What was great with Higurashi it's that even after 26 episodes, you had a little bit of the answer... not all of them but, still. AND... there's another season of Higurashi. Umineko don't have any... and I'm not sure it's going to have one so... you will propably never have any answer to your questions. You will want those answer really bad tho !
And that's where the Sound Novel comes in !
Umineko is kind of 'like' Higurashi in the way the story is told. You will have the 'Question Arc'. Four of these. That's where the anime stop. Those are just... completely... Confusing.
For the Answer... you'll have to rely on the Sound Novel and that's not a bad thing because the Sound Novel is awesome.
- STORY
Let's be honest, Umineko is having a really original story also very complex and that's what's getting you into the story asking yourself all the question you should be asking yourself until the Answer Arc. The Anime failed at this part. To have a change to get the mysterie, you need details. You need to know the character. You need to know everything. Who's wearing the Golden Wing on his outfit ? Who isn't ? Who was where at this moment ? Who could have done this or that ? It's a Mystery and if Battler wants to say Beatrice isn't the culprit... he will definitly need a real culprit. Then... Who is it ?
Lots of thing were left behind making people misunderstanding that show. They sure had to cut stuff because they're so much more in the game but... maybe they tried to do that too much or cut the wrong stuff. I don't know.
I would have done 10 for sure in the Novel but since the anime screwed up it's going to be a 8.
- ART
I liked it. The Troll face were nice ( I'm thinking of Eva-Beatrice and Beatrice herself here, eheh! ) It's definitly not the Best Art i've seen but it was good. Really good if I think about the horrible art Higurashi had...
- SOUND
I have nothing to complain about the sound. They took the music from the Novel and put it into the anime and the Music in the Novel is good. It's not called a Sound Novel for nothing, eh ! The only thing I would complain about is that they put the song at some random moment at time but it wasn't out of place really it was just... different. I'm thinking about Mirage Coordinator. That song wasn't played at the Scene with Maria and her mother but it made the scene epic in the anime somehow.
- CHARACTERS
This is probably the place were everything went... an horrible way. In the anime, Battler looks like a Kid arguing about something he can see. He looks ridiculous even if some scene still show him the 'badass' way he actually is when he's all mighty in front of Beatrice. Then, he goes down to crying like a crybaby and it doesn't make any sense in the Anime when actually.. it does !
Let's make something clear right away...
This goal of Battler isn't to deny magic everywhere. It's just about denying magic at this moment on this island. He doesn't care about what's outside. He's not fighting for that. All he wants to show is that this could have been done by a human therefore he have to suspect someone ! Until then... Magic can exist at this moment in this island.
All of this wasn't made clear at all in the anime making people confusing about stuff they shouldn't be worrying about but instead use to understand.
Beatrice just looks like a Tsundere Girl it can be annoying at times and she looked maybe too kind at times.
And let's not talk about all of the relatives... None of them got enough air time to make the viewer understand them, know them and finally love them and reach Battler's issue : Being unable to believe one of his loved relatives killed the others !
- ENJOYEMENT
I don't know if that's just me but... I loved the show. I wanted it every week when it came out. I could watch the same episode twice and finally, it made me try to be able to play the Sound Novel.
Now... Let's talk about the Ending of the Show. I said before the ending wasn't suposse to, and isn't going to, answer any of your question. Actually the Ending of the anime feels like a joke. Everything ! All of it. That's where the lacks of character developpement couldn't help the ending at all so... it failed. I would recommend another ending if found on youtube. It was kind of Fan Made I think but it was awesome and really helped.
Anyway, I'll try to find it back. Tell me if you want the Link. It was much better and closer to the actual ending for the 4th Arc.
I hope this review won't scare you because you really should give it a try ! and if you like it... Maybe you could play the Novel !
I can garante you won't regret it.
