Tehát, a Higurashiba azért kezdtem bele, mert ott volt a cosplayer csapat, a When Cosplayers Cry, de csak videóról láthattam őket.Valamint kedvenc DevintArt galériáim is gyakran bővültek ilyen képekkel, de Beryl-chan volt a végleges(Már rég nem beszéltünk, de nem hiszem, hogy egy szia!mizunál többre is jutunk még valaha :().

Jó történetű anime, érdekes felépítés, sok kérdés, mi jöhet még?...

1983 júniusa.Maebara Keichii alighogy egy hónapja lakik Hinamizawában, máris rengeteg barátot szerzett.Mind lányok, név szerint Mion, Shion, Rena, Rika, Satoko.

A történet érdekessége, hogy arra a pár rohadt kérdésre nem kapunk választ, ami a megnézésre sarkallt.Mi Oyashiro-sama átka?Hogyan tűnt el Satoshi? Majd a Kaiban.Ugyanis itt a szereplők hátterét, Hinamizawa szomorú és megrázó eseményeit ismerhetjük meg.

Én Hanyuuból nem nézném ki így 5 rész alapján, hogy megátkozott volna valakit, de minden jel egy ismétlődésre, időcsapdára utal, ami végülis jó, hogy van, mert ha mondjuk valami enélkül történt volna meg valami, rossz lett volna.Tudni kell, hogy a napok ugyanúgy eltelnek, ugyanúgy öregszik a karakter.Legalábbis azt általam ismert verzióban.

Rena szerintem azért szerepelhet felnőttként a Kaiban, és azért élt tovább Oishii, mert akkor történt a Nagy Hinamizawai Katasztrófa, amikor ők elszállították Renát, és ezzel még a hurokban sem voltak benne.De most Rena két emberként létezett?Mert az "újrakezdésben" ő is ott volt.De ez még így is érthetőbb válasz, mint az összefüggések keresése.

Tetszett, hogy Rika már-már készült a halálára, és Shion esetét is mindvégig tudta.Sajnos itt sem a jó befejezést adta ki Rika visual novelje, pedig nyernie kellett volna.Ha nem vacakol annyit, hanem amikor a földön törtölgeti a szemét, akkor nem a haját kellett volna húzogatni, meg nagy lassan bemutatni a halála okozóját, hanem beadni neki.

Néha a legkülönfélébb kivégzési módok alatt gondolkoztam, hogy kinek jut eszébe ilyen, de a moe szereplők elég durván át tudnak alakulni.Tudom, hogy az első képen Mion van, a második pedig Shion egyik dühkitörését ábrázolja, de mivel szinte teljesen egyformák...

Akkor henekre bontott értékelés:

Onikakushi:Nagyon tetszett.Az utolsó két rész kellően izgalmas volt, bár itt is nehéz eldönteni, mi igaz és mi nem.Ha valaki hatchettel rohangál(akkormár szekerce vagy bárd, de én így hívom), akkor ahhoz ki kéne mennie a rendőrségnek, nem csak telefonálnia? Aztán az ütővel gyakorlás, na az...De mivel Mionék sírtak a végén, mégis az a megfelő, hogy hatchetes Rena nem ilyen óvatlan, és csak képzelte.Végülis, a 2. vagy 3. részben volt a dokinál, és injekciót kapott.De ha valami erős nyugtató is volt benne?Mert nem tűnik logikusnak ezzel az orvosnál bentléttel húzni az időt, anime aggyal max. csak a rendelőt mutatták volna, ahol mégtöbbet hall, majd elmegy XD Csak hangosan gondolkodtam, lol
Watanagashi:Még ez is tetszett, de a vége...Jajj.Komolyan mondom.A szöges résznél én is alig bírtam odanézni, de amikor a legvégén Keiichi odaképzelte Shiont-t, az igencsak win volt.

