r/umineko

I'm very early on in this story and I understand that it is a long, drawn-out slow burn that you have to give a lot of time into for it to be fulfilling. My main question is when do things get interesting in this game? So far all i've seen is a family reunion and it feels like genuinely half the dialogue is battler being a horny asshole. It's cool if the tone subsides but the story just feels super bloated with unnecessary dialogue at the start. (really battler's horniness, every time it comes up just makes me want to close the game.) Basically, I'm struggling to find motivation to read this story, even though I do hold an interest in it. Would it be a better idea to read higurashi first, so that I'm more enthusiastic about the author's works and the connections between the two?

also, possible spoiler: >!when trying to look up if battler's horniness would subside quickly, i stumbled upon a thread discussing how the story would have ended way earlier if battler was either a little more horny or a little less horny, and in reference to the "little more horny" bit it talked about if battler had groped a certain character and found out that their boobs were fake or something like that that the story would have ended there, as well as an idea that a character named "sayo" may have orchestrated the family meeting together and maybe even the entire mystery in itself, and that the early scenes were created from their perspective, as well as the fact that battler had dated sayo when they were younger.!<

>!a lot of this is what i deduced based off what i was skimming through before realizing that i was likely reading spoilers and tabbing off.!<

is any of that going to ruin my experience of the story?

Hello Umineko fans, please do your best not to spoil anything for me. I’m currently near the end of Episode 2 (around chapter 15), at the part where Battler gives up and starts believing witches exist, and I’m honestly really confused.

I don’t want to ruin my first playthrough, but if this is supposed to be a mystery, I feel completely lost. I genuinely can’t figure out how to explain everything in a human way instead of just saying “a witch did it” at the same time, I really don’t want to give up and accept that answer, because I want the full Umineko no Naku Koro ni experience.

So what should I do? Am I supposed to be this confused at this point, or am I missing something?

Ive been wanting umineko project on my android and i see that theres an android verson on the official site

I have some questions

1. Do i have to download evey file above before downloading the android 4.1+?

2. Do i have to do anything external to be able to play it on android?

3. Does it still work?

I should mention that I don't agree with this myself, but I've seen this sentiment quite a bit and am curious to see what the community thinks.

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Yo!

Just as the title says, I am a first time Umineko reader and finished Episode 1 last night, and wow, what an intro! As I progress through the series, I would like to make a post after finishing each episode to document my thoughts, questions and theories. As well as to get some (non-spoiler) perspectives from you guys.

This will be a very long post, so be prepared.

To preface, I have read all eight of the main entries of the Higurashi VN's, including the epilogue, (with the 07 mod for all of them) so I am accustomed to Ryukishi's writing style. I am of the opinion that the Higurashi VN's are some of the greatest pieces of fiction I've ever experienced and cried more reading that series (seven times to be exact) than any other pieces of media I've consumed in my thirty years of life, (I have a long-ass reddit post detailing my thoughts on Higurashi in my profile if you're interested in checking it out). And after reading the reception Uminkeo has received over the years, I was incredibly hyped to jump in after finishing Higurashi. Seriously, some of you guys are making this series out to be something that should be included in some type of literary canon that needs be studied for years to come. I hope it lives up to its reputation.

I will be consuming this series via the Uminkeo Project as I originally bought the Question and Answer arcs on Steam and planned on using the 07 mods, but after reading that much better translations exist, I did some research and realized that the Uminkeo Project was the way to go. (Sidenote: downloading and installing UP was a project in a half and I felt like I accomplished some nearly impossible goal once I got it to work, lol)

Now for episode 1. Right off the bat, the presentation displayed on the Uminkeo Project is top-tier! The visuals, the animations, the sound, the voice acting and (especially) the music, made the experience incredibly immersive and is a prime example as to why I think visual novels are such a wonderful medium to tell stories. Higurashi was the first VN series I ever read and it made me toss away the pre-conceived notions of dating simulators and porn whenever I think of VN’s. The atmosphere is thick when it needs to be eerie and intimidating, and warm and comforting when characters are just casually talking about nonsense. The music in this is sooooo good and adds a lot to each scene.

