Japanese, the most reactionary people in the world, have learned that Woke means making the Incels angry and that they would eventualy leave their country alone. So I predict another boom of lefty Japanese media, like in the 80s/90s.

Incels buying the game for the shake of hating on it in 1,2,3...

Well thats WAY off from what i was thinking this was about. I figured the story would be about Hinako trying to run form the guilt of betraying one of her friends who Deleted her Life File. Women's Rights Movement was no where on my Bingo card. But i'll see where this goes, color me intrigued.

Ngl I was kinda iffy about new Silent Hill but now Im intrigued

I've been iffy on it since it was announced for a few reasons but with Ryukishi writing it, the plot was never one of them.

i was already sold when I learned it was going to be written by the umineko guy

Same

The only stuff from Ryukishi07 I'd been familiar with was Higurashi, but just off the back of that I'd be interested.

While I only have momentary interests in his Visual novels, Ryukishi07 having once been a Japanese social worker lives rent free in my head.

*oh.* *OH NO.*

...?

Sorry, I hadn't heard about that, and it puts a whole bunch of Higurashi in a whole new light

Okay, okay. Umineko. Gotcha. Should I watch the anime?

Casey no!!! The anime tries to shove 150+ hours of VN into 24 episodes!

VN?

visual novel

Should have guessed it. But thank you.

Visual Novel

Ah! Thank you.

Minor spoiler: In the game, one of the character's enchants their textboxes to appear red when they're telling the truth. It's a fun, Metal Gear Solid type of playing with the fourth wall. The anime adapts this directly by suddenly adding subtitles to the same character just so they can be red.

*characters

For the VN, install the patch that gives voice acting and more options for character and background art. The added art is "better" but more generic than the original, but the voice acting has an all-star cast and adds A LOT to the experience.

I'd ultimately recommend the VN. It's long but umineko really gains from not going through it too quickly. If the VN is too daunting the manga is good. But take it at a measured pace. It's a mystery that wants you to actively engage with and think about the text.

When I read through the VN earlier this year I'd set aside about an hour of reading a day where I'd also liveblog my thoughts and ramblings so I really wasn't reading that quickly but boy howdy was I thinking about it.

And also this is personal preference. Keep the original sprites. I really don't care for the PS3 versions even though they're objectively pretty good. The OG sprites are just so charming to me I can't do without them lmao.

Okay, don't watch the anime.

Oh uh I'm currently going through it with vods by Nezumi VA who voice acts the character very well. They also did Higurashi and are currently going through Fate Stay Night

I liked the Higurashi anime tho

You should read Higurashi too, the VN is pretty different!

I’m going to second this as the VN is very much a different experience and it comes right from the author himself.

If you end up reading the the Umineko VN (the manga is also a solid alternative), then look up the 07th Mod: It adds voices and (optionally) sprites from the PS3 version to Umineko and Higurashi, and the voices in particularly *significantly* elevate the experience

play umineko then watch the NEWEST higurashi anime that is what @nerdskull.bsky.social told me

I can't speak of the Higurashi anime but definitely seconding playing Umineko. The anime never finished the story I'm pretty sure and I think they mess up setting up a twist or something? I've heard the manga adaption is ok though but still you may as well consume the original VN.

the Higu anime is far, far better than the Umi anime. it is not even remotely close.

It's a really interesting mix of "oh hey we're going for something really weird and high concept aren't we?" with a menacing Colonel Sanders statue and amusingly sloppy animation. Does have me curious about the source material which I assume is a little better put together and even weirder.

If it helps to deter you: The Umi anime isn’t remotely finished

Never replace a VN with the anime, hahaha

I think the only one that works is Steins;Gate 0 hahaha

Wait, if S;G0 anime is better than the VN how shit the game is? Because I hated the anime when I watched it years ago.

I'd rather go for the VN, even in this case, hahah

The manga, on the other hand, is excellent

Imma be real, I can't do the Umineko VN. I cannot deal with the glacial pace and large cast of unlikable (albeit on purpose) characters. I know it means a lot to a lot of people but for me it was just 4 hours of assholes being assholes until something interesting happened.

Higu has a better anime than Umineko in terms of the story, but yeah, VN first, THEN anime, if you see it at all

The anime is terrible

No.

Play Umineko Its a WILD trip

I have a feeling you will love Umineko!

You gotta try Umineko at some point, very huge recommendation if you can get through it

I've heard lately this game is getting the Silent Hill name slapped on it to help it sell. Which honestly feels like a disservice to this game. It'll have little to do with Silent Hill, which will annoy the fans. It also creates an expectation.

I dunno. It still has quite a few Silent Hill elements, even though it doesn't seem to involve the town proper.

I’m probably not a day 1 but for me but…I might be paying more attentions. See what people say once they get it in their hands

Me, a different kind of loser: "oh neat, another reason to play it" [there was zero chance I wouldn't play a NEW silent hill]

"Westerners trying to inject woke politics into Japanese media" And the lead writer is the man who created probably one of the most iconic anime / VNs of the 2000s.

Every time I hear more about this game I get more hype for it.

I’m unlikely to play it either way but I’d be interested to see if they do it properly or just give it lip service.

it looks so cool

Yeah, Ryukishi's writing really does not shy away from hitting hard. Like hell there's an entire segment of Higurashi that's basically him airing grievances with how Japan's child protection services function - or rather don't. Inspired by his time as a social worker iirc.

I don't know how much I trust Konami to do it well, is my only worry

I trust the writer in this case

Fingers crossed, they get to work and don't have a bunch of meddling. It does look promising

Silent Hill has never really been my kinda game (I dont mind horror games, just don't particularly seek them out) But this? This is kinda interesting and makes me wanna pick a copy up.

I'm like 99% certain Ryukishi's said in the past he worked in... Not exactly social care but something adjacent; like you can hella seei n Higurashi, it's something he's HELLA passionate about.

I love how Ryukishi's always been a pretty progresssive dude writing wise and people are trying to act like he's not

"Silent Hill F"? *adds to list* that sounds really interesting.

Im all for this honestly love me a strong female lead

Konami allowing interesting ideas into their tentpole games again?

See, unlike that company the claimed they "got" Silent Hill 2, this man is SHOWING he gets Silent Hill.