Tatarigoroshi:Ez volt az igazi Satoko-s chapter, aminek örülni lehetett.Plusz nem volt végignézhetelen vége XD Azok az ütésnyomok Satokon, miután Keichii megölte az ojisant...Hát, az horrorisztikus volt.De Kei-chan nem ölte meg, csak képzelte.Kapott egy kis gyógyszert.Asszem' a vulkáni gázok itt is befigyeltek.
Himatsubishi:Már a kis Rika sokat tudott erről az esetről, de 6-7 év alatt sem oldotta meg a rejtélyt.Ejj, pedig megspórolt volna jópár részt...Áá, nem.Nekem a Higurashi első helyen áll, mert érdekes, drámai és elgondolkodtató^^"
Meakashi:A Watanagashi magyarázása.Rengeteg titok kiderül belőle, például amikor Keichii beképzelte magának a lányt, akkor már mindkét Sonozaki halott volt.Szerintem Rika nem kattant be, de meg akarta állítani Shion-t(na igen, a nővérke jelmez nagyon illik hozzá), de nem sikerült, így inkább öngyilkos lett.Valószínűleg elege lett már a folytonos kivégzésekből.Elég nagy lelki teher uralkodhat rajta.Durva, főleg a szögek, de nagyon előre viszi a történetet.
Tsumihoroboshi:Rena-chan henje.De ide nem tudnék mit írni, amit nem a Renához akarok.

Karakterek:

Shion: Yandere karakter( bár alapból komolyabb, mint Rena), aki szerelmi bánat miatt öl.Hiszen Satoshi meghalt és nem lehetett együtt vele, ezért depresszív állopotba kerül és a gyilkolástól sem riad vissza.
Mion:Egy abszolút jópofa, vicces karakter, ő lesz a Sonozaki család vezetője, ha felnő.Természetes, ahogy a vezetékneve sugallja, ő is ludas ám...
Rena:Ő is yandere, de ő a családi élete miatt vált azzá.Először hirtelen felindulásból megölte Rinát, majd annak társát, vagy mijét, ugyanis arra a karakterre nem figyeltem^^" Miután a lelki világát bemocskolta ezzel, szinte depressziós lett, és nem tudta letenni a hatchetet.Az egész világot ellenségnek tekintette, de Keiichi visszahozta a cuki, kedves moe lánykát^^Egyébként szereti az aranyos dolgokat, és egytől egyig hazavinné őket^^
Rika:Aki többet sejt a dolgokból, mint gondolnánk.A komoly, érett Rikát szeretem, de ez a jópofizás, jókislányosdi már kezd az agyamra menni.Pedig cuki, de nem állandóan.
Satoko:Kedvencem^^Hasonlít rám, aranyos, szeretnivaló(önkritika gyakorlása :P).Ja, és folyton kieszel valamit Keiichi ellen.Ezzel talán azt próbálja meg pótolni, amit bátyja eltűnésével elvesztett.Szerintem a Nii Nii-t látja a fiúban.
Takano Miyo:Igazi ribi karakter.Ő az, akitől kiráz a hideg.
Keiichi: Én sokakkal ellentétben nem utálom, bár amiket a gyógyszerek miatt produkál...Komolyan.
Satoshi:Nagyon tetszett, ahogyan védte Satoko-t, és egy ilyen verés után én sem beszéltem volna Shionnal.De mi nézők, akik ismerjük Shion viselkedésének hátterét is, másképp lettünk volna.

A grafika enyhén szólva nem valami szép, de ezt asszem' észrevették, mert a Kaiban ki lett javítja.Hogy érzékeltessem a különbséget, itt van két kép:

De más, ugye?Ugye, hogy nagy a különbség?Ugye?

A manga szebb, sokkal szebb.

A zenére viszont aki panaszkodik, az elég furcsa szerzet, mert a soundtrack egy mestermű, ahogy a seiyuu-k is jó munkát végeztek.Az opening különösen tetszik, mert érzékelteti, hogy kedves kislányok voltak,  de valahogyan bűnbe estek.lol

A HnNKn igencsak bővelkedik cosplay fanserviceben.Vannak olyan ruhák, amikkel még nem lenne baj, de van olyan is, hogy az egész falu megbámulja főszereplőinket.Tehénfolt mintás bugyi és melltartószerűség, nyuszi és cicafülek, gothloli ruha, nővérke ruha, másik seifukuja, de még balerinaruha is hattyús úszógumikat.Igen, sajnálhatják, akik elveszítették a játékot, de a ránk, nézőkre nem biztos, hogy így hatnak.

