So what's next?

[Klagmar]

I just finished the first episode and really got hooked. I see the second episode is available on Steam, but what's next after that? How many episodes are there total, and am I really going to have to wait 6+ months between each one just for a resolution to this damn mystery? I'm all for splitting up big expensive vns into separate releases but I can't stand the delay.

Also, sorry for not Googling answers, I'd like to avoid spoilers.

[Ohagi-Chan]

There's another 7 chapters to go before the answer is handed to you on a platter.

Higurashi is considered to be a "Game" by the writer and some fans because it's a challenge to work out the mystery before that point. That's entirely optional though.

It wasn't originally a "big expensibe VN", it was originally split up and is being released the same way as the original. Expect a six month wait between each chapter, but thankfully 2 chapters are already out, and the next should be out in a month or so.

Hope this helps.

Also, feel free to join the steam group "Are you ready for Watanagashi?" for a chance to win a free copy of Chapter 3, Tatarigoroshi-hen.

[Klagmar]

Thanks a lot for the reply! So there are 8 chapters total? I love me a good mystery, but I think I will have a hard time caring in 3+ years when all the episodes are released. It's too bad it's not released in English elsewhere.

[Replicator]

I'm not 100% sure about this, but I heard somewhere that there already were translations for the chapters, so they probably didn't have to start from scratch, but the translations for the first 4 arcs were quite bad. So >maybe< the last 4 arcs won't take 6 months each, since the translation was not as bad. It's probably worth the wait either way^^

[Devyatto]

You should buy the second chapter right now, is as good as the first one (If not better) and is even longer.

And yes, according to MangaGamer's page: http://blog.mangagamer.org/project-status/

The third chapter is already finished so, they probably are going to release it very soon.

[aeon]

The delay is too big, yeah.

If you can't wait, you can always watch the anime and find out more stuff about Higurashi.

[Ohagi-Chan]

Originally posted by Replicator:

I'm not 100% sure about this, but I heard somewhere that there already were translations for the chapters, so they probably didn't have to start from scratch, but the translations for the first 4 arcs were quite bad. So >maybe< the last 4 arcs won't take 6 months each, since the translation was not as bad. It's probably worth the wait either way^^

On what this guy said:
It's possible that the last 4 main chapters won't be as meticulously edited because it is common opinion that they were translated better last time MangaGamer released Higurashi in english.
That said, they were also considerably longer than the first 4 chapters, so how long they'll take to translate is anybody's guess.

Originally posted by Klagmar:

Thanks a lot for the reply! So there are 8 chapters total? I love me a good mystery, but I think I will have a hard time caring in 3+ years when all the episodes are released. It's too bad it's not released in English elsewhere.

It's a shame if you feel that way, but to each their own. Your opinion probably won't change if I mention that there are 8 MAIN chapters, followed by another, shorter 6, which I personally haven't read.

They were released in English before, but MG's license to sell their original port has expired, it's possible that some 3rd party sites might have copies left over, but I wouldn't know. This old version is limited to what is referred to as "Original sprites" in-game, and has an original soundtrack, due to complications with licensing the soundtrack that returned in the Steam version.

[Klagmar]

Thanks for the extra info, guys!

Originally posted by Ohagi-Chan:

It's a shame if you feel that way, but to each their own. Your opinion probably won't change if I mention that there are 8 MAIN chapters, followed by another, shorter 6, which I personally haven't read.

That wasn't meant as a knock against the game at all; quite the opposite really. I just know it will be hard to continually get re-invested in a story on 6-month intervals for the next few years, especially with each episode presumably ending on a cliffhanger. It's why I always wait for all the episodes to be released before starting a TellTale series. It's too late for me this time, though :)

[Veltharis]

If you're concerned about the wait and are willing to spend the money, I might recommend looking into the manga version published by Yen Press.

All eight chapters of the series (clocking in at between two and four volumes apiece) have been released, as have the epilogue chapter and two side-stories.

[Yurie]

Originally posted by Veltharis:

If you're concerned about the wait and are willing to spend the money, I might recommend looking into the manga version published by Yen Press.

All eight chapters of the series (clocking in at between two and four volumes apiece) have been released, as have the epilogue chapter and two side-stories.

I'm still going through them, but so far it has been pretty good. Currently going through Meakashi-hen. Woohoo.