Reviews

• 

  Marnie

  Aug 17, 2022

  I don't think I've ever experienced the sensation of actual dread washing over me from a piece of media until now... I've played all kinds of horror games ever since I was a little girl, Amnesia TDD, Alien isolation and even more and the only sense of fear they made me experience was either that of darkness or when a monster appeared to give chase which would enable my fight or flight reflexes, nothing more. But this somehow managed to have me on the edge of my sit for 30 hours straight and my heart race constantly as more text would appear unveiling what happened next. I felt like I was the protagonist myself, the way the dialog was written was like I was actually talking inside my head and was about to act,

  I really felt the sense that I was the one who had just committed murder

  and the worst part of all is that

  none of the disgusting extreme gore scenes are ever displayed

  it's like so weird! How can it be possible for the reader's mind to feel in the missing gaps with extreme accuracy can it all depend on a sole thing?

  Someone's imagination?!

  I think this is actual true horror. I can't believe how much terrified I felt. As for how good the story or voice acting is (if you have the ps3 version mod) that's up to you to decide...

• 

  『 Toxiczo 』

  Oct 25, 2022

  Another normal day at Hinamizawa
• 

  Merry

  Nov 27, 2022

  i like it when keiichi becomes quirky
• 

  imeurogold

  Jan 7, 2023

  If you feel like you need a good cry, stop reading the reviews and go read Tatarigoroshi. It contains the highest emotional highs and lowest lows in the entire series.
• 

  Cocco

  Feb 12, 2023

  I wish someone would call me Nii-Nii too.
• 

  三司裕

  Apr 7, 2023

  Was I the crazy one, or was it Hinamizawa.
• 

  大将*

  Jun 18, 2016

  If you liked the first two, then you will enjoy this. Solid kintetic novel that builds on the mystery and characters present in the first two. Highly recommend.
• 

  Magusverborum

  Jun 18, 2016

  If you liked the previous two chapters then you'll probably also like this one. Should mention this one goes into some themes of child abuse, so if you're sensitive to that sort of thing be aware.
• 

  Puppy Czar

  Jun 18, 2016

  If you've already read the first two, buying this one is a no brainer. I'm sure you already know what you're getting yourself into, right? This time, it's with Satoko!
• 

  MFMegaZeroX

  Jun 22, 2016

  This is the best chapter yet. More mysteries have popped up, I have no idea what is happening anymore, and I love it.
• 

  samael21walter

  Jun 26, 2016

  Higurashi, with this release, has possibly become my favorite series of all time. Every release adds something, has a different flavor, and never gets boring. This one leaves even less room for setup than before, knowing that, because you played the other two chapters, it doesn't need to waste its time with introductions. By chapter 3, the plot is already in motion, and things are starting to get incredbily sad...and creepy. Let me warn you: This episode is depressing. If you can't take representations of child abuse well, then I would suggest you stay away from this. It isn't the most detailed description/situation out there, but it's enough that it gets the point across and is extremely depressing (and disturbing). So, with that out of the way, let's get into the basic plot of this chapter! By now, we've seen two sides of the story with Rena and Mion, and now we're getting a third with Satoko. This chapter focuses on Satoko almost exclusively in the early chapters, with a lot of important characters in other chapters barely even getting a mention (Shion basically shows up for one section out of the entire experience). When Keiichi enters a club activity based on cooking (after building himself up to be a master chef, no less), he begins to learn more about Satoko, and her bond with the missing Satoshi that has been mentioned in each chapter so far. Keiichi and Satoko develop a brother-sister relationship, and days are going great until her uncle comes back from a neighboring town. I don't want to say much more than that (though with the paragraph above, I'm sure you have an idea) as not to spoil any surprises. The only small issue I have with this chapter is that it's extremely coincidental. Sure, there have been coincidences thus far, but in this chapter it goes a little overboard with it. Suddenly, Keiichi and Satoko grow close, and characters reference how Satoko's tragedy with Satoshi means that they all must work hard to keep her smiling...all of this right before something bad happens. They build the ties specifically because of the events that follow afterwards as sort of a red flag that waves and sort of says "HEY, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN TO SATOKO, SO WE'RE MAKING EVERYONE TALK ABOUT HER". It's nothing serious, it's just a bit weird that all of a sudden everyone is hung up on her when shit is about to go down. Other than that, this chapter is FULL of twists. I have already thought up many solutions to the questions thus far, and some of the events that happen in this chapter threw me back to the drawing board. The ending in particular was a shock. I never even anticipated anything like it happening in this series, and suddenly, it shifted tones (much like the characters themselves). After the impactful, disturbing, and extremely suspenseful ending, I am Higurashi crazy again. I bought the two manga volumes of this chapter. I'm looking up the TV drama. When Watanagashi was over, I bought Higurashi Daybreak on PSP and the DS Collectors Edition of one of the releases (in Japanese, but I wanted anything Higurashi on my shelf, even if I couldn't read it). I am almost unbelievably in love with this series at this point, even as I think I'm sarting to piece together the conclusion before it happens (there's still 5 main chapters left). So, should you buy Tatarigoroshi? HELL YES! If you haven't read the rest of the series, pick up Onikakushi and Watanagashi first, and get ready for a thrillride. This series doesn't disappoint on any front (characters, story, humor, creepy factor, music, art). Just please, PLEASE, read the visual novels first before you go into the other mediums. I'm reading them as they release, and after watching the anime episodes and reading the manga chapters of the three released arcs on Steam, I can say that 1/3 to 1/2 of the content is cut. Sure, all of the really important plot elements are there, but the build-up and payoff of each chapter is severly neutered. There's nowhere near the same impact. I do suggest reading them after finishing the VN chapters, but only then. Anyways, this review has gone on wayyy long. One last note! Mangagamer, PLEASE release the other chapters as soon as you possibly can...please? You've supplied me a drug, and the longer I have to wait for the next chapter, the worse my Higurashi withdrawal symptoms will get.
• 