8/10(Bár szerintem myanimelisten megkapta a tizest XD) A néhol unalmas részek miatt(Jajj, Tomitake és Takano meghalt megint, megint semmit se tudunk), de attól még érdekes módon a legjobb, amit láttam.Első helyen áll, és tudjátok mit?Lesz még egy OVÁja és azt hiszem egy másik sorozata!

Mindenki, akit megérintett eme mestermű, várjuk együtt a Higurashi Rei-t és az Umineko no Naku Koro Ni-t!

Proyecto activo

Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni

Onikakushi-hen.  (En Proceso)

Raw: Koesuki, Fleshcut (Thanks ^^).

Traducción: Héctor, Melias, Enza, Oyashiro.

Blanqueo: Oyashiro, Joey, Melias.

Edición: Melias, Oyashiro.

Corrección: Enza, Joey, Melias.

La clave para abrir los archivos es "dypfansub" , sin las comillas.

Capitulo 1/7 Volumen 1/2: Listo. [Descargar]

Capitulo 2/7 Volumen 1/2: Trabajando en ello.

Capitulo 3/7 Volumen 1/2: Trabajando en ello.

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Enza

A medida que avancemos en el cómic y en la historia, iré completando la información.

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Protagonista del primer arco argumental “Onikakushi” (Llevados por los demonios).

Hijo de un famoso artista, se muda a Hinamizawa, poco antes de que empiece a transcurrir la historia, debido al trabajo de su padre.

Al llegar, no encuentra dificultades para congeniar con el resto de jóvenes del pueblo. Tras una inquietante revelación por parte de un desconocido, Keiichi empieza a verse envuelto en una nube de misterios, sospechas, temores y desconfianza.

Keiichi es una persona de apariencia afable, que encierra una especial habilidad para encaminar las situaciones hacia donde le interesa.

Al inicio de la historia, se ve inmerso en la confusión y el resquemor por el hecho de que sus amigas le estén ocultando lo que parece ser un terrible asesinato a sangre fría.

Regresó a Hinamizawa un año antes de la llegada de Keiichi, y está en el mismo curso que él.

Tiene una obsesión por llevarse a casa todo lo que considera mono. A veces, esto llega a incluir a las personas.

Su hobby es ir en busca de tesoros al basurero del pueblo.

Tiene la costumbre de repetir las partículas interrogativas cada vez que formula una pregunta. En japonés, que se emplean partículas para formar las interrogativas, esto puede resultar mono. Sin embargo, en español su equivalente sería el “en? En?” o “eh? Eh?” que empleamos normalmente cuando queremos repetir una pregunta de forma rápida.

Rena muestra a su vez una gran capacidad de percepción, en cuanto a todo lo que le rodea.

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La mayor del grupo. Como tal, es la delegada de la clase y del club de juegos en el que se encuentran los protagonistas y, posteriormente, Keiichi.

De fuerte carácter.

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Satoko es la traviesa, mocosa coloca-trampas.

Una de las más jóvenes del grupo, su afición es colocar trampas, para hacer caer a Keiichi.

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Rika es la chica tierna y amable de la historia.

Es muy buena amiga de Satoko.

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Enza

Recently, a creature that's being called the "Montauk Monster" washed up on the shores of Montauk, NY.  I don't think it's photoshopped or anything, since there were witnesses and such, but I do think it was fabricated.  It wouldn't really be that hard to make something like that and pass it off as real.  And someone took it before it could be investigated further, so...  Anyway, people seem to be fascinated by this for reasons I cannot fathom.  Well, I can, but it still doesn't make sense.

On another note, why is there no black tea ice cream available in stores?  There's green tea ice cream, but green tea flavored things always taste odd to me, and they don't taste that much like green tea either.  Today, wiggy1770 made some black tea ice cream with cashews and butterscotch swirled in, and it was really good.  So, why doesn't anyone make any?  Just something that's always bothered me...

I picked up a copy of Yen+ at Borders today.  As with all anthologies, there's some good stuff and some not so good stuff.  I haven't read quite all of it yet, but Nabari no Ou, Bamboo Blade, and Higurashi seem to be among the better things in the magazine, in my opinion.  Also, the artwork for Maximum Ride is pretty spiffy!  I read the first book in the novel series, and didn't like it that much (it wasn't awful, just not that great, IMO), but the artwork actually makes up for that enough that I want to keep reading.

