(Note: I played with the 07th-Mod voice/graphics patch, and I highly suggest you do the same!)

I mentioned in my review of Higurashi (Chapters 1-4) that it's always difficult trying to temper expectations going into such a beloved franchise, but thankfully I was left overwhelmingly satisfied by the experience despite that. Umineko had it even harder, as not only did I know it's seen as one of the all-time great VN experiences, but it also follows up on a read that I truly enjoyed...

... Yet, somehow, again, my expectations were exceeded.

Characters make or break a VN, and the performances of their VA's can elevate a very good character to even greater heights, or take a subpar character & drag it down even further. When you've a VN with 30+ voiced characters it's only natural to expect a few stinkers amongst them, maybe with a bad VA performance here and there... But nope, Umineko's characters are absolutely unparalleled for a VN with this sort of scope, and every single one of them is backed up by some of (if not) the best voice acting I've ever heard.

& that's one of the big things that grabbed me early on & pulled me into the story. Even though the start is intentionally slow to ease you into proceedings, the early game characterization is so spot on that it never feels dull in the slightest. Once the story gets going, the real fun can begin. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ a-plenty, puzzles to be solved, opinions to be shared - True, it might be a VN with no in-game choices, but the choice to open your mind & try to formulate possible solutions to the riddles proposes is a greater gameplay system than any in-game choice could possibly hope to achieve.

If that weren't enough, it's also home to one of the all-time great video game OSTs, with dozens of instantly memorable pieces across the four episodes. The art also hits a really high level, and with the 07th-Mod trickery, every option is readily available to you.

The 07th-Mod stuff is truly worth looking into before reading Umineko (& also Higurashi). Not only does it (optionally) add the PS3 art, sprites, and the absolutely brilliant voice acting, it also adds the ability to switch towards a much more VN-friendly ADV mode, which stops the text from covering the entirety of the screen, instead condensing it into a more typical VN/RPG-style text box with character names.

Overall, it's a wholehearted recommendation. You're looking at perhaps 150+ hours of reading for the Q&A arcs, plus a hell of a lot more time if you want to properly reason out the answers before they're presented in the follow up, but it's an investment that's more than worth it. A rollercoaster of insanity & mystery, presented with excellence across the board.

(Note: I played with the 07th-Mod voice/graphics patch, and I highly suggest you do the same!) I mentioned in my review of Higurashi (Chapters 1-4) that it's always difficult trying to temper expectations going into such a beloved franchise, but thankfully I was left overwhelmingly satisfied by the experience despite that. Umineko had it even harder, as not only did I know it's seen as one of the all-time great VN experiences, but it also follows up on a read that I truly enjoyed... ... Yet, somehow, again, my expectations were exceeded. Characters make or break a VN, and the performances of their VA's can elevate a very good character to even greater heights, or take a subpar character & drag it down even further. When you've a VN with 30+ voiced characters it's only natural to expect a few stinkers amongst them, maybe with a bad VA performance here and there... But nope, Umineko's characters are absolutely unparalleled for a VN with this sort of scope, and every single one of them is backed up by some of (if not) the best voice acting I've ever heard. & that's one of the big things that grabbed me early on & pulled me into the story. Even though the start is intentionally slow to ease you into proceedings, the early game characterization is so spot on that it never feels dull in the slightest. Once the story gets going, the real fun can begin. Mindfuckery a-plenty, puzzles to be solved, opinions to be shared - True, it might be a VN with no in-game choices, but the choice to open your mind & try to formulate possible solutions to the riddles proposes is a greater gameplay system than any in-game choice could possibly hope to achieve. If that weren't enough, it's also home to one of the all-time great video game OSTs, with dozens of instantly memorable pieces across the four episodes. The art also hits a really high level, and with the 07th-Mod trickery, every option is readily available to you. The 07th-Mod stuff is truly worth looking into before reading Umineko (& also Higurashi). Not only does it (optionally) add the PS3 art, sprites, and the absolutely brilliant voice acting, it also adds the ability to switch towards a much more VN-friendly ADV mode, which stops the text from covering the entirety of the screen, instead condensing it into a more typical VN/RPG-style text box with character names. Overall, it's a wholehearted recommendation. You're looking at perhaps 150+ hours of reading for the Q&A arcs, plus a hell of a lot more time if you want to properly reason out the answers before they're presented in the follow up, but it's an investment that's more than worth it. A rollercoaster of insanity & mystery, presented with excellence across the board.