This review contains spoilers
[not finished with game]
Hinamizawa Bus Stop
Very interesting to finally see the prototype that inspired what became one of the most iconic VN's of all time. It certainly wasn't stellar, I think the shorter nature of a stageplay didn't allow for the twists to hit right, and I'm sure that's probably a reason that Ryuukishi's entry of this to whatever theater company was rejected. But a lot of the key points were retained in Higurashi which I find really enlightening into exactly how Ryuukishi writes and what he goes about prioritizing when he's planning something. Definitely a worthwhile read if you're at all interested in that aspect.
Also it was pleasantly gay.
[2.5/5]
Outbreak
This adaptation of the anime-original arc glossed over a lot of the details of said anime, which was a bit disappointing to me. As a Higurashi's-political-subplot enjoyer, this scenario and its extremely serious implications on both Hinamizawa and Higurashi's world at large is fascinating to me, so I would have liked a bit more fleshing out of the scenario in general, not massive cuts. We'll see how the next arc which is a sequel plays out, though I think I've heard not to expect much.
[3/5]
Hinamizawa Bus Stop
Very interesting to finally see the prototype that inspired what became one of the most iconic VN's of all time. It certainly wasn't stellar, I think the shorter nature of a stageplay didn't allow for the twists to hit right, and I'm sure that's probably a reason that Ryuukishi's entry of this to whatever theater company was rejected. But a lot of the key points were retained in Higurashi which I find really enlightening into exactly how Ryuukishi writes and what he goes about prioritizing when he's planning something. Definitely a worthwhile read if you're at all interested in that aspect.
Also it was pleasantly gay.
[2.5/5]
Outbreak
This adaptation of the anime-original arc glossed over a lot of the details of said anime, which was a bit disappointing to me. As a Higurashi's-political-subplot enjoyer, this scenario and its extremely serious implications on both Hinamizawa and Higurashi's world at large is fascinating to me, so I would have liked a bit more fleshing out of the scenario in general, not massive cuts. We'll see how the next arc which is a sequel plays out, though I think I've heard not to expect much.
[3/5]