~SmashingMelons

Conclusion: The series wrapped up very well as things took a turn for the violent. Rena takes the class hostage with the threat of death if the police does not start an investigation. Keiichi works to resolve the conflict from within. This is the major note worthy event as the series conclusion. Keiichi has broken the series of tragedies that have followed in all the other chapters. The series ends with some happy images and yet answers no real questions of what really happens. This is obviously going to be explained in the next season. One of the most fun series was the time bomb and final showdown. I felt that this wrapped up the series very nicely.

Series: The artwork and sound in this series is very good. It moves from cheerful and happy to intense and violent very well. I have never seen anything like that before. The series is able to keep on going jokes with the punishment games and the personalities of the characters. The unique plot and restart of everything keeps the viewers interested all the way to the end. I was very impressed with how the series was done. It happened from multiple angels so that we could see what happened from each characters eyes. I think this show us the unique physiological effects of a given series of events on a person.

Final thoughts:The conclusion of the series left me feeling happy for the characters as now things finally seem a little hopeful. However, I am anxious to start season two because I do not know what really happened. I don't think aliens were involved. Mion's family seems scary, but are they? Is there a shrine God? What about the strange men in the van? Could everything just be normal? Something has to out of the ordinary right...?

STATS
13 Episodes Watched

I managed to stay pretty focused on my goals this past week. Well, all but one. I really need to be in the mood to venture into Ergo Proxy. Maybe because the show has been stuck so far up it's own ass that I just don't find myself wanting to finish it. It doesn't help that the one episode I did watch this week was utter shit, and right as the show was starting to get good again too. Ouch. Since Ergo Proxy has left me so unsatisfied I decided to give my favorite anime another watch. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni racked up nearly half my anime time this week. And boy do I love it. Zero no Tsukaima III started off on the right foot and I find myself anticipating the next episode.

Next Week Plans
Finish Ergo Proxy
Weekly Releases
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

STATS
8 Chapters Read

I've been putting Monster off for too long. It really shouldn't be that hard to read 2 chapters a day. Oh well. I did manage to squeeze a few chapters in. I really cannot see how this manga is going to go on for another 100 chapters or so. Simple romance manga's seem like they could have hundreds of chapters and I'd be fine with it, but since each chapter of Monster seems so beefy it's almost a chore to sit down and read more than a few. Elfen Lied got a few reads as well. A "happy" ending doesn't look like it's going to unfold in this one.

First, I like to begin by explaining that I have been watching this series in pieces. I began buying it on dvd but sadly Geneon cut off American production at that time. I really wish Geneon would have continued production of series already released such as Higurashi no Naku Koro ni and Karin.

I have been watching the series in slight confusion to how all the episodes are related. This episode that finally was able to shed some light on the subject for me. I am finally happy to see a tie in the very beginning of the series. This episode is focused on Rena Ryuugu as she has obtained the scrapbook of Miyo Takano. However the episode takes a sharp turn as Rena confront Keiichi in the junk yard at her secret spot.

The conflict reveals a dark secret that Keiichi has been hiding about his past. He had been responsible for the attack on toddlers before he moved. Since he was a juvenile and his father is rich, the truth was easily hidden. I must say that I had suspected that Keiichi would have some sort of dark secret in his past. I feel it parallels the time that left Rena left the village. The characters now mirror one another as the series ends, but Keiichi knows the truth about his past experiences. The one were he killed Rena and Mion.

I am excited to see how the final episode will turn out. I wonder if the truth about aliens and parasites will finally be know. Is the notebook that Rena has different than the others? Does Mion's family really have evil intentions?

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni sucede durante Junio de 1983 en Hinamizawa. Keiichi Maebara, nuestro prota, se muda al pueblo y hace buenas migas con Rena, Mion, Rika y Satoko, compañeras de su mismo colegio. Con ellas Keiichi se encarga del club al que pertenecen, que consiste en juegos de mesa y cartas. El pueblito, Hinamizawa, parece normal pero ese parecer cambia poco antes de una festividad del mismo, Watanagashi, en el que le agradecen a la deidad local, Oyashiro-sama.