Now before I get to the positives--there are many-- I think it would be a good idea to get my gripes out there first and out of the way.

1.) Pacing and showing vs. telling:

My investment and enjoyment level for episode 1 came in four phases that mirror almost identically to my experience reading the first chapter of Higurashi:

1. This is very slow and I'm getting impatient; however, Ryukishi07 taught me that patience will be rewarded, so I'll stick it out and pay attention.
2. I'm actually getting attached to these characters and am enjoying their interactions and dynamics. Despite knowing that shit will hit the fan later, I'm actually quite enjoying observing these characters muck about.
3. Oh shit! Things are getting real now and I need to know what happens next. Now that I think about it, there was a lot of foreshadowing early on.
4. Wow. I'm emotionally drained and have so many questions. I'm 110% invested in this series and need to see how this progresses and how my questions will be answered.

Ryukishi07's use of pacing and exposition is a real double edged sword and is very prominent in this first episode which made it equal parts frustrating and engaging. On one hand, I greatly appreciate and commend how meticulous and thought out all of the plot elements and character development is displayed here as it gives me plenty of things to get attached to and consider later on, and the slow pace gives room for everything to breathe so nothing feels too rushed and can develop naturally; on the other hand, some trimming during certain sections would really help the pacing, while still getting the important information across, without having moments where I think to myself, "Okay...we get it. Move on!"

I understand that a bunch of information needs to get established early on, but it's a bit annoying when the author feels the need to spoon-feed us historical context and character backstory in excruciating detail instead of piece-mealing this information as the story progresses and letting the reader connect the dots. And since we're able to access tips and character profiles, the extra information could be placed there for us to read when necessary.

2.) Lack of subtext and stating the obvious:

You know how some of the best pieces of fiction reveal emotions and information by having the audience read between-the-lines of character actions and dialogue depending on the context of the situation, because people don't typically outright say what they're feeling and why they do certain things? Well, that occasionally gets tossed aside here. I would have to comb through a bunch of scenes for examples, but I'm pretty sure you guys here will know what I'm talking about. There were many moments where I was able to discern what a character was thinking/feeling during a scene by how they reacted to certain situations, but the author has this sense that the reader won't fully grasp what is being shown and feels obligated to explain exactly why a character reacted the way they did and what they're feeling at that moment, even though it's already pretty obvious if you have some media literacy under your belt and pay close attention.

This didn't ruin the experience as I was still heavily emotionally invested throughout, but this hindered it to a degree and really needed editing of some sort.

3.) Battler's pervyness:

I know, he's an immature eighteen year old that will go through an arc. Yes, this takes place in Japan during the 80's, so values and cultural norms were/are different. Yes, Battler has redeeming qualities about him. But the blatant sexual harassment made me cringe beyond belief and he honestly needed a good kick in the nuts whenever he did this. How the hell am I supposed recommend this series to people and gloss over this behavior from the main character? I really hope he mellows out.

Okay. With that out of the way, lets get to the positives:

With the exception of Krauss, (who gets the gold medal for the most punchable face so far), and Rudolf, (who gets the silver medal for the most punchable face so far), I'm incredibly interested in all of these characters and look forward to all of the arcs they will eventually go through. Even though I only finished episode 1, I already have a strong grasp on each characters' personality, motivations and flaws. Given this is a Ryukishi07 project, I strongly suspect there's a lot more depth and secrets within each character that will be explored and analyzed--and the author will deliver many, many emotional gut punches that will make me sympathize with even the most unlikeable characters. If he can make me feel that way towards Krauss and/or Rudolf, that will be a major accomplishment.

