Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Rei Reviews

Ahhhh Mion and Shion in school swimsuits blissss ~~~ Nipah~~

The extra arcs are not very good but Saikoroshi-hen is actually peak Higurashi and I've been missing out for years by not reading it

Maaaaan. This shit sad as hell. I really like that Higurashi continues to get some side stories that could be canon to the world, could also not be at all, it's all up to our interpretation. This one is sad as hell. It was worth reading but damn.

I feel bad giving this one a bad rating because I love the rest of the Higurashi games, but this one wasn't really good in my opinion. Saikoroshi is the only good story in it, and its ending (spoilers) basically makes it akin to Sonic Prime where it resets the status quo back to what it was at the end of Matsuribayashi, making Saikoroshi essentially not matter to the story as a whole. (end spoilers) The other two are basically just joke stories filled with unfunny age-gap and lolicon humor. I understand the game was made in 2007, but in the year of 2025, it just comes off as incredibly tasteless and uncomfortable (and in some cases, straight-up out of character). I've recommended every other Higurashi game (except Hou+), but honestly, just skip this one. I only completed it because I bought it with the bundle and wanted the achievements.

If you've read the past Higurashi chapters before this, then unlike with Hou+'s extra scenarios, I can say that Rei is a very easy recommend! Saikoroshi serves as a great epilogue chapter, just like Umineko's Last Note of the Golden Witch, that although isn't necessary to read; provides a new perspective and final, excellent lesson to the tale of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. A definite recommend if you're hungry for more. The two other chapters are there and they're quite fun, but I'd describe them mostly as palate cleansers to cheer up your mood a little. Saikoroshi is definitely the main course here. As for Saikoroshi itself... I am always astounded by Ryukishi's ability to speak right down to the very soul and give words/voice to the issues that plague at the heart of a person, I hadn't cried and felt so "seen" about personal feelings I've gripped with in the past as hard as I have at the "greenhouse flower" passage involving Rena, in quite a long while. Suffice it to say, despite being short, it was quite the send off while also setting many of the themes and other such things you can later see in Umineko. Hinamizawa and it's colorful cast of characters will remain with me, for a very long time.