La serie se estrenó el 4 de abril de 2006 acabando el 26 de septiembre de ese mismo año. Consta de 26 capítulos la primera temporada y de 24 la segunda. También tiene un OVA, Higurashi no naku koro ni Gaiden Nekogoroshi-hen. El manga tiene 14 volúmenes, publicado por la famosa Square Enix y por Kadokawa Shoten. Incluso han sacado una película, Live Action.

Desde aquí doy gracias infinitas a mi gran amigo eeveeolog, el cual es como mi hermano mayor, por recomendarme esta serie (la cual prometo que me descargaré en cuanto tenga tiempo) y por todo lo que le he hecho decir sobre un amigo nuestro... lo lamento de verdad. Muchísimas gracias también por aguantarme en los buenos y en los malos momentos, como un verdadero amigo. ¡Ojalá nos veamos en Granada, oniichan!

Bueno... Ja nee~! ^w^

Opening edición televisiva | ひぐらしのなく頃にＯＰ (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni OP)
Opening completo | Higurashi No Naku KoroNi ~ Full Opening Song
Página oficial en japonés | Oyashiro-sama.com

Higurashi was originally a series of visual novels produced by 07th Expansion. I got my hands on the first game but the translation started spazzing on me half way through. I was so mad!!! Erg... Well, they were later adapted into an anime, manga, and even a third-person shooter developed by Twilight Frontier called 'Higurashi Daybreak.' The original story can be broken down into 8 arcs, 4 of which are 'question arcs' and the other 4 of which are 'answer arcs.' Additional arcs were created for the second and third seasons of the anime, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kei and Rai (Rai has yet to start airing), for the manga, and for the PS2 version of the visual novel, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri, created by Alchemist.

OK. So, how shall I introduce the story of Higurashi? Higurashi is a mystery anime. By 'mystery' I do not mean, 'Let's find the killer! If we all work together anything is possible...' and all that crap. Of course, occasionally it seems like this, but it is not. What you are trying to find is what is actually going on. This is hard to explain.

It would be best for me to explain the plot. The story takes place in a small town called Hinamizawa. It seems like a completely innocent town, but years previously there had been a plot to build a dam that would flood the town. They never really explain how the dam would help Japan, but they make no point is missing a chance to explain how it would devastate the town. Apparently there had been revolts in the town in which someone had died.

Things died down for a while until the festival of Watanagashi, in which a man and his wife were pushed off of a cliff (I am not sure if this is accurate. I will update it as soon as possible). Ever since that event, every year after the festival one person would be found dead and another would have gone missing. An interesting fact that can't be missed is that the first two people to be 'Onikakushi-ed,' or 'Spirited away by demons' were enemies of the town. They had wanted the dam to be produced. For the first few years, the people to be 'Onikakushi-ed' were enemies of the town. But after a few years, the victims started to become people who were visiting or had moved into the town. Anyone at all who was distanced from the town.

Calling this the plot would be a lie. The plot is much more complex than this. This is the 'mystery' of Higurashi, or at least part of it. I would write an analysis now, but I plan to start rewatching the anime. I will analyze the anime as I watch it.

I swear when playing visual novels, screen size matters.

I woke up pretty late today, because Rena scared the f*cking balls out of me. It was like whenever I closed my eyes, there would be a burnt in Rena image on my retinas saying stuff like "You're not hiding something from me are you, are you?" followed by "THAT'S A LIE!!!!". Not funny at all. I think I was kept awake about half-an-hour to an hour by that haunting image. Around 1am to 2am.

Actually having watched the anime, I could already tell what was coming. But I had no idea that it would be this scary. I mean its supposed to be psycho-moe, not errr, horror-moe? I don't know, but even though Rena was the most moe in the visual novel, I guess the sudden switch from pure, succulent moe to almost completely horror-moe was simply terrifying. Its like the "OH SHHHTTTTT SHE'S A TRAP!!111" feeling, but a hundred times worse.

The visual novel character design for Rena is really amazing, and she probably was a huge reason why Higurashi no Naku Koro ni was picked up for an anime adaption. In the anime, Rena was clearly psycho-moe similar to Rika. Now psycho-moe is fun, 'cause it is actually slightly humerous. Horror-shock-moe... isn't funny.