  ✩ Helenα ✩

  Jun 29, 2016

  Great chapter. The music was really good for setting the eerie atmosphere that surrounds this story! I really want to read the Answer Arc now. Tatarigoroshi presents even more mysteries about the weird things that happen in Hinamizawa, and it will surely keep you entertained if you enjoyed the previous chapters. 10/10.
• 

  strayseer

  Jul 10, 2016

  I have SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THIS GAME, so tl;dr: Tatarigoroshi is the most realistically written game so far. Emotional journey through [spoiler]child abuse[/spoiler] and feelings of powerlessness with a pinch of psychological horror. It is amazing. Buy it. -- Although Higurashi is supposed to be a series of scenarios involving the exact same setting and characters, all three games up until this point have been different. Not only are events different, but so is our protagonist, Keiichi. Both in Onikakushi and Watanagashi, Keiichi was still treated as a newcomer who was just barely integrating. He was oblivious to all history, legends and traditions of Hinamizawa, and people seemed to hide it all from him. He was more like an overwhelmed (Ch1) or a worried, kind-hearted (Ch2) victim. Tatarigoroshi, however, is the first time we see Keiichi act as a true villager who accepts Oyashiro-sama's legend fairly quickly and decides to take matters into his own hands (unlike Ch1, where he only acted in self-defense). It was refreshing to see him as an active agent for once. The writing when describing his machinations and apprehension as he carries out his plans pulls you in. You feel for him and root for him. You feel your heart beating faster and catch yourself swearing at him when he does something he shouldn't have. As the reader, you see possibilities that the party actually involved --a distressed, emotional, impulsive teenage boy-- isn't even able to. He is so desperate to do something, so eager to save Satoko in any way, that he often gets carried away and is unable to think reasonably (as much as he likes to point out otherwise). He is always fighting and crying for help at the same time, whenever he runs his mouth and says something he shouldn't have. Even as he carries out an unthinkable act, his emotions are understandable and written in an incredible way. And then, of course, we have Satoko. She was my least favourite character out of the main bunch so far, but Tatarigoroshi made me like her. The depiction of her relationship with [spoiler]her abusive uncle[/spoiler] and her emotional scars was very realistic, and so were Keiichi's feelings of helplessness upon realising he could do nothing for his friend, who was being broken little by little and didn't seem to care. Tatarigoroshi was also the first game to tackle real-world problems in Hinamizawa (how does Rika live by herself? etc). The worst --or rather, best, from a writing standpoint-- of all is that these things happen in real life, everywhere in the world: abusive families, the inability to help a friend as they crumble down, the inefficiency of law enforcement and how it --how [i]we[/i]-- often fail to reach out and save others. It really makes you think. The only cons I can think of are the annoying silly beginning (as always...) and some issues with the translation. I caught a few typos and inconsistencies (e.g. how they shifted from "Dr. Irie" to "Irie-sensei" all of a sudden). I assume this may have been an issue with rushed proofreading. It is nothing that should deter you from playing it though, just a pointer for the localisation team. Even so, Tatarigoroshi is my absolute favourite instalment of the Higurashi series so far. Writing is stellar, both on Satoko's heartbreaking situation, Keiichi's emotional whirlwind, and the mysterious Hinamizawa creepiness that we have already gotten used to. If you liked the previous chapters, you will certainly like this as well. If you didn't, I heavily encourage you to give it a second chance by playing this.
• 

  EBbrain

  Apr 7, 2017

  I think that was one of the most traumatizing experiences of my life. It left me depressed, frustrated, haunted and confused. Although I think the saddest thing was the realization that one day in the distant future, I will have finished this amazing series. I don't know what I'll do with my life after that.
• 

