When They Cry: Rei
ひぐらしのなく頃に礼The infamous series of unexplainable murders in Hinamizawa have been solved and the chains of fate have broken due to the efforts of Rika Furude and her friends. Rika believes she has finally obtained the normal and peaceful life she desired with her friends; however, she is proven wrong when the wheels of fate begin turning once again after an unfortunate accident. Rika suddenly finds herself in a "perfect" world, the constant cycle of brutal killings having never taken place, where all of her friends are content and satisfied. Not wanting to abandon the world that she fought so hard for, she learns she must destroy an essential "key" to get back. But can Rika abandon the faultless world she is given the chance to live in, after all of her battles have brought her this far? [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Reviews
jerrod53 - 2014-11-18 02:25:46
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei is a small series after the events of Kai. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei is worth the watch even though it is less creepy than the seasons before it.
jboehm - 2014-07-31 04:14:31
Story
The main story of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei is really good. It tries something new and it provides an interesting epilogue to the main Higurashi story. The conclusion is satisfying and while it doesn't really add anything to the overall story it is very entertaining. The other two episodes are entertaining as well. Those two episodes in particular are very funny, and play off the characters' individual personalities. It's just that these episodes are somewhat pointless. They are very good they just won't change the way you look at Higurashi as a whole. 8/10
Animation
The animation is updated again and finally looks appropriate. If you started out with the first season the animation will look really great but it honestly isn't really top notch. There are no scenes that I can remember that really stand out as being superbly animated. The opening and ending's animation is very good and matches the respective tracks. 6/10
Sound
Most of the soundtrack from the main series carries over onto Rei. The original soundtrack is great, but it is disappointing to find only two new tracks, that being the opening and the ending. The opening matches the season and the series as a whole. The ending is really good too. 8/10
Character
This season primarily focuses on Rika, and as such she receives the most development. The season throws moral dilemas at Rika that the second season unfortunately didn't, and it's interesting to watch her solve her problems. The only problem is other characters aren't shown the same spotlight. The more comedic episodes in the season play off the characters' personalities well and it provides for some really humorous moments. 8/10
Enjoyment: 7/10
Overall
Collectively, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei is a pretty good addition to the Higurashi series, and as far as OVAs go, is pretty damn good. At this time, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei, like the rest of the Higurashi franchise is unlicensed. The only way to view Higurashi Rei in the West is to watch it with fan subs and fan dubs. 7/10