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Besides advancing text, players may also access the Tips Mode, allowing them to read various supplementary information regarding the characters and story. Umineko is almost entirely linear and contains no interactive gameplay elements, with the exception of small portions of its final entry, Twilight of the Golden Witch. The original releases contain no voice acting for the characters.
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It is described as a "sound novel" by 07th Expansion, due to the game's greater focus on creating atmosphere through audio elements rather than visual aspects. Umineko When They Cry is a murder mystery visual novel, and as such conveys its story primarily through text-based narration and dialogue supplemented by visual and audio elements such as character sprites, background music, and sound effects. Umineko no Naku Koro ni EpisodeX Rokkenjima of Higurashi crying
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