Story (9) - Welcome to the second question arc of Umineko. If you're reading this review, then that means you know the story already: The Ushiromiya family is called to a family meeting, a typhoon shows up, and the people of Rokkenjima start dying off in a sick ritual to revive a witch.
The first part of Episode 2 has a very slow start compared to Episode 1, but we get to explore the relationship between Shannon & George, and Jessica & Kanon. There's also the fact that Beatrice plays a major part in developing both of these relationships, and she actually has a main role now(as in you actually see her). It really sets the stage for the later parts of Episode 2. It's basically a romantic sub-plot.
The story, at its heart, is a mystery. While people of Rokkenjima are dying, Battler and Beatrice are watching this "game" from the parallel world. This is where Umineko really shines, as I've never seen such a debate of the likes of what Battler and Beatrice have. Every time someone dies, Battler must explain to Beatrice a human's way of the death, as he has to deny the witch in order to win.Beatrice's goal is to convince Battler that witches exist. The logic both Battler and Beatrice use are twisted, and some of the most complex arguments I've read in anything. Argument terms such as "Devil's Proof", a argument where something cannot be proved or disproved, are used and reversed in quick succession. It's almost like the words themselves are bullets, as they fire out as quick as a machine gun.
Art(7)- I'm not one to really care for art, so I'll be really brief here. The facial expressions of characters are really amazing, and capture the freaky moments of the visual novel in order to make up for the lack of music. Overall though, it's passable in every other area.
Character(9)- I'm not gonna go into much detail here, as that would be very spoilerific of who survived the first twilight. I'll go ahead and say that most characters get A LITTLE more depth. It seems Umineko wants to develop these characters slowly, as to keep the story fast-paced.
Now, I really want to discuss Beatrice. Beatrice is a magnificent villain. Her insane laughter and facial expressions will give you the creeps, and her actions will make you hate her. Her dialogue is great, as she really seems she's offering a view from someone who is not human. It's obvious that she's better than Battler in this game, as she's quicker on the argument than Battler himself. She's definitely among one of my favorite characters of all time. Her magic is explained a little bit more, but not much as to keep it mystery until the Answer arcs.
Battler is 10x better here than in Episode 1. He's a badass fighter who uses words like a pro. It's really hard to believe he's 18 years old, as he knows many more things than any 18 year old I've seen. He's the underdog of this game, and you can't help but root for him, because you WANT Battler to win. You want to see Beatrice's cocky attitude crumble. His lines are of the "never give up" sort, but it's really inspiring when you're looking at his odds. He's practically fighting a god, and it's still surprising how he's able to get back up time-and-time again.
Enjoyment(9)- The main enjoyment of this manga is the conspiracies of the people of Rokkenjima is picking out culprits, and Battler and Beatrice's battle. With the insanity and mysteries, this manga is incredibly enjoyable. It was a great thrill ride for me, and I read the Episode 2 in the VN before the manga. I was biting my nails with the suspense.
Overall(9)- If you liked Episode 1, Turn of the Golden Witch is going to flip you on your head. Legend of the Golden Witch was just a prologue. Turn of the Golden Witch is where the real story begins. It may have a slower start, but when it gets going it never stops! I'm still picking my head up off the floor after reading that explosive ending. Episode 3 isn't fully translated yet, so I'd suggest you start the VN after you finish this manga. You'll be clawing out your throat to see what happens next.
