Werewolf In The Woods

This arc of Higurashi centered on Mion and Shion. The artwork in this arc is an improvement over the first one, particularly for Mion, Shion, and Rena. However, Rika and Satoko's art doesn't quite measure up, though they are scarcely seen anyway.  
Still, this arc was incredibly confusing, fittingly so as a "Question" arc, with answers only emerging in the "Eye Opening."  
I enjoyed this arc less than the first, though I'm not sure why. Perhaps it was because the first arc introduced me to Higurashi entirely, or maybe it was simply creepier.  
Given that this arc focused on my favorite character, I was thrilled to delve deeper into Mion's story. Yet, distinguishing between Mion and Shion remains challenging. The first volume featured Shion and Mion playing mind games with Keiichi, while Rena stayed true to her unsettling nature. But, as is typical of Higurashi, it all ends in bloodshed.  
The second arc left me astonished, yet I maintain that the first is superior. Nevertheless, the Cotton Drifting Arc is definitely worth reading.

After going through the 2nd Arc of the Higurashi series, I must say the author is a pure genius...  

I would rate it all a solid 9...  

Perhaps I had set my expectations too high since I absolutely adored the 1st Arc. It began in a similar fashion—everything and everyone seemed so sweet and innocent. There were parallels with the first arc that might have dulled the experience slightly. The twin sister concept wasn't overly terrifying; it was somewhat predictable that there would be an evil sister involved. However, the twist at the end was genuinely outstanding and made it all worthwhile. The artwork was impactful and eerie in moments—the scene with the bed crawling brought Ju-On to mind.  

This is very highly recommended but definitely not for those with vivid imaginations, or they might end up dreaming about footsteps, mutilation, and someone lurking under their bed... :D  

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Rika-chama: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni is NOT Overrated, Nippa!!

When I read the first chapter "Spirited Away by Demon," I thought I had discovered another great mystery manga, as I've read many detective mangas (Conan, Kindaichi, QED).

But for the "Cotton Drifting" chapter, I believe this is the best mystery+horror+drama+romance blended manga I've ever seen! How the characters secretly love one another is both cute and sad at the same time.

The plot itself and the storytelling are perfect! While it keeps you busy pondering how this cute and sad puppy love will conclude, the wheel is still turning, foreshadowing that there will be (literally) blood, as in previous chapters.

But it's not shallow drama or psychopath horror, so what you think is true might actually be true, half-true, or completely false! The drama scenes have depth and will make you cry naturally without forcing. Adding some nostalgia and personal sympathy if you've ever had the same (or closely) type of relationship as the characters had.

Artwork is well-done, though it can still be improved.

Overall, this is my favorite chapter along with "Eye Opening," which is the answer arc for this chapter.

Watangashi is the sequel to the beloved Onikakushi. Does it hold its own well?  

Firstly, the story is certainly weaker. Not only are the questions posed in this chapter lackluster, but the plot can also be predictable at times. That said, there are moments of beauty within it. Secondly, the art. It's definitely an improvement over Onikakushi, with some horror imagery even managing to unnerve me. Thirdly, and lastly, the characters. This is undoubtedly the strongest aspect of Watangashi. Witnessing Mion's struggles genuinely made me empathize deeply with her plight.  

Overall, it's a solid sequel. While it may not be as strong as Onikakushi, it still fulfills its purpose effectively. 7.5/10, 4/5.

The various arcs of the manga version of Higurashi each have distinct entries on MAL. Consequently, I've decided to review the second arc for fun.

Please bear in mind that my knowledge of Higurashi extends only to the first three arcs of the manga.

Story:

Keiichi Maebara and his family have relocated to Hinamizawa... hold on, this is how the first arc began! It's almost as though the world has reset to that point in time... Anyway, it starts much like the first arc: Keiichi and the girls enjoy themselves, and chaos ensues. I must mention there’s a part early on involving Keiichi and his father that I found amusing. Additionally, we're introduced to a new character, Shion, Mion's identical twin sister.

But naturally, after the cotton drifting, people vanish, and the prime suspect is Keiichi's best friend, Mion. But how did it escalate to this? Once again, panic, paranoia, and psychosis take over the main characters. Personally, I didn't appreciate the plot of this arc as much as the first one. It takes longer for the facade of comedy to dissipate, and the relationship between Keiichi, Mion, and Shion—I'm not a big fan of teenage love triangles. Nevertheless, the mystery and fear from the first arc remain. The reader also learns more about Hinamizawa and the Sonozaki clan in this arc. 8/10.

Artwork:

The art in this story arc is impressive. It's nearly breathtaking at times. The characters look fantastic, and the backgrounds are stunning. I would have truly appreciated it if Yutori Houjou, the artist of the second arc, could have illustrated the entire Higurashi manga. Even so, you still get some excellent visuals here. 9/10.

Characterization:

The characters continue to be intriguing. Shion, unlike Mion, behaves more femininely, but then again, she might not be as innocent as she appears... Moreover, we learn more about Mion as well.

This is still early in the series, and there's still much I don't know about the characters, but I remain captivated by them. 9/10.

Enjoyment:

This arc has a slower pace, but once again, when the playful antics conclude, it quickly grabs my attention. Why are these deaths occurring during the cotton drifting? What precisely happened to the missing individuals? Was that truly Mion... or Shion that Keiichi was conversing with? The mystery continues to loom over this series, and it's a mystery I yearn to unravel. 8/10.

Between reading this and playing the visual novel version of Umineko, 07Ryukishi swiftly became one of my favorite creative writers of all time. I wonder why more people can't craft horror as skillfully as he does?

I absolutely loved this part of Higurashi. I couldn't help but keep turning the pages, and there was one moment that scared me so much I screamed! (Well, I flipped to a scary page and my dad yelled while watching his football game.)  
I truly adore the art style in this series; it does an incredible job of conveying the characters' emotions.  

What captivated me the most was the mystery—where were Satoko and Rika? What about Shion? Why would Mion do such a thing? And when I finally uncovered the truth in the answer arc, I was completely stunned.  
The expressions in the artwork shift from incredibly cute to downright terrifying.  

The only aspect I could do without was the Angel Mort incident with the revealing outfits. But let me tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Keiichi in the maid's costume!  

Overall, I highly recommend this series! I've been hooked on it ever since I discovered it around two years ago!!<p>

Nah Was talking about cover