Anime or VN

Aug 21, 2020 11:49 AM

Offline

Oct 2018

215

I was a huge fan of the original Higurashi anime and after learning about the visual novels, I stopped at the beginning of the second season. I have bought the games but haven't started playing them yet. I got to know recently that it was being remade. So should I wait for the anime and watch that first before playing the games or would it be better if I experienced the visual novels before the anime?

Aug 21, 2020 1:52 PM

ovy7

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Aug 2015

171

All of this depends on how much free time you have, and how much patience you have. The visual novel is long, and I mean really long, with people clocking even 100h+ on it. There's also a much greater amount of slice-of-life until the main plot starts, unlike in the anime.

So if you don't have any problem with those two things, then I say go for it and give it a shot. The VN is a totally different beast from the anime, and it brings so much needed context, background, and internal dialogue, that it would make the anime look like a poor adaptation IMO (even if it isn't exactly that bad).

You can also continue with the anime and then jump into the VN, as there's enough stuff in it to make it feel like something new.

Aug 22, 2020 2:36 PM

Touko

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Jun 2013

285

I can't recommend the VN enough. The story and characters are much more fleshed out, the pacing is better, the important scenes are more emotional and the OST is excellent. Playing it will make you feel like you yourself are living in Hinamizawa because the world and its intricacies are so deep. Like ovy7 mentions this also includes a lot of slice of life dialogue and expository dialogue about the town and its history. For me, this balances out the more gruesome and tragic scenes, but I can see why it would turn some people away. All in all, Higurashi is a beautiful VN series and it's almost impossible for any anime adaptation to do it justice. I'd say play the VN first if you have the time.

Aug 23, 2020 7:49 PM

YoshiKirishima

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Jan 2011

Edit: It sounds like you should go play the VN first, and go watch the new anime. Forget the rest of DEEN's. But you could also wait for the new anime to see how it is (it looks like it will be a real faithful adaptation), and just watch all of that. It is possible the adaptation could be really good. But the VN is an amazing experience, so if you want to experience it the same way as VN readers then you could read the VN first. Note that the first half of Onikakushi is a bit slow especially since you know what happens, but it'll ramp up real quick after the watangashi festival.

Highly highly recommend the VN.

The anime really doesn't do it justice. Think of DEEN's FSN compared to Ufotable's UBW, it's at least that big of a difference.

Keep in mind Higurashi is rated one of the best VNs of all time. The DEEN anime is nowhere close to being a top anime. Look at Clannad and Steins;Gate for example, both have top top VNs and since they were well adapted, they both are also top top anime.

I don't usually read VNs at all, but with Higurashi, if you get the fan mod (07th), you can get console 2d sprites + BGs with voice acting and lip sync, and get the original music. It feels like an anime if you just let it autoplay. Also, the voice acting in the VN is absolutely superb, it is some of the best voice acting I ever heard. It makes the horror parts so uncomfortable, and makes the emotional parts so heartwrenching and tearjerking.

If you watch the DEEN anime, you'll get something decent, but it has cut chunks of the story out and simplified the rest. It isn't nearly as thrilling or exciting as the VN, which has a lot of psychological thriller. And the VN has the emotional drama and tragedy, whereas DEEN's anime basically opts for a dry or edgy tone instead of emotional.

One thing to consider though is to wait for the new anime and see what people think of it. It looks very promising so far, a lot more faithful to the VN, and they will have enough episodes to cover everything thoroughly. So no rush to read the VN, but if you want to do both, read the VN first as once you know the answer to the mystery it takes a lot of the fun away, but watching it animated can still be fun later.

YoshiKirishimaAug 23, 2020 9:48 PM

Aug 23, 2020 10:36 PM

Adizcool

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Oct 2018

215

I guess I'll wait for the first few episodes of the new series and then read the visual novels based on all the replies. Thanks for all the suggestions!

AdizcoolAug 23, 2020 10:40 PM

Aug 23, 2020 10:40 PM

waalex11

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Dec 2009

9810

Good call. ^
I personally plan to experienced the Visual Novel for its full true depth and original theme of horror that the anime may or may not portray the same.

If and whenever the PS4 version gets licensed/translated into english, I'd definitely buy that.
If not, until then I'll eventually download the PS3 remaster on PC.

Sep 25, 2020 6:25 PM

Elyts

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Jan 2015

7410

Definitely go with the VN, after reading VN. DEEN Higurashi adaption sucks.

Sep 27, 2020 10:51 AM

PkmSilver

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Nov 2013

The VN gives you a whole new experience with both wholesome and traumatic scenes. Character development is multiple times better than the anime. There are multiple games in the VN that was not introduced in the anime that were hilarious.VN is a whole new experience.

Sep 27, 2020 11:03 AM

Sigma-

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Aug 2018

564

The visual novel is atrociously paced. If you’re used to the VN medium(and the horrible pacing that comes with most of them), then you should probs read it; if it’s your first time experiencing a visual novel, then I strongly suggest watching the show.

Sep 27, 2020 1:28 PM

#10

CptJackSparrow

Offline

Jan 2017

112

I havent read the VN but i can tell that i was a bit dissapointed by the 2nd season of the anime becuase its lost its horror aspect.
So if you are into VN then you should go with that imo.

Sep 27, 2020 1:46 PM

#11

WatchTillTandava

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Jun 2019

7868

CptJackSparrow said:
I havent read the VN but i can tell that i was a bit dissapointed by the 2nd season of the anime becuase its lost its horror aspect.
So if you are into VN then you should go with that imo.

The second season is definitely more of a thriller compared to the first being more horror, but if anything, the series was never either as its primary genre. What both have in common and its primary genre is Mystery, which is why MAL lists it first in the genre tags.

Oct 1, 2020 3:55 PM

#12

Laplace_kun

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Nov 2019

2506

Will anyone recommend the manga?

"All truth is meaningless. In the end, 'meaning' comes from the mind of each individual human. Even when there is a single truth, it can mean different things to different individuals. The truth has no meaning in itself!" - Erika Furudo

Oct 1, 2020 3:58 PM

#13

Zetsu_95

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Feb 2016

444

Laplace_kun said:
Will anyone recommend the manga?

The manga is great. I definitely recommend

Oct 1, 2020 4:03 PM

#14

Laplace_kun

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Nov 2019

2506

Zetsubear95 said:

Laplace_kun said:
Will anyone recommend the manga?

The manga is great. I definitely recommend

Ah thanks. The thing is I played Umineko VN among others, but now I have no time to devote to VNs. So It's great to hear that :)

Oct 1, 2020 4:03 PM

#15

Keirik

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Nov 2008

949

Laplace_kun said:
Will anyone recommend the manga?

The manga is good.

Oct 1, 2020 8:44 PM

#16

LeaveSatokoAlone

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Oct 2020

The Visual Novel is much better, but it is extremely long so it's a hell of a commitment. So far though, this new adaptation seems alright so it might be worth it as a substitute version for people with lives.

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