Battler, George and Jessica are a wonderful trio and I love how well they work together. Their dynamic feels incredibly natural and the way they go about navigating the mystery and express their thoughts and perspectives towards their conniving parents make them relatable, even if you don't have wealthy parents plotting to take over an inheritance from their black magic obsessed grandfather. I also enjoyed their musings on different topics and the way they dissect them amongst themselves. Much like in Higurashi, you can't help but get immersed in their dialogue and feel as if you're participating with them in their discussions.

For Maria, she fits that "creepy kid that knows too much" archetype pretty well, and I do have a degree of sympathy towards her as she's an outcast in her social and family life and gravitated towards the world of black magic and witches in order to escape that reality. It was honestly heartbreaking and all too relatable for those who have been perceived as "weird" and turn to escapism to cope. I'm excited to learn more about her.

The politics between the siblings regarding the inheritance and how/why they're so hellbent on taking it over was honestly intriguing and engrossing, even though the idea of wealthy people bitching over money sounds unbearable on its surface. The battle of wits displayed was incredibly entertaining and every new bit of information that gets brought up to turn the tables made me go, "Oh shit!" Making me wonder how the characters were going to counter. What also made it work were the stakes involved for each sibling. They weren't after the inheritance simply because, "I want more money!" They all fucked up in some way in their businesses and see the inheritance as a lifesaver within arms reach; add the proposal of tons of gold that may or may not exist, and things get even more complicated. And while this is going on, Kyrie and Natsuhi are cast to the side due to them not being blood-related to the family, and are only there for support; despite the latter being the wife of the future head of the family and puts much more effort into her role compared to her bitch-ass husband who doesn't give a shit and only saw Natsuhi as a means to give birth to a child.

In regards to Natsuhi, I grew to like her more and more as the episode progressed as I sympathized with her dealing with the pressure of having to live up to the family name while also being disrespected for not being blood-related (even though Hideyoshi was also married into the family, yet everyone seems to respect him more), and all of the effort she put into being the wife of the future head of the family, and the mother to a possible heir, not being appreciated in any capacity. But when things get serious, seeing her take on the leadership role and going full mama-bear mode was incredibly satisfying to see, even if it led to questionable decisions. A moment that stuck with me was when Kinzo shared appreciative words towards her and expressed gratitude for her being in the family--despite not being blood-related. Her elation upon hearing this, after being mocked to oblivion by Eva, was heartwarming.

And while all of this is going on, Kinzo is in his study spouting indignation towards his foolish children and forever yearning for his beloved Beatrice. I hope I get to see more of Kinzo and Beatrice's backstory and what their relationship was like. I mean, damn dude. You're willing throw everything away to see her again? I guess falling for a witch that gave you everything can make any man go insane. I am also curious about this magic system that's determined by luck and impossible probabilities Kinzo keeps brining up. I'm sure this will be explained in further entries, but it sounds complicated and counter intuitive.

Lastly, the servants. Shannon is an angel that must be protected at all times; Genji's mysterious aura is intriguing and I want to know more about him; Kanon feels like a character whose backstory is going to make me cry at some point; Kumasawa is hilarious and has a mischievous side to her that may or may not bite her in the ass in the future; Godha gives the vibes of a professional ass-kisser and although he’s great at his job, he has no problem handing menial tasks to those he perceives to be beneath him and would gladly throw them under the bus if it benefits him; and Nanjo is...well, the wise, old, reliable doctor who's familiarity with the family makes him a valuable member to the cast.

I especially like the recurring theme of doubt between the family members and how it creates paranoia and delusional theories of ulterior motives amongst them. Much like in Higurashi, when doubt festers, the important things we hold dear--mainly, the bonds we have with our friends and family--crumble. Even though the issue of the inheritance is main point of the conference, it doesn't matter in the end if your fucking loved ones are being brutally murdered.

This is getting long, so let's get to questions and theories.

