.hack, Part 1: Infection

I rented .hack from the video store on a Thursday, and reluctantly brought it back on Monday, after committing 40 hours of playtime to this peice of art. Don't be tricked, this game *can* be short. But if you play RPG's like I do, you'll do sidequests, level up your character constantly, and try all sorts of weird things with the game, it's definitely not a 15 hour game.

I was originally attracted to the game because of it's basis in Anime (it comes with a short anime movie to supplement the story in the game, which you should watch before playing the game).

Also, I've been learning Japanese for a while, and I really had alot of fun playing through the game with the Japanese language voices (yes you can change it, and don't worry, it still has the english subtitles). All the fans of anime I've met have preferred the japanese language with subtitles, and I thank bandai for taking this into account when they made the game.

I was able to beat this game thoroughly in a 5 day rental. And because of that, I was able save [$$$] + S&H. I would only buy this game if I had alot of money to spend. Otherwise, I suggest it as a rental.


.hack//   September 21, 2004
Dyrou (Philedelphia, PA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

It's only a game...a game about playing a massively multiplayer online role-playing game...

Plot

You play as a player who is just introducing himself to a MMPORPG called "The World." Your friend, a veteran player and your mentor of the game, mysteriously falls into a coma after his game character is killed...and the reason behind his incapacitation lies within the game, which is mysteriously ridden with viruses. You must infilitrate the dungeons and rid of the parasitic evil, in hopes of finding a cure for the plight of your friend.

Graphics

There are many different kinds of fields and dungeons, including grasslands, snowfields, deserts, dry sea basins, etc., and you'll infilitrate ruins, castles, palaces, even dragons' bodies.

In viral infected levels, the screen flickers, and programming code floats about through the area.

Sound

The music is very trance-like, white-noise if you will, but not necessarily purely ambient; it is constant, but not monotonous...