It begins well, but the ending seems completely off-base. Correct me if I'm mistaken, but Higurashi is supposed to be a horror story, which can come in many forms. However, this series shifts into outright shonen battles by the end. The premise of strangers meeting in an abandoned village and being isolated from the outside world is classic horror material, and the narrative here is strong, with some solid mystery elements. Yet, things spiral out of control when the story transitions into samurai battles against armed gunmen. In my view, if you're dealing with a grounded series, you can't have someone wielding a sword defeat ten men, some of whom are armed with guns. This undermines the tension and doesn't align with the tone of the story. That said, everything leading up to the ending is the best Higurashi I've encountered.
I really can't help feeling that the Beyond Midnight Arc is somewhat perplexing in terms of its role in the overall story. I've always expected each part of Higurashi to provide another piece of the puzzle leading up to the grand reveal, and so far, this expectation has been met. But not with this arc.
There seem to be two possibilities here. Either the author simply neglected to incorporate any elements from the main storyline, making this truly just a side story with almost no connection, or I'm too dense to catch the hints, even after reading the entire Higurashi series. Both scenarios are quite plausible, and I wouldn't dare claim with absolute certainty which one is correct. However, for now, I'll assume it's the former.
The Beyond Midnight Arc presents an alternative timeline set two decades after the original story, focusing on a new main cast with only some of the original characters making brief appearances. As a standalone short story, it holds its own, but it doesn't contribute much of value to the overarching plot. Still, I wouldn't advise skipping it, just to be safe.
One aspect of the Beyond Midnight arc that I absolutely adored is the art and art style. The manga looks visually stunning, and especially the colored pages are a joy to behold. So, it's worth reading even if it's just for the art.
In conclusion, it's the weakest part of the original Higurashi manga series, but still a worthwhile read.
Ok, so maybe I'm going a little overboard giving this manga straight 10s, but in my opinion, it was one of the best Higurashi mangas I've read.
Story - What can I say? It's absolutely fantastic! It follows the plotline where everyone dies in the 'gas leak' incident and is set 20 years later, introducing new characters along with an older Sonozaki Mion. The story itself is a mini mystery, attempting to uncover the murderer, with Mion being suspicious throughout until the very end.
Art - As always, it's stunning. There are scenes featuring the ghosts of Rena, Keiichi, etc., which are beautifully depicted and evoke strong nostalgia.
Character - Mion has always been one of my favorite characters, and this story delves deeper into the politics of the Sonozaki estate. Otobe, the new protagonist, is often mistaken for Satoshi and proves to be a very likable character, offering a refreshing change from the usual cast.
Enjoyment - I truly enjoyed this manga. It effectively portrays the events following the gas leak and the deaths of our beloved characters, complete with a lovely twist at the end. It also introduces some intriguing supernatural elements.
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There seem to be two possibilities here. Either the author simply neglected to incorporate any elements from the main storyline, making this truly just a side story with almost no connection, or I'm too dense to catch the hints, even after reading the entire Higurashi series. Both scenarios are quite plausible, and I wouldn't dare claim with absolute certainty which one is correct. However, for now, I'll assume it's the former.
The Beyond Midnight Arc presents an alternative timeline set two decades after the original story, focusing on a new main cast with only some of the original characters making brief appearances. As a standalone short story, it holds its own, but it doesn't contribute much of value to the overarching plot. Still, I wouldn't advise skipping it, just to be safe.
One aspect of the Beyond Midnight arc that I absolutely adored is the art and art style. The manga looks visually stunning, and especially the colored pages are a joy to behold. So, it's worth reading even if it's just for the art.
In conclusion, it's the weakest part of the original Higurashi manga series, but still a worthwhile read.
Story - What can I say? It's absolutely fantastic! It follows the plotline where everyone dies in the 'gas leak' incident and is set 20 years later, introducing new characters along with an older Sonozaki Mion. The story itself is a mini mystery, attempting to uncover the murderer, with Mion being suspicious throughout until the very end.
Art - As always, it's stunning. There are scenes featuring the ghosts of Rena, Keiichi, etc., which are beautifully depicted and evoke strong nostalgia.
Character - Mion has always been one of my favorite characters, and this story delves deeper into the politics of the Sonozaki estate. Otobe, the new protagonist, is often mistaken for Satoshi and proves to be a very likable character, offering a refreshing change from the usual cast.
Enjoyment - I truly enjoyed this manga. It effectively portrays the events following the gas leak and the deaths of our beloved characters, complete with a lovely twist at the end. It also introduces some intriguing supernatural elements.
Overall - A MUST READ :D