And of course, those puny screenshots (they are actually 640 X 480) don't speak much compared to playing HnNKn on a 19 inch screen. It was like music cuts off, and Rena fights off Keichii's arguments, realises she couldn't win then... her eyes go still like freaking marbles from hell! And some really freaky music suddenly plays. I had to tone down my speakers after Rena went nuts, because the music that accompanied her glare was equally, if not, as horribly piercing. Though I was stunned for about a full second before I could get my fingers to the speaker wheel.

Needless to say even though I've finished all 13 of the currently translated days, I think I'm gonna purchase the answer arcs first and fast forward to the sick parts when Mion forces Shion to pull out her finger nails. With any luck, the visual novel version of the nail pulling scene could be a 100 times scarier than the anime adaption.

P.S. Refer to this post for pre-scare impressions and for help on how to buy and patch up this game.

Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni

Irónicamente, los integrantes de este equipo no somos especialmente aficionamos al anime y el manga.

Sin embargo, una buena historia, allí donde las haya, merece su mención. Este es el caso de Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (Cuando lloren las cigarras).

El manga, origen del anime con su mismo nombre e inspirado en una novela, relata la historia de un joven estudiante que se muda a un apartado pueblo que nada tiene que ver con su antigua ciudad. Durante el transcurso de la historia, el protagonista, Keiichi, vivirá una serie de experiencias que le hacen ver cómo nada es lo que parece. Un tranquilo pueblo y sus habitantes, que esconden terribles secretos, se volverán cada vez más sospechosos (Asesinatos sin resolver, comportamientos extraños e inquietantes y lo que parece una antigua maldición).

La obra invita a reflexionar, sobre la importancia que llegan a tener las decisiones que tomamos a diario y la forma en que pueden conllevar una auténtica tragedia, mediante la presentación de diferentes puntos de vista ante una misma situación. ¿Nunca os habéis preguntado: ¿Y si en aquella ocasión yo....?. El escritor nos pregunta: ¿Habría cambiado eso en algo el resultado final? ¿Se puede escapar del destino?.

Cabe destacar que, a diferencia que el resto de series de este género, Higurashi no tiene personajes con poderes especiales, ni situaciones absurdas o fantasiosas. Toda la trama y el desenlace final se desarrollan desde una línea puramente cercana a la vida cotidiana y los protagonistas son cuidados al detalle para mostrarlos lo más humanos posible, lo que facilita que puedas llegar a verte reflejado, en algunos momentos, en los personajes.

Crudeza de la vida, Un encuentro con la parte más oscura del alma humana ¿Es ahí donde habita Oyashiro-sama?

Si tu curiosidad te invita, y el temor a la realidad que se oculta en ella no te lo impide, adéntrate en Hinamizawa.

Siempre hay sitio para uno más...

Melias

So I've been busy going through the English translations for the horror/mystery doujin visual novel HnNKn. The anime adaption has brought about so much hype that someone has decided to actively release the visual novel translation one day at a time. In fact, the first chapter of the next visual novel in the series Umineko no Naku Koro ni (or When the Seagulls Cry as opposed to HnNKn: When the Higurashi Cry) also done by 07th expansion has already been translated, but you'll have to buy it from Himeya Shop if you want to play it now. Canned Dogs has reported that the first chapter of UnNKn has been released for free on 07th expansion's site, but as of now no translation patch has been released for this version. Shouldn't take long though, so keep your fingers crossed.

Oh and I really hope Studio Deen doesn't animate UnNKn again, coz they didn't really give HnNKn the respect it deserved, at least for the first season. The second season was quite good, but, perhaps UnNKn should receive some KyoAni love no? :D

When you start the game, you'll immediately be hit by Rena in the famous costume outfit. Not much, but made for some minor lulz though.

I've played until day 4 or 5 thus far, and it did suck up quite a huge chunk of my time already. Nothing majorly scary has happened yet, but its still damn freaking fun.

The most gripping part of the visual novel thus far has to be the very first card game they had when Keichi was initiated into the club. The anime adaption may make it seem trivial, but when playing that part in the visual novel I could positively feel my heart racing. In fact, I didn't totally get what was really going on, and may have to play it through a few more times.

