred of Satoko really interesting honestly. She was complaing that everyone hated Satoshi because he was a Houjou when thats basically what shes doing with Satoko? like her hatred stemmed from what a like 10 year old or however old she is, getting abused daily and therefore resorting to wanting her brother to help? Like I know it's not meant to be hidden that Shion is insane but like geez.

Anyway I still like Shion (and I wont call her Mion even though yadda yadda she is techincally? if they go into that more then maybe my mind will change, I guess I'll see how they handle that huh) she may have killed everyone and become possesed 100% I still like her, I think it's fucked up with her hatred of Satoshi though.

Chapter 2 was my least favourite chapter honestly, I still very much liked it but it was defintley the weakest of all the chapters, and I felt this chapter kinda elevated it in a way? kinda. Regardless this chapter second half was just taking the major plot points and replaying them from Shions perspective which was cool and really interesting. it defintley clears up alot about chapter 2 as well, like with Keiichi on the ladder. Though my main complaint about the stuff with highlights of chapter 2, is that some of the stuff they skip over, well one thing specfically is that they just kinda don't mention Keiichi turning on the light in the storehouse. Which was defintley made to be a semi major plot point in at least Keiichis thinking, and Shion herself mentions it here yet we don't even see that it's just skipped over, unless of course I missed that which could've happened I suppose I'm 99% certain I didn't but ehh. A reason that annoyed me was because some stuff already changed, or at least I think? this bit might just be my memory messing up but did the thing with Shion pretending to be Mion and the bikers happen like that? was Shion dressed as mion there? did that even happen in chapter2? idk. I know Keiichi knocked over those bikes in ch2 and shion rescuesd him (which was mion pretending to be shion right?) ehh idk at this point.

I still feel my main guess is theres some time loop or something, because the curse is 100% real it has to be because of the extra steps, because Rena got that and there was the whole thing with the windows, Satoshi had them and the whole thing with aunt and dissaperance etc. And then Keiichi had them as well, ch1 he killed Rena and Mion and then Ch3 he idk goes crazy and kills everyone through magic. But regardless that along with what Mion says at the end of the chapter The curse has gotta be real. also in the last tip why did they bother making Shion/Mions mother a sprite ? well I guess she's going to appear again? I suppose?. Also Satokos uncle had a sprite here but not in ch3?????? why ? when he was way more important, oh well again I guess.

Anyway, obligatory STEAM SPRITES SUCK A DONKEYS DICK!!!! avgn said that no me I would never swear. possesed by the spirit of James Rolfe

Anyway for real, chapter was really good. I even played most of it in 1 day which is pretty rare for me honestly. Satoshi was cool but I like Keiichi more honestly. Also you kinda forget Keiichi was meant to be like smart? where did that go then? again oh well. Really good chapter, raised some more questions though despite being a answer arc so oh well I gyesss??? answered a few though, well like not many though. I suck at writing and this is more my place to ramble so :).

Shion kinda sucks though she didn't have to do any of that, just tell the evil ghost following you to stop it's not that hard just don't imagine the guy you loved as the evil spirit and you're fine come on Shion.

Used PS3 sprites + VA

First of all, obligatory steam sprites suck ASS and I hate them

anyway, this chapter was super neat, seeing Hinazawa in the past and from a different perspective is so cool. I liked that perspective switched a few times throughout the game, like in various tips & the story such as at the Majhong game. It may have happened in previous chapters but it was much more noticable here.

Intro didn't grab me instantly as these were all new characters but regardless I quickly liked Akasaka and thought he was neat. The fact that you know he survives in a way maybe makes the story less tense in a few moments, but honestly I haven't come to a conclusion on my thoughts there.

Despite lacking alot of what made the previous chapters scary or tense, this chapter still does a really good job. It doesn't really have a twist moment as like the other chapters, which I've noticed may be more of a theme? as Chapter 3 there were various moments such as the inital discussion about Satoshi after the BBQ, and here we went in knowing about the Higurashi Guardians etc and it really seems to be lessening the illusion held about the nice and happy town that Chapter 1 & 2 held, or maybe my opinions going crazy and I'm wrong, clearly I'll see but I do really enjoy thinking about the mystery here.

This chapter made me more interested in Rika, I liked her before but she defintley gets more depth here, bascially confirming that she has to have some sort of connection to Oshyiro which I'm not 100% sure what to make of it all yet but it's all really interesting.

The ending was also sad just in a differnt way that other chapters, with the death not happening to the MC but another character, which has been the case for 1, 2 & 3 so far. And honestly noticing the lack of Yuuki in the ending is pretty sad, though also something I think I missed was when was Akasakas daughter born? Did Yuuki give birth on the day she died? I mean she had to, I'm sure I just missed something and this whole bit here is usless but still maybe I'm right and it's a big mystery awawowowo woah.... ok maybe I did just miss something, and I won't check out of spite.

So ultimatlley yeah, really good chapter, super short, super intersting alternative perspectives and gives a better look at Rika and Ooshi as well alot of stuff we've only heard about up to this point. Excited to get onto the Answers section of the game.
(Also these are becoming less reviews and more my own theory crafting things to jot my thoughts down, so oh well. hope whoever reads this gets some enjoyment out of this)

Ditto my last reviews, I don't typically play VNs + modded to use console sprites etc

I also started to use the voice acting after being reccomened to, and damm is the VA good. Satokos Voice actor is amazing especially, though everyones pretty good.

