Review of Higurashi: When They Cry - Outbreak

Another Higurashi OVA. Been waiting for this. Well, you could say I've been waiting to review it. This OVA has been out for like two years or something. Set in 1983 (like every other Higurashi) an unknown virus has spread around Hinamizawa, and Keiichi and Rena go kill mother fuckers everywhere to try and escape. That's pretty much the story. But, the funny thing being that while killing people they don't even give a shit. They keep a straight face while doing it. Well, not straight face... Not like that buff parasite in Parasyte -the maxim- who was smiling while killing an entire group of people. Thatmay be a spoiler. But not for this anime. So, I don't know if it matters. Most of you, are probably new to horror anime, well... that's a little far-fetched to say. I'm new to anime myself, I've only watched 9 of them. But, from the ones I've watched included this, I'm going to continue my journey.

Enough of that. The story for this OVA is pretty legit, considering it kind of sounds dumb. It sound really weird, but I was really excited for this OVA back when it came out. Higurashi was the only anime I watched at the time, and in fact, I've watched it ever since 2006. I was very young, I think I was only 7 years old back then, but I liked it. The gore was incredible. I enjoyed all the psychological scenes. I was a fucked up little kid. But, I'm turning 16. So, it doesn't matter. All that is in my past (not really, I still remember it).

The animation is pretty basic. It's pretty much Kira but, with some psychological beating the shit out of everyone scenes. If you've seen Kira or Rei, that's pretty much the animation summed up. But, that's actually a pretty good animation, I think. I can never tell what animation is good or not anymore.

The soundtrack actually... it's incredible. The songs used in this particular OVA are awesome. Especially the ending song, Dear You, the only time I ever listened to the ending credits of an anime. I did listen to the season end credits of SAO, only because it was the end of the season. And, you got to listen to the first opening again, which that opening was fockin' epic.

I intended to spell that wrong.

Characters. Pretty much the exact same from the previous two OVAs. All the good characters, Hanyuu, Rika, Keiichi, Rena... name em' all. But, you never see the parents faces in the anime, rather than the manga. I haven't read much of the manga, which is why I haven't put it in my list. But, on other terms, the characters are really awesome. Which is what you should expect, if you've seen previous Higurashi seasons.

I quite enjoyed this OVA. Didn't think I would, since Kira was actually kind of bad. But, I did enjoy Kira, because I think I rated it 6 or something. But, this was actually quite good to see some psychological shit back in Higurashi. Hopefully, they will deliver more in the near future. Or not. It's their choice.

But, I rate this an 8/10. Only considering the fact that some of the scenes didn't make sense. Blocks shotgun bullets with metal baseball bat. Waht? Anyway, be gone!

~ D.M