So it's pretty obvious that the manner in which these murders took place was purely supernatural. Even though Battler is so sure that the culprit was a human of some sort, I can't see any way that a person could've been able to commit these murders, and the author did a pretty good job of setting up these deaths in a way that makes it pretty obvious. Again, this is episode 1 of the question arcs, so a lot more will be revealed later on. The riddle and the method in which the murders take place are open to variation, so I'm curious how this will be played out in further episodes. The order in which each person gets murdered will play some significance in the future, so I'll make sure to keep notes.

I did find it an interesting choice for Beatrice to actually show herself in the Tea Party section of episode 1 and establish and important plot element in the future: namely, Battler's unwillingness to believe that a witch exists and Beatrice's delight in being challenged by this pervy, brash, stubborn character and making him submit to her power. And in the ???? scene for episode 1, the introduction of Rika, I mean Rika...I mean...Bernkastel. So she's bored and wants to help the reader put up a fair fight against Beatrice and is willing to give us tips? Why? If she's not a friend nor an ally, why help us at all? Is it seriously just because of boredom? I feel like this was included because the author, or from the suggestion of an outside party, knew this series was going to be an absolute clusterfuck and included Rika's--I mean, Bernkastel's!--involvement as a bone to throw to the reader to make things a little more comprehensible.

Other questions and theories I have:

• The altar that was struck by lightning during the opening boat section. What is the significance? (I assume this will be brought up later)
• Kumasawa knows a lot more than what she's letting on. I highly suspect she has a conniving side that will come out later.
• How the hell did Hideyoshi and Eva meet and hit it off? Hideyoshi seems like a good dude, but damn. He must have high-level charisma 'cause Eva is way out of his league, lol.
• Maria's dad. Who is he? Why did he run off? Why does Maria keep saying "uu" all of the time? When did her obsession with black magic start? Why does Beatrice have some type of special connection to her? Is it because she's "pure" and hasn't sinned?
• The spears that kill each person are named after a demon that coincide with one of the seven deadly sins, what sin did each person commit to warrant that specific spear?
• Is Beatrice really insisting on having the riddle solved so that she can eternally rest? From what I've seen, she seems to be enjoying bringing people back to life and fucking with them.
• How did that letter get into Kinzo's study even though it's magic repellent? Was it one of the human characters? It seems like only Beatrice was able to place it there, but if she can't enter the study, how did it get in there?
• Will the deaths play out similarly in each episode, but with little differences like in Higurashi?
• Do any of the characters get reincarnated with past knowledge like Rika in Higurashi, but are doomed to replay the same events over and over again?
• Why does the magic system rely so much on luck and probability?
• George seems too much of a goody-two-shoes, I have a sneaking suspicion that he has a dark side that will be revealed later.
• How exactly would characters go about solving the riddle? Do they need to go to a certain part of the island to submit their answers?
• What's in the forest? There's go to be some crazy shit in there.
• How will the witches that are hinted at be used in future episodes? (Only one way to find out!)

Thanks for reading! I'm going to start episode 2 tonight and will write down my thoughts, questions and theories here in future posts. I promise they will not be as long as this one. I'm going to stay away from the subreddit to avoid spoilers and will only come to post. Please share your thoughts and perspectives--no spoilers, obviously--and let me know if there are certain things that I should keep my eye on as I read.

Have a wonderful weekend and Praise the Golden Witch.

EDIT: why is reddit fucking up my four phases list?! It keeps removing points 1 and 4 and will confuse readers. Ugh...

That, or people who get tired of it while playing the game and it leaving a bitter taste in their mouths? Me, personally, I can accept that he writes in circles sometimes, (literally considering the plots of his games) that he overexplains things that don't need to be, but I still love his work in spite of how cumbersome it is to read at times. I thought of this because I've introduced a friend to Umi and we're playing Ep 8 right now and we're at the part where the goats are eating up Rokkenjima and he said to me that this is boring to him and he got the impression that R07 is just drawing things out. I personally love ep 8, despite the flaws it has (some of which the manga does correct imo, though I still haven't finished the entirety of it.)

What do you guys think? Spoilered so people can discuss scenes freely.