Well, now that all of the Question Arcs are nicely reversioned, it’s only a matter of time before we start getting the Answer Arcs, isn’t it? I remember on Animesuki everyone would count down and collect the new sprites as they came out, and then over-analyze them and compare them to the original/Alchemist versions. Now, granted, reception to the MangaGamer sprites on that particular site was less than kind, but I rather like them, and I can’t wait to see the Kai sprites! Since Meakashi is first, that means Satoshi and Keiichi will be the first new sprites, right? When the Question Arcs were first announced, we begged them to reveal the new sprites through their Ask.FM, but they don’t even have an account on that anymore. I guess they’ll reveal it through Twitter, then?
Firstly, the PS2 sprites are horrible, I dunno how people are so willing to defend them.
No idea if they will release the sprites early or not, they might just wait for each release.
I absolutely agree- Although I prefer the original sprites in general, I find the Steam sprites for both WTC to be far superior to the Alchemist sprites. Alchemist did a lot of good with the backgrounds and voice acting, but their sprites aren’t too impressive. Especially the ugly art style they gave Higurashi, where everyone looks all polygonal and flat. I guess they wanted to stress that the game wasn’t a bishoujo game, but given that Ryukishi’s original art was really mimicking the art that Key games had at the time, I really don’t think that was a smart decision on their part. Everyone looks so soulless and bland… The Steam sprites are much more expressive and vibrant. I actually really love the Steam sprites! I find it impossible to get immersed in the story when I’m playing with the Alchemist sprites, though.
With the Question Arcs, it wasn’t that they planned to show all the sprites before release, it was that they’d show us a sprite every time we asked about it. It became a fun way of counting down until Onikakushi’s release, where we’d ask for a different character about every week.
I agree that Alchemist sprite are show less expression that the original, (I haven’t played the Steam release of Higurashi) but I don’t agree that they are expressionless. In my opinion, they are just a little more… subtle. [Here’s my example.] (http://66.media.tumblr.com/1b8a767f6e718261a3cd9fe7182e54d9/tumblr_ndwc6kZWIZ1s77vlvo1_1280.png) (If I’m not mistaken, respectively it would be original, steam, mangagamer and PS2, at least that’s how I will call them.) I do find that the scariest would be the Steam one, the way Mion stands truly is frightening. However, in that case, I still prefer the Mangagamer/PS2 sprite, maybe it is just me, but those eyes… it is as if they were piercing throught my heart and my mind, and I would not be able to move nor to speak.
In my opinion, the way one is kind of the [original/PS2/mangagamer/steam] sprite only depends on which version they experienced Higurashi. I can almost say for sure that those who read Higurashi in 2001 must despise all the latter sprites. I do remember that before I read Higurashi, I saw the Steam sprites and thought that they were beautiful and better that the three past, but when I looked them back after finishing Matsuribayashi, I couldn’t stand them. Now, even if I still prefer the PS2/mangagamer, I do recognize that all have their qualities, especially Rena in the original.
And sure, I’m curious about how Keiichi and Satoshi will be in Meakashi!
The sprites in that picture are actually: Original/Steam/PS2/DS. The MangaGamer and Steam sprites are the same.
Anyway, I disagree that it depends on how you first played it. I originally played it with the PS2 art, and later uninstalled the patch because it didn’t look right.
I am with the majority here in that to me, Alchemist’s sprites are dull and miss the mark on what Ryukishi was conveying, and they only did well with the voice acting and backgrounds. Only two characters in Alchemist’s Umineko sprites to me come close to portraying the original emotions of those characters, and those were Chiru characters. I think they did good with one Umineko design that’s better than the manga version, but ultimately, I like the Steam/Mangagamer sprites infinitely more than the Alchemist sprites. (I will forever hate Alchemist’s troll faces for Beato, they are awful and don’t convey the charm in that original sprite.) And the Ryukishi sprites honestly have their charm to them that is really difficult to match, but Steam/Mangagamer’s sprites come close to it.
I definitely agree on wondering WHY people are so willing to defend the Alchemist sprites. Especially since when even when they were going bankrupt, they were ridiculously protective over their sprites and allowing for it could have saved their butts. But I’m looking forward to Satoshi and Keiichi’s sprites! They’ve been so important to the story and now we get to see how the artist chose to interpret them! I’m also curious about [REDACTED]'s sprites and how that will go, especially since [REDACTED] isn’t that well-liked among fans who like both WTC series. A big thank you to Mangagamer for taking the time to redo their Higurashi translation and give it enough love for new sprites, and for making both WTC games more accessible!
No clue who [REDACTED] is! I honestly can’t think of a character majorly disliked by the fandom, except Takano (who I love,) but her sprites are already out. Do you mean Okonogi? I hate him a ton, but he’s usually overlooked when it comes to people’s ire.
Oh, and something I’m super curious about! MangaGamer used to sell all of 07th Expansion’s games through their site, including Higanbana and Rose Guns Days. When those games were taken off, MangaGamer said that it was because they were expanding their contract. I wonder if that means Higanbana and RGD might have a shot at coming to Steam? RGD doesn’t really need new sprites, but I wonder if they’ll redo Higanbana’s art assets?
The [REDACTED] character I’m referring to is Hanyuu, since a lot of people tend to be polarized on that particular character (at least on tumblr, where most of the worst of the WTC fandom is). They either love or hate Hanyuu, and oddly Okonogi doesn’t get a lot of hate on tumblr, especially given that character’s role.
I really hope Mangagamer is considering putting Rose Gun Days and Higanbana on Steam! I’ve been trying to finish Higanbana for at least a year now but since I have to watch it as a video, I can’t move past the fourth or fifth night. Plus, Steam really likes sound and visual novels, and since 0th Expansion works fall into the first category, they LOVE them. It’d make reading RGD and Higanbana so much more accessible (I was just talking with a friend about how they should put the rest of 07th Expansion’s works on Steam, and hopefully somebody can convince Type-Moon to not be uptight with copyrights to let their VNs come out in the West.)
Satoshi is cute.
And Kasai looks… Interesting? Hmm, not sure how I feel 'bout this one.
Oh wow i forgot about this thread.
Yessss. I’m so happy to see more new sprites! I’m glad to see progress on Meakashi.
Meakishi is lookin’ good! I want to pinch Satoshi’s cheeks!! Gosh, the Houjou siblings are so precious.
That’s a ridiculously cute Satoshi. I wonder what Keichii’s going to look like, compared to him.
Yeah I’m so excited to see Keiichi’s sprite since it appears for the first time in Meakashi. 
I bet his sprite will be facing the other way. So we’ll have Shion facing Satoshi and Mion facing Keiichi.