Just started watching Higurashi no Nako Koro Ni (When They Cry) and I am completely lost.

NOTE: I know that this shit is based off a video game. I get that the story essentially repeats but with alternate outcomes. YES, I tried reading the manga and it was even MORE confusing than the anime.

In four episodes, they tossed around way too many names, events, and such that it was hard to really understand who/what they were talking about. I also don't get the point of the story or where it's heading. I mean, I like the blood and the idea of small children hacking each other to bits, but still-

ANYWAY, outside of the confusion, I've mostly made up my mind about the series itself:

-The horror aspect was really cliched, but I'm interested enough to want to at least finish the series since FUNI is posting the dub free online. We've been seeing the creepy little girl trope since before The Exorcist and the 'haunted' village is as old as the friggin BIBLE.

-None of the characters are likeable...at all. Not even the male lead who you are supposed to feel scared for as all these girls try to kill him. It seems that most of them fit the sterotypes for other manga series (The cute/quiet Loli with HUGE hair for her body, the annoying loli who acts like a little sister to the main lead, the older spunky girl with big boobs who bosses around the main character, then the shrill voiced sorta love interest who is both stupid and follows the guy around like a puppy. The male lead is just your 'average guy' caught in the middle of this weirdness.)

-Animation...it's fluid, but terribly simplistic for anime. All of the characters look alike outside of their hairstyles. I get that lots of anime are like that now to save money, but it really takes away from the supposed seriousness of the plot. Personally, I think it's funny that the girl (Rena?) has the SAME hairstyle as the teacher in their school, only the teacher's hair is blue. That must have been REALLY confusing in the manga.

-Developments crop up in really obvious ways. There is no subtly at all. I mean COME on...if we can see that EVERYONE is lying to this guy then how can he not see it? And how come he still talks to these girls after they threaten to kill him and walk behind him carrying hatchets? No person is that stupid.

Overall, the series has three saving graces for me:

1: I'm so confused that I want to finish it in the hope of figuring out what the fuck is happening.
2: The opening theme is amazing. Downloaded it this morning. [link]
3: That it's better than the manga.