“Umineko: When They cry” is a beloved cult hit visual novel. I’ll be going through the madcap story piece by piece in a series of essays. You can check out my introduction to the visual novel here.
Welcome, dear reader. Since “Umineko” is a beloved but not well known series, I’ve pieced together a guide that runs down the options of where and how to get it. You have two main options- reading the OG visual novel and reading the manga adaptation.
The Visual Novel
Sims 4 February 2016 Patch Download Higurashi Voice Patch Download Ffxiv Patch Download Speed Low Muv-luv Director's Cut Patch Download Rome Total War Patch Download Nba Playground Patch Download Kane Wrath Patch Download Failed Trend Micro Wfbs Patch Download Super Danganronpa 2 English Patch Download. Partial version of the sound effects patch is done. This patch replaces Mangagamer's wa. sound files with sound files from the original game. This includes most incidental sounds (doorbells, bat sounds, chimes, etc.) all of the atmospheric sounds (violin screeches, creepy chimes, basically anything you hear when Keiichi finds out something scary), and one background sound (the sound of the. So we can appreciate the cool backgrounds music we all love. Download the Original Music Full Version to replace Mangagamer tracks (full of duplicates) with the more varied soundtrack from the release of Higurashi episodes 1-4 or so the readme file says that. Copy them onto the Higurashi folder as usual and you’ll be done with it.
You can buy the visual novels for “Umineko” on Steam!
The games will be ready to go out the box. However, there are some useful mods that have been cooked up by the fan-community that can make the experience more enjoyable.
Mods!
“Umineko” has seen several versions and re-releases over the years. The 2016 version on Steam is passable- it has both the original “potato” sprites and the newer “Pachinko” sprites (sprites comissioned for a pachinko advertisement / game that were later recycled for this release). They’re not bad but in my opinion they could be better.
Image Credit: 07th Expansion / Alchemist / Mangagamer
Between the games 2008-2010 completion, and the 2016 worldwide release, a PS3 version of the game was commissioned. This version has different (and in my opinion) better sprite art, as well as voice acting for the entire series. Whatever you feel about which sprites are best, the addition of voice acting adds a lot and features some top tier anime talent.
If you want to experience the game with voice acting, and with the option to use whatever sprites you choose, then read-on. Otherwise you can go ahead and skip to the Manga section.
How to Mod The Game
- Buy and install the VN you got from Steam.
- Download the proper zip file for your operating system (Windows, Mac, Linux)
4. Make sure you have a program to unzip the zip file if you don’t.
5. Open the zip file and run the installer. It will be the .exe file.
6. A webpage will pop up. Select the visual novel you just installed via Steam (Question Arcs or Answer Arcs).
7. Select if you want the Full patch and all the options it includes or just the voice patch.
For the Full Patch a lot of stuff is added. I’ll give my two cents and update as I progress further. If you just go for the voice patch, you can skip ahead to the Manga section.
Full Patch Mod Recommendations!
Question Arc
BGM Options
Restore system0:
During a key scene in Episode 1, this option will add a voice sample to a song that plays in the background. The sample is voice clip of Data from Star Trek: TNG. It had to be removed for copyright reasons when the game came to the states.
Matt’s Preference: The song is a bop so I’d keep it. However, if hearing a random Star Trek quote will ruin your immersion, keep this toggled off.
Use SuiSui-SWEETS (^-^)
In the PS3 version, they replaced a copyrighted song used in Episode 2 with a new original one called SuiSui-SWEETS(^-^). Toggling this will give you that new PS3 song.
Matt’s Preference: I haven’t got this far so I have no clue if it’s worth it. I’m a slow reader, UwU.
UPDATE: Having just reached this scene in Episode 2, go with the PS3 song SuiSui-SWEETS. The song is way better than the original one they used, which is basically just an out and out Touhou parody.
CG Options
Make Jessica British
In the PS3 version, they replace a CG (singular piece of artwork) of a Tohou character (a popular bullet hell game with cutesy girls) with another. Toggling this lets you keep the new-non Tohou character artwork.
Matt’s Preference: I have no clue. Go with your gut?
UPDATE: British Jessica plz.
Sprite Options:
For this section you need to pick one of the following options.
PS3 Sprites
Replaces the games sprites with the ones from the PS3 version. The reason we’re here.
Matt’s Preference: Best of all worlds in my opinion.
Pachinko Sprites
The game will use sprites that were from an Umineko Pachinko commercial / product placement. This is the Steam version’s default.
Matt’s Preference: Thanks I hate it.
Ryukishi07 / Original Sprites
The game will use the sprites from the original release back in 2007. Hand drawn by the author himself. The Steam version also comes with these but you have to toggle them.
Higurashi Voice Patch Notes
Matt’s Preference: If you want to feel like the original readers back in 2007, go for this. Otherwise… why?
Experimental Script:
A mod only feature that lets you have the option to let the visual novel’s text play automatically. There are two options here.
No Change
The Default.