Oh and Rena is damned moe! Even though the character designs mostly suck, Rena sticks out like a sore thumb bitten by some loli. In fact, I prefer the visual novel depiction of Rena much more than the anime adaption. Actually, after you play through at least 4 days of the visual novel, you'll realise the anime adaption rushed EVERYTHING too much. I couldn't detect that Rena was moe in the first episode of the anime while in the visual novel she was simply moe madness.

The visual novel builds up the attachment for the characters much better than the anime adaption, quite similar to KyoAni's adaption of Kanon which as of now is still the best Renai anime out there since Clannad's ending was more or less fail. (However the big difference is that in Kanon, the girls slowly dissappear but in HnNKn they get beaten up by a baseball bat) I know I'll feel really sad towards the end of Onikakushi-hen, but I'll still have to press myself to keep going. Studio Deen never captured the same feeling that KyoAni did and when I first watched HnNKn, I was given the impression that this was some ass crazy anime that morphed cute little girls into psycho monsters for cheap horror scares. Not so in the visual novel. You really get a sense of how happy Keichii's carefree days in rural village of Hinamizawa were, and how sad it will be at the end of Onikakushi-hen when he has no choice but to bash the girls into a bloody mess.

So if you thought you have went through the whole HnNKn experience simply by watching the two seasons of the anime adaption, think again. Its always nice to go through the story again from a different perspective.

And I might add, Rena is much more crude/vulgar in the original visual novel. Comes as a mild shock to me, since she was either really cute, or really psycho crazy in the anime adaption. Never dirty.

As for the rest of the characters, I would say that the anime adaptions made them more attractive/sexy. Especially for Satoko. Rika's original visual novel iteration was quite ok actually, but Satoko definitely felt much more childish and stupid in the visual novel compared to her apparent maturity and deviousness that was depicted early in the anime adaption.

Also in the visual novel, Rena possesses some hyper punch thing that can knock both Mion and Keichi out in one blow. I can see how troublesome it is to actually adapt this into animation, and am glad that Studio Deen decided to keep it out. Buuttt.... it was really refreshing to see Mion recover after getting owned by Rena a few times lol!

I also have no idea why they decided to leave out the usage of moe in the anime adaption. I mean, Haruhi had HER say:

Well, nothing much so far since I've only played till around day 5, but I'll update with more impressions as soon as the scary stuff starts.

HnNKn has been translated up till day 13 now, and you can learn how to buy the game (1500yen or around 20 SGD only) and patch it up via the translation group's blog.

Anime

OK, I haven't really been watching much lately, except the stuff that comes on Adult Swim on Saturday nights. All I have to say about that is that Death Note is very close to its end, Code Geass is kind of cheesy, and I'm disappointed that the Pizza Hut references were edited out in the American release. Anyway, I'll have a proper review very soon, because Lucky Star volume 2 and the final volume of Kanon are both being released tomorrow.

Manga

Both Yen Press and Del Rey have announced manga anthologies, titled Yen+ and Faust respectively. This is great news, because so far the only English-language manga anthologies available in the US so far are Shonen Jump and Shojo Beat, which aren't really marketed towards hardcore otaku. Yen+ will have titles such as Bamboo Blade, Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni, Sumomo Momomo, Soul Eater, Night School, Maximum Ride, and others. Faust will have both manga and light novels serialized, such as the novel xxxHOLIC: Another HOLIC, from which there will be an excerpt in the first volume. These anthologies will be released in July and August respectively.

Music

A while back, I heard a certain iTunes commercial, which featured Coldplay's song "Viva la Vida." Now, I'm sure you've all seen the commercial, considering how frequently it comes up, but if you haven't, you can find it on YouTube. Anyway, I googled Coldplay soon after seeing the commercial, and found that this was the only song by them that I liked very much. (I also discovered that their cover band, the Coldplayers is, in my opinion, slightly better than them, but I digress.) So, when their latest album came out, I checked it out, and found that most of the songs were pretty good. So I bought it. Apparently, this latest album is a big departure from their old ways, perhaps because Brian Eno is producing it, and it has create a bit of a schism in their fanbase. Personally, I think their newer work is better, but that's probably because I was never a fan of them to begin with. Just my two cents.

