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The talented team over at 07th Expansion knows how to make a masterful, complicated, and engrossing story. The folks did it with Higurashi first, and then soon after again with Umineko. More importantly, everyone involved is a master of Japanese horror, which not enough visual novels and anime do well. As such, it is high time for Umineko, one of the best horror anime of all time, to make a long-awaited return.

Umineko has a pretty straightforward initial premise with an execution that is anything but simple. It tells the story of a family that gathers on an island, only to become stranded there. Thus ensues some wild and horrifying murders that can’t be easily explained. Is it supernatural? A human serial killer? Therein lies the true mystery of this anime.

I would argue the premise of this series and the spooky vibes are, at times, more compelling and intriguing than even Higurashi, which I also adore. It has a structure quite similar to its predecessor in the original visual novel, too, splitting between its four question arcs and four answer ones. Unfortunately, the original anime focused solely on the question side.

As such, fans are left with some of the worst lingering questions with no answers and it has been like this since the anime’s release in 2009. That is quite a long time to wait without any resolution whatsoever. Of course, you can play the original visual novels, read the manga, or even the novelization series for the answers if you’d like.

But I think it is a shame to make fans go that route, especially since Higurashi is complete in anime form. In fact, it is so complete that it got a full-on two-season sequel, despite being seemingly finished, from 2020-2021. This makes the situation all the more worse for Umineko that has nothing but a single 26 episode season.

At this point, it feels necessary to do a full-on Umineko remake. And this would be great since it would have much better animation and usher in a new audience. This remake season could be a precursor to a second season finally diving into the answers. I hate to get my hopes up, but it actually feels like the right time to do this as well.

After all, we got Higurashi’s surprise return fairly recently. Then there is the almost renaissance of whodunnits in recent years. The likes of Among Us, the Knives Out series, and Hercule Poirot’s recent trilogy all help to popularize this genre. And given how unique Umineko‘s take on murder mysteries is, it can stand out even further.

The one possible hitch in this plan is who would make the Umineko anime. ione created the recent Higurashi sequels, so it seems like a likely candidate. However, it is quite busy right now with a lot of and current series like Chained Soldier Season 2, Nukitashi the Animation, and Loner Life in Another World.

Fans would likely either have to wait even longer for this legendary horror anime series to return or another studio would have to handle it. Regardless, I do hope it returns and gets the justice it deserves. The intense murders, locked room mysteries, and surprises would fit so well in today’s landscape. And this is before the epic and memorable characters like protagonist Battler and the evil witch Beatrice, who might even more be iconic than the Higurashi cast. Hopefully, we finally see one of the best horror anime series of all time, Umineko, return soon.

Umineko: When They Cry is not currently available to stream on any legal service in North America.

The post The Incredible Umineko Horror Anime Needs to Return appeared first on Siliconera.

The Higurashi When They Cry experience is a powerful one. From its sound novel roots and anime adaptation to now the Higurashi When They Cry: Gou manga localization, it forces people to reconcile cute characters and quiet country life with the mysteries and events before them. The first volume essentially offers its takes on the Onidamashi and Watanagashi “question” arcs, and it doesn’t hold back in its retelling of the events.

Editor’s Note: There will be mild spoilers for volume 1 of the Higurashi When They Cry: Gou manga below. 2b5r4y

Volume 1 of the Higurashi When They Cry: Gou manga sets the tone with three color pages that allude back to the original Onikakushi ending. So even though someone could maybe go into the game or anime blind and have no idea about the nature of the story, there’s no ambiguity here. The fact that Yen Press also used color pages for this portion hammers it home. No matter how cute the characters may be in the ensuing pages and how calm rural Hinamizawa may be, it isn’t. Something’s coming.

But initially, this setup seems great! Keiichi is happy with small town life. It seems like there’s a chance for love with the girl-next-door Rena. There’s a small community of people in Hinamizawa, but they get along well with their friends Mion, Satoko, and Rika. All of the Higurashi When They Cry: Gou characters look adorable, and it practically feels like a slice of life comedy with Satoko’s pranks, the group picnic, and Rena’s excitement of finding the Colonel Sanders KFC mascot statue at the dump. (Kenta-kun!)
[caption id="attachment_973101" align="alignnone" width="408"] Image via Yen Press[/caption]
However, it’s when they meet Kenta-kun that Keiichi also meets the photographer Tomitake mentions a murder. Keiichi learns a brutal assault happened when the government attempted to build a dam there. He tries to ask Rena and Mion about it. That’s when we see the perfect execution of Tomato Akase’s art, as it shows how these characters that were previously adorable a few pages ago suddenly take on this horrifying slant. It’s so much so that it’s otherworldly, and especially evocative due to the fact that these depictions can shift so swiftly. Especially in the case of Rena, who’s set up as the “cutest” character for this first part of the story.

In the second part of volume 1 of the Higurashi When They Cry: Gou manga, the story shifts to Mion. We get to see another side of her, following a chapter dedicated to Rika and her perspective on current events. What’s fascinating is that this one focuses on how well Keiichi and her also fit together. However, we’re also abruptly introduced to Mion’s twin, Shion. But due to the nature of the story and the execution of the art, it leaves us with a whole other sort of mystery. Who is Keiichi spending time with? How are they connected? What is going on with Mion and Shion?

It’s intriguing in that it’s presented as an entirely different type of horror. We’re still seeing how unsettling things are. The situation in Hinamizawa is still uncomfortable, even as much of the story is focusing on Keiichi’s growing relationship with the twins. Again, it not only offers a fascinating comparison in of art, but when juxtaposed against what we just experienced in the Onidamashi storyline.