I quite liked the previous chapters though I do understand why everyone I've seen talk about the game (Which isn't THAT many too be fair, but like still I've talked to a few people who said it) say that this is where it gets good. I defintley wouldn't say the first 2 chapters like some people but this chapter is on another level compared to the first two.

I do prefer the atmosphere of Chapter 1 because I really loved the feelings of Keiichi being alone completely with no one and just being alienated compltely from the village, because at least in both chapter 2 & 3 Keiichis had some people to turn to, wether it be Rena in Ch2 or basically everyone in Ch3 disregarding like the last 2 episodes or so. But just because it's different doesn't mean its bad of course, I also gotta say theres some neat chapter 1 parreles in this chapter as well, with Ooshis role being compltely reveresed which is kinda like Keiichis becoming more a resident of Hinazawa? at least thats how I'm seeing it, especially with how he reacts upon first seeing Ooshi (which I'll mention my thoughts on in a sec) and theres also what Satoko says near the end is basically what Keiichi says in Chapter 1 about being possesed or whatever, which I mean does seem to be what's happening but the stuff she says was really reminding me of Keiichis own thoughts in Chapter 1. Also Shion being here is kinda funny, like they just felt they needed to because she has like 1 tip and 5 mins of dialogue, I really like Shion so I ain't complaing but it just kinda felt forced to have Shion be there. And finally the stuff with Keiichis "doppleganger"? or the ghost thing that's been appearing basically doing a combination of what happened in Ch1 & 2 at the festival is interesting though idk what it means I did notice that it was the events of both chapters combined there, just if Keiichi turned Shion down instead?.

Anyway, the story here is by far the best so far, and I gotta say this game did a great job at making me feel sick, I've never played something that made me physicaly feel sick before, so good job Higurashi!, but yeah the scene when Keiichi pats Satoko on the head and then that whole incident ensues honestly made me feel sick, which proabbly Satokos VA work played a big part because she does a very very good job at screaming and crying in that way. Though I do also have to say all the tension and sickness I felt was instantly gone when Keiichi went into edgelord mode, not that I hated the scene there or anything but the music that plays and Keiichis giving "permision to live" made me chuckle a tiny bit.

I really enjoyed seeing Keiichis desent into becoming a murderer here as well, as weird as it is to say I really enjoyed Keiichi whole murder plalnning and carrying it out, it was super well written and now I too can feel like a murderer, which I mean I still don't know if Keiichi even techincally is, but like he has to be. idk what was up with his curse powers at the end but I'm pretty sure he did all that. So far I'm on the curse side with a hint of people but mostly curse.

Also this chapter made me care way more for Satoko considering out of the whole cast she was defintley the one I cared the least amount, doesn't help that she isn't in most of the second half of either Chapter 1 or 2 but here despite also not really being in the second half either, she is still the focus (mostly untill Keiichi goes of the rails) and I actually quite like her now. Coach I'm still kinda iffy on, mostly because he said some fucked up stuff at that BBQ, but I kinda like him apart from that. Oh and speaking of swearing actually, I gotta say I don't know why but everytime Keiichi swears it always makes me chuckle I don't really know why, that despite just reading for like the past 20 minutes of Keiichis brutally killing a man and burrying the body I was still taken aback to hear him say fuck. Maybe just because you rarely see anyone swear idk.

Final rough thoughts, first of all I gotta say I know this is meant to be in the 80s but like honestly I kinda forget sometimes, which is mostly due to the backgrounds partially if only because some of then very much feature things that didn't exist in the 80s like a actual N64 or like TVs that very clearly are from like the late 90s or 2000s but oh well. I guess it does play a part with the whole phone thing as well.

Obligatory mention of how ass the Steam sprites are.

And yeah real good chapter, as always cast review section is great because it's the most severe tonal whiplash you can be hit with, and it's also just pretty funny. I really didn't think I would give a 5 star rating at only chapter 3 but damm this chapter was good, it truly is peak.

EDIT: oh yeah I forgot to mention my thoughts on Ooshi stuff, I did say in my ch1 review if this would be a timeloop or something since Keiichi you know died there and I was wondering how he could come back and then I kinda was like ah no becuase of chapter 2 but here I'm thinking maybe again, because like Keiichis thouhgts on Ooshi especially, like he instantly sees him as hostile and a threat very much like everyone else in Hinazawa and just some of the writing there especially is giving more credit to this idea in my mind, I'll see but I really don't know what the limits are here I really don't know how crazy the story'll get but like it's already gotten pretty crazy. Also the chapters steadly seem to be going forward in time, with like stuff like the toy store and Curry thing already happening in this chapter while still being a bit differnt seem to have played out the same, anyway yeah I forogot to mention my thoughts here, though also it's just more rambiling, but I've really been enjoying Higurashi so I gotta alot of thoughts

EDIT2: oh snap I also forgot to say that the Music in this chapter was crazy good, like really good. Especialy the song that plays at the end the Lies lies lies lies one, no name as good as fascism here but god the ost was so good. Anyway now that should be all my thoughts. maybe. if not oh well because I'm sure I'll be writing my Ch4 review soon enough