This is a difficult one to review, because Higurashi has high highs and low lows. If I added my scores for each episode all up together, I doubt the average rating would actually equal 4.5 stars, but when taken as a full story, Higurashi is a master of its craft and there's no denying that. It's bloated and frustrating at times and probably could have been told in half the length without sacrificing any detail or quality, but when it goes big, it's truly a spectacle to behold.