The art, for starters is, honestly, not that great. It's in-between "okay" and "good." The repeated use of content/facial expressions when the character is obviously in a totally different mental state is jarring, to say the least, but at the same time, I don't think it fully portrays their transition from a sane to insane mentality. Both the OST and Voice are excellent. (The OP and ED stick with you, and are great reflections of the series.)
The characters are very well done. While some may be a bit cliche at times, or even annoying, you still feel attached to them. If they are in pain, you are in pain. If they are happy, you're (for the most part) happy. (Just watch out for your fingernails...)
The setting is original, and completely fleshed out. (Now, I know the "small town" vibe may seem cliche, but the way that it's handled in the series, especially with the amount of people in this seemingly small town, is masterful. It really feels ALIVE.)
Episodic value is fabulous. It has you sitting on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen next. However, while there's not any "filler" on this non-stop murder train, episodes (and time) jump, making things hard to follow. While this is on-purpose, it's still there.
The overall storyline is pretty good. Things may not always be clear, but questions end up getting answered eventually (for a majority). Ideas may be a tad cliche, but are drawn out and integrated wonderfully. Ending is fulfilling in some departments, but also leaves quite a few questions unanswered, making way for season two.
"Higurashi" is a really strong series. While the art may take a little getting used to, as well as the way the story unfolds, it truly is a great show, and will have you sitting on the edge of your seat (or standing 30 feet away from the screen, depending on the type of torture being invoked on a character).
