I know it may sound a bit exaggerated but Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni is the single best anime I've ever watched. Sure, I really liked some other animes, but I always got bored with them. However, I just cannot stop watching higurashi. Other links in my favorites folder just sit and collect dust.
Anyway, the main catch is every few episodes the story resets and plays out a different way. This always keeps you guessing, instead of "Ichigo goes to save Rukia from the Soul Society, part 12098612: somebody who supposedly died two episodes ago is fine again, and Ichigo has to learn yet another ability as part of some stupid plot device!".
If you missed the little preview at the beginning of each episode, you might think this was a comedy anime like azumanga daioh. It's really quite clever for a while until the scary parts start, which usually doesn't happen until the 3rd episode into a new storyline arc. The brutal and horrifying murders, and characters going insane because of Oyashiro-sama's curse haven't caused any nightmares... yet. What really makes it horrible is all the characters are actually very likeable. You really get attached to the characters before they die. In one case I actually said to myself after a kill: "... go die somewhere you prick!".
Anyway, I couldn't stop watching this anime if I had to walk a hundred miles to find out what happens next. If you like anime, you'll love higurashi.
Anyway, the main catch is every few episodes the story resets and plays out a different way. This always keeps you guessing, instead of "Ichigo goes to save Rukia from the Soul Society, part 12098612: somebody who supposedly died two episodes ago is fine again, and Ichigo has to learn yet another ability as part of some stupid plot device!".
If you missed the little preview at the beginning of each episode, you might think this was a comedy anime like azumanga daioh. It's really quite clever for a while until the scary parts start, which usually doesn't happen until the 3rd episode into a new storyline arc. The brutal and horrifying murders, and characters going insane because of Oyashiro-sama's curse haven't caused any nightmares... yet. What really makes it horrible is all the characters are actually very likeable. You really get attached to the characters before they die. In one case I actually said to myself after a kill: "... go die somewhere you prick!".
Anyway, I couldn't stop watching this anime if I had to walk a hundred miles to find out what happens next. If you like anime, you'll love higurashi.