With the Higurashi When They Cry: Gou manga, we get a whole new retelling of the story. It's one that captures what matters about the story, and all of the situations and mysteries they face. It maintains an atmosphere that can sometimes feel so normal, then drastically shift in tone. It does so in such a way that the artistic direction feels perfect either way. As a result, no punches are pulled and the story remains as powerful as ever.

Volume 1 of the Higurashi When They Cry: Gou manga is available now, and volume 2 will be out on October 17, 2023.

The post Higurashi When They Cry: Gou Manga Doesn’t Hold Back appeared first on Siliconera.

The Steam Autumn Sale is on, and includes a developer-wide discount on games by 07th Expansion, the group led by Ryukishi07, future writer for Silent Hill f [Thanks, Wario64!]

The 07th Expansion developer sale puts a temporary cut to prices on all the games offered on Steam by the studio. Discounts range from 10% off to 50% off. In some regions, this puts the minimum price for some items at under $2 USD.

The 07th Expansion games on sale include the episodes of the Higurashi When They Cry series, as well as the Umineko When They Cry titles, and the latest game in the franchise, Ciconia When They Cry. The only game not discounted is the first chapter of Higurashi When They Cry, because it's already free.

Higurashi When They Cry is a murder mystery set in the sleepy rural town of Hinamizawa. Keiichi Maebara, a new arrival in town, learns that murders and disappearances accompany the annual Watanagashi festival, and that the town is thought to be "cursed" by its guardian deity, Oyashiro.

Umineko When They Cry takes place on a private island, where the wealthy clan Ushiromiya has gathered to negotiate an inheritance. Unfortunately for all involved, the "Golden Witch" Beatrice is involved in the proceedings. A fighting game, Umineko: Golden Fantasia, is also on sale.

Only the first "phase" of Ciconia When They Cry has been released so far, with four episodes planned. Rather than the 1980s periods favored by Higurashi and Umineko, Ciconia is set after World War III, and follows young "Gauntlet Knights" as they try to prevent World War IV from breaking out.

Check out the full list of games in the 07th Expansion sale at this link. Prices can vary based on region and currency. The Steam Autumn Sale ends on November 29, 2022.

The post 07th Expansion Dev Sale Highlights Games from Silent Hill f’s Writer appeared first on Siliconera.

It is the end of an era. The final Higurashi When They Cry Hou chapter is about to be released on PCs in English. On May 14, 2020, Matsuribayashi will finish up an in-game story that has lasted four years. This eighth and final episode will cost $7.95.

To provide some perspective, since the game’s 2014 launch in Japan, MangaGamer has been releasing at least one episode of the eight-episode Higurashi When They Cry Hou sound novel per year. The pace was slightly quicker originally, as Onikakushi and Watanagashi were both released in 2015 and Tatarigoroshi and Himatsubushi launched in 2016. Since then, installments have appeared yearly, with Meakashi in 2017, Ysumihoroboshi in 2018, and Minagoroshi in 2019. Since Matsuribayashi is the final piece of a multi-year puzzle, please begin reading this visual novel where its ambiance, voice acting, sound effects, and soundtrack from Onikakushi.

The English release of Higurashi When They Cry Hou is something of an “ultimate” one. In addition to the expected English localization, it allows people to see “renewed” character art inspired by the original designs. If you decide to get it on Steam, you can even earn achievements.

Higurashi When they Cry Hou is available for the PC worldwide. It is also on the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in Japan. The eighth and final arc, Matsuribayashi, will be released in English on May 14, 2020. It will also be getting an anime series in July 2020.

The post Higurashi When They Cry Hou’s Final Arc Arrives on May 14, 2020 appeared first on Siliconera.

Today, 07th Expansion and Kadokawa announced that Higurashi When They Cry is getting another new project. You can check out the reveal trailer above.

As the reveal is for a 'new project' and not 'new anime project', it could also be something different that happens to feature animated cutscenes. However, both the Twitter and teaser website feature the term 'anime' in them.

A main visual showing Rena was also shared. The anime (sections) will be produced by Infinite (Shirobako, Tari Tari, Hataraku Maoh-sama!), with the main animation studio being ione. Akio Watanabe s the staff as the character designer.

The most recent game release of Higurashi When They Cry was Higurashi When They Cry Hou on Nintendo Switch. The game is immediately available in Japan.

The post Higurashi When They Cry Returns With a New Animation Project appeared first on Siliconera.

Those desperate for more news about Ciconia When They Cry Phase 2 will have to wait a little longer. The next part of the story has been delayed. 07th Expansion has confirmed it won’t appear in May 2020, as originally planned.

The Ciconia When they Cry Phase 2 delay appeared via Twitter. During 07th Expansion’s New Year’s announcement, it mentioned it had both good and bad news. The bad news is, the second portion of this visual novel won’t arrive in May 2020. It received that release window back in October 2019. It now has a more general 2020 window.

This isn’t entirely unexpected. To start, the Ciconia When They Cry Phase 2 release date only had a tentative May 2020 window. It wasn’t 100% set. Also, the first phase of the game experienced multiple delays before its launch. It was originally supposed to be out in time for Summer Comiket 2019, but then got pushed back to September 2019. A few months later, it was bumped back to October 2019. It finally launched on October 4, 2019.

Ciconia When They Cry Phase 2 will arrive on PCs in 2020. Ciconia When They Cry Phase 1: For You, the Replaceable Ones is immediately available worldwide and can be played in English and Japanese.

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The post New Umineko no Naku Koro ni Saku Title Announced For PlayStation 4 And Switch appeared first on Siliconera.