Should I buy this?

[Touka Kirishima]

Like the title says 'Should I buy this?' I loved Steins;Gate and I've been looking for another visual novel to fill that void in me and I got a lot of recommendations to play this visual novel, would you recommend that I play this game? and if you want you can add what you like about it but I'd appreciate no spoilers please as I want to go into a blind playthrough if I do decide to play this.

[Ellixer]

If you are willing to expend 50+ hours on a visual novel (and that's excluding the Answer Arcs) and are willing to try out something really bizarre and post-modern, definitely yes. I'd avoid summary of any kind. Even knowing the story's genre is something of a spoiler. Suffice to say, it's a delightfully odd beast. If you are willing to go for something real weird and can put in the time and mental investment, I think it's well worth the effort.

However, the story demands active engagement and leave a lot (and I mean A LOT) of questions unanswered (unless you look at the manga adaptation). There is a thematic point it is trying to make, but I understand that a lot of people find this incredibly off-putting. I also think there are a few technical issues with the writing, but for me that's an incredibly minor point in the grand scheme of things. Point being, if you tend to enjoy these stories passively, taking the story at its own words and no more, this one may rub you the wrong way.

[Touka Kirishima]

I'll probably give it a go then. £19 isnt too much to gamble on a potential gem I suppose. Thanks for the recommendation

[Veltharis]

Can't really compare it to Steins;Gate personally, as the latter's still on my to-do list, but I can and will heartily recommend this series to anyone.

Difficult to say too much without delving into spoilers, as this is definitely something you want to go in blind for, but Umineko more-or-less singlehandedly inspired my love of classic mystery novels.

EDIT: Also, everything Ellixer said. :p

[в тени ведьминых]

This novel is very different from Steins;Gate. What i liked about it is that the plot is so crazy, it's almost impossible to spoil it. However, if you havent watched/read Higurashi, i'd suggect doing that first, cant say why.

[Touka Kirishima]

I'm fine with starting with Higurashi but how is it? and would you suggest the VN or the anime

[в тени ведьминых]

I only watched anime, about 10 years ago and it was good. At least the 1st season. Its not 100% necessary, but highly recommended to start with Higurashi. VNs are not yet released in full on steam also.

[Ellixer]

Steins;Gate is also one of my favorite, though I can't really draw any meaningful comparison between the two. S;G is a meticulously constructed and well thought out puzzle box that gradually comes together in an appreciable manner. Umineko mocks you for thinking it is like that while at the same time taunt you into assuming it (told you it's weird) and for large chunks of it you may be wondering how can this maelstrom ever come together into anything cohesive or meaningful when the credits roll.

I do agree that if you are planning on reading Higurashi any time soon, you should probably do so before Umineko. That said, it is unnecessary if you are only interested in one and not the other (though I like them both myself), as Umineko is neither a sequel nor a spiritual successor. Any similarity or continuity between the two is either vague, questionable or superficial. I'm not even sure the two take place in the same universe. Nevertheless, they are of the same series, one come after the other and Umineko has several callbacks to Higurashi. There are also several characters who may or may not be from Higurashi, but again, if you see them for the first time in Umineko you won't be missing anything vital.

[Touka Kirishima]

I'll check them out in the order specificed. Higurashi doesn't appear to be too long anyway

[Ellixer]

Originally posted by Touka Kirishima:

I'll check them out in the order specificed. Higurashi doesn't appear to be too long anyway

Eh. It's pretty long. One single arc is probably not THAT long. Higurashi on its own (first four arcs) is manageable still. But if you include Higurashi Kai as well, then it's pretty damn long.

Though the first arc is available on its own, so it may be best to grab that first an see if it piques your interest.

[Touka Kirishima]

I'll just watch the anime since its not all on Steam yet, if I like it enough I'll probably buy it and play it after it's all released

[в тени ведьминых]

that's probably a best way to do it

[Battler Ushiromiya]

Oh yes. I'd honestly argue that it's even better than SG, although they're not at all similar to one another.

You don't really NEED knowledge of Higurashi to enjoy Umineko. There are a few references here and there, but it's understandable without it.

Also, if you use Discord often and would like to join a server where you can post your thoughts and theories and the like about Higurashi and/or Umineko, then I'd be happy to give you a link to one.

[Touka Kirishima]

Yeah it'd be appreciated. Although I can't say that I'll post that soon since I'm a bit busy with college

[Battler Ushiromiya]

That's no problem. Feel free to take as much time as needed

https://discord.gg/ZBv8za

[Lissomia]

I beat this game and the Answers arc like, five months ago and I STILL think about it almost every day! It's fantastic :) My only personal gripe was I did not personally care for Chapter 8 in the novel, I much preferred the manga version of that chapter :)