Matt’s Preference: I stick to this for safety.
Experimental Script
This fixes the mod not being able to auto advance the text. Without it, you have to manually hit the space-bar.
Matt’s Preference: I don’t know how solid this mod is. I also know the button pressing didn’t bother me in my playthrough of episode one. That said it is a mild quality of life bump, so if you want to save button presses, go for it. Be aware it is easier to change it to “Experimental Script” now and go back to “No Change” later, than to start with “No Change” and then go back to “Experimental Script”.
Keep Temporary Downloads
Lets you keep everything you’ve downloaded if you ever have to reinstall.
Matt’s Preference: If you are likely to reinstall or bounce between computers, go for this.
Update Steamgrid Icons
Updates the icons of the visual novel in your Steam library to better ones.
Matt’s Preference: Go for it. It looks nice.
After all that, make sure you’re install path is correct and you can just hit the big red button. You should be good!
The Manga
“Bully you, Matt! I’m tech illiterate and don’t believe in modding games! You can’t make me learn programming just to enjoy some weird weeb story!” cries the bewildered reader.
Fine. There is an alternative option – the manga.
Image Credit: Yen Press
“Umineko” has a manga adaptation and a creator backed one at that. While faster paced – it skims a huge chunk of the intro to Episode 1- it is incredibly faithful to the source material and even includes some bonus content that helps clarify certain plot points since it was written after the entire story was finished. Each Episode also changes up artists for a visual refresh. It’s pretty cool and a valid alternative to playing the original visual novel.
There a few content tradeoffs though. As we get farther along, the clarified plot beats will give manga readers a leg up on comprehension of the story over me. That said, I don’t mind. It might make for interesting discussion.
Also, while the game uses theater of the mind for some of its most gruesome bits, the manga has no chill.
Higurashi Voice Patch 2020
Image Credit: Yen Press
If you’re sensitive to gore, I’d advise sticking to the visual novel. If you’re a freak like me though, bon appetite.
You can also get e-book copies through Bookwalker. This is the easiest option and the method I’d advise.
You can also purchase paperback volumes on Amazon. Though, do know they are rare, going out of print, and you will have to buy at least several more throughout this series.
There are other places to read the manga online, but we at Geek Stew do not support sea-faring miscreants or their promises of free comics. So either pay up or find your own answers.
The Text Let’s Play
This is an odd option but a valuable one. Don’t have a money to splurge on manga volumes or games? Do you prefer to read your stories like a traditional novel or at your own pace? That is where the The Umineko Text Let’s Play by ProfessorProf comes in.
ProfessorProf is straight to the chase here- all of the text for the game is transcribed here, along with links to the music when certain songs play and a few choice screenshots. There’s no commentary or witty banter- just a collection of all the game’s text. It’s not quite the same experience but you’ll get the whole story and be able to follow along.
The Anime
“Aw man. More reading and I have to pay for it? Isn’t there an anime I can watch on CrunchyRoll or something?” the frustrated reader asks.
Listen, there is no “Umineko” anime. There never was an “Umineko” anime. You will not ask me about any “Umineko” anime. If there was an anime, it’d definitely be badly done and quickly forgotten, unlike the “Higurashi” anime which did gangbusters back in 2006-2007. Good thing there isn’t one of course.
So stop asking about it. You will have to read if you want to enjoy this series. There’s no getting around that fact.
Higurashi Matsuribayashi Voice Patch
Wrap Up
With all this info, you should have everything you need to start your own fine tailored “Umineko” read through.
Next up will be my spoiler free review of “Episode 1: Legend of the Golden Witch“, followed by my spoiler stuffed analysis. Until next time!
Editor’s Note: Matt’s fiance, who is a rampant Higurashi fangirl, demanded a content warning for all the moe blobs featured in the “When They Cry” series. We at Geek Stew apologize for his omission. Higurashi and Umineko are filled with moe-styled characters. The stories themselves however are not, in fact, moe.
Description:
- https://mega.nz/file/7bgGRTwD#xx3wjKK8yYDl1yP7fGsSmt-DKNHKq4ZZ06g8qAcOlo4 (apk, ~1.66 GB)
- https://mega.nz/folder/aPgSVLAT#Led9wiNoz0U2x7F8rUavvQ (apk+obb, ~1.66 GB)
- Since apk is limited to 2GB, I can't insert Minagoroshi and Matsuribayashi voices directly into the apk, so you need to install them separately. Download the archives with voice files and extract them to '/Android/data/com.ps3.higurashi_kai/files/game/' directory: https://mega.nz/folder/TSxiHJRD#_sROSZbrHUREqLhOIZfiEw
- PS3 sound effects: https://mega.nz/file/XK50hD7A#F4wTH4_MUAuLk2Cj2kzKf3rC6W6-xJS-o3OdqOoko9k
- Matsuribayashi-hen is now available for reading.
- Updated sprites
- Bug fixes and improvements
- Minagoroshi-hen is now available for reading.