  Faudraline

  Jun 20, 2017

  [b]The Snake in the well was happy, for it did not care what was outside the well. The Snake in the well was happy, for it had naught to do with what happened outside the well. And you were happy too, for you did not know what happened outside the well. - Frederica Bernkastel[/b] Just... whoa... Every time, I swear that this won't either surprise or annoy me, it ends up being a new creep-bomb... Ehm, sorry. This is the third game in [i]Higurashi When They Cry series: Ch.3 Tatarigoroshi.[/i] Invoking what I gathered from the publishing information in Manga Gamers forums priorly, the original series consist of 8 chapters, which will probably keep inventing new and refreshing ways to both consternate and creep us out continuously, both with the imaginatively disturbing and the eerily mysterious that serves as the main body of these Hinamizawa stories. For every story so far - no different in [i]Tatarigoroshi[/i] - we take the role of Keiichi Maebara, a high school student who has just moved into the silent mountain town of Hinamizawa. Identical to previous plot paces, he befriends some lovely yet quirky ladies from his class, and comes to care for them deeply. Here in this specific scenario, the one he seemed to make a connection with the most, is no other than Hojo Satoko: the mischievous, the unruly and the childish one of the bunch. As a pacing tradition to Higurashi games, we observe the first half of the game to be a lovable background story, which is a narrative build of friendship, mixing up with some drama. We already know that things won't be the same after the night of annual Watanagashi festival at this point, right? Well, in this specific arc, things won't wait 'till Watanagashi to get creepy. Warm and careless days of innocence comes to a halt with the appearance of a long gone relative of Satoko, and from the appearance of the said individual, things will become maddeningly violent, illogical, gruesome and even catastrophic at the end. So, brace yourselves 'cause I think this was the most unpredictable game in the series so far. Each chapter's name presents a unique clue for the events to be revealed within the arc, so Tatarigoroshi means "the Curse Killing": implying a backbone for the mystery of the series, which is still to be revealed. Also, it could be useful to note that this was the longest chapter in the series so far, which heavily played on a tone of tragedy. Thus, it has taken for some time for me to complete. I remember feeling overwhelmed and quitting the game frequently, which is actually a compliment on the narrative ability of the game. In previous games, you have endured paranoia - Onikakushi - and crippling terror - Watanagashi through Keiichi's perception, but in this game, we will endure desperation nonetheless, and what could it drive a singular person to go through. One could endure terror/horror/paranoia in fiction maybe, but the complete inability to overcome anything has always been the soft belly for me, especially when that inability is carefully explained with realistic condition. It just... drives one crazy enough. On that manner, it has been the hardest game to go through in the series, at least for me. Believe it or not, I've been trying to complete this one since the end of April and only today I managed to do so - which is the end of June. Nope, this doesn't mean it is a bad game; it means that it presents the core emotion of the protagonist really, really well so it becomes unbearable for the reader. I have already shared the most common facts concerning the artwork, the pacing, the gameplay etc. in my previous reviews for Ch.1 and Ch.2: I have nothing more to add concerning those areas. I may only note that with each new game the developer seems to gain more experience in the utilization of sound effects. This time, I actually had some jumps and chills induced without even reading the rest of the text. The moment the sound changes, you know that something ominous is at hand. The best in the genre I've seen so far. [i]Higurashi[/i] has been an exceedingly well woven, emotionally tiresome mystery as it was intended to be so, so far. I believe all these games hold some variations of the same time period for our protagonists, making them relive the same couple of months from the summer of 89 in different probabilities. What makes it so, and on what purpose; I sincerely cannot fathom but it always ends with gruesome murders and breaking psyches addled with mystery. The duality between the supernatural and the rational is ever present, neither one side capable of presenting any explanation so far. Only in playing furthermore we will discover. I wish you determination to see it 'till the very end. I know that I'll need it. Please also check out Lady Storyteller's Curator page [url=http://steamcommunity.com/groups/ladystoryteller#curation]here[/url] - follow for regular updates on reviews for other games!
• 

  [TLGS] Mario-x

  Jun 28, 2017

  If you have not read any VNs this is a good place to start. Much better then the anime. (start with chapter 1)
• 

  Total Saikou

  Feb 5, 2020

  Well, that escalated quickly: the visual novel
• 

  EX Falchion

  May 18, 2020

  nooooooooooooo you cant just do the same things satoshi did haha bat go weee
• 

  Slappy the Benevolent (Hibari)

  Sep 11, 2020

  So, you thought you could get a good grasp on what’s going on at Hinamizawa, huh? You seriously thought that the events in the previous two chapters would prime you for the absolute madness that is Chapter 3? Oh ho ho ho ho! How delightfully grand! Tatarigoroshi will pound your puny little conjectures into mochi!
• 

  🍬+🦉

  Oct 29, 2020

  i feel like my brain has been opened with a kitchen knife