Food

There've been a lot of frozen yogurt places cropping up lately, and I must say that I prefer Fraiche to Red Mango. It bothers me that there are no wet toppings at Red Mango, like fudge or fruit sauce. I don't think either place has fudge, but at least Fraiche has fruit sauce. Another thing is that Fraiche has plain yogurt or chocolate, whereas Red Mango has plain or green tea, and chocolate beats green tea, hands down. also, I think the color palette of Red Mango (red, brown, and super-light pinkish brown) is weird.

So yeah, just some stuff.

I'm a bit late for this, but here goes. Some new scans from Famitsu Magazine has been released showing some new screenshots of Pokemon Platinum.

The first of the six mini pictures above is Torn World. It looks distorted, but the entire map is 3D. The other screenshots were already shown in Coro Coro Magazine the other day. The last picture, Shaymin Sky Forme, was taken from Pokebeach (Finally a clear Shaymin Sky Forme picture!).

Since school is almost over for me (after failing my exams >.<), I've taken some time to catch up on my Anime-watching. All I can say is Higurashi no Naku Koro ni is not meant to be watched past midnight. *shivers*. The protagonist, Maebara Keiichi, spends his blissful days playing games (board games and card games) with 4 cute looking girls: Rena, Mion, Rika, and Satoko. However, Keiichi soon learns his friends may not be all that they seem. Horrific events unfold. The paranoia will drive you crazy! Well, this is a good way to start off a boring summer ^^.

-Jade

Animate recently launched its cosplay shop, Acos, with a small selection of goods. I'm personally really loving the price tag on the costumes they have- A Code Geass R2 Zero suit, complete with jacket, cape, pants, shirt, scarf, and gloves, is only 8,925 yen (~$84.76)! Alas, I would probably come off as the world's most misfit Zero the moment I walk into a mall (and possibly tackled for looking like a terrorist), so I'll have to pass on that deal. Also for the same price is Suzaku's Knight of Rounds costume, equally ridiculous on me. I'm hoping that Acos will add the Ashford Academy uniforms to its catalog in the future, since they're among the best school uniforms that I've ever seen in anime.

Acos also has a section on Higurashi no Naku Koro ni cosplay. While the costumes are charming (oh God, Hanyu sleeves!), I don't think they justify the price tags (7,140 yen, ~$67.80). They're really simple to make after all.

What I couldn't pass up, however, was the Vampire Knight school uniform. Also at 7,140 yen, the uniform is something that I can't make on my own and would cost a bundle if I had it commissioned, so I jumped on the preorder immediately. Now 7,840 yen poorer (extra 700 yen for shipping in Japan), I'm probably looking at another $15-$20 at least for EMS shipping from Japan to me in the US. orz.

If you want to order something from Acos, I can give you a hand, though you'd have to add $50 to the price to cover all shipping fees (from Animate to Japan, from Japan to me in the US, and from me to you).

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni - Shimamiya Eiko

Furimuita Sono ushirono (Shoumen dare?)
Kurayamini Sumewo tatete (Yoruwo hikisaita)

Amadarewa chino shizukuto natte hohowo
Tsutai ochiru
Mou dokonimo kaeru bashoga nai nara

Kono yubi tomare Watashino yubini
Sono yubigoto Tsuretette ageru
Higurashiga naku Akazuno morihe
Atomodoriwa Mou dekinai

Hitorizutsu Kesareteyuku (Aoi honou)
Kurayamino Sono mukouni (Asawa mo konai)

Karamino nakade Ugomeki nobashitekuru musuuno tede
Saa Darekawo kokohe izanainasai

Oniisan kochira Teno naru houhe
Donnani nigetemo Tsukamaete ageru
Higurashiga naku Kemono michikara
Kikoeteita koewa mou nai

Kono yubi tomare Watashino yubini
Sono yubigoto Tsuretette ageru
Higurashiga naku Akazuno morihe
Atomodoriwa Mou dekinai

Oniisan kochira Teno naru houhe
Donnani nigetemo Tsukamaete ageru
Higurashiga naku Kemono michikara
Kikoeteita koewa mou nai

PD: Espero que porfavor piensen en adaptar Miotsukushi-hen, el supuesto verdadero final de la serie.

Here's something:

Rozen parody again, this time with Higurashi no Naku Koro ni characters... yes, this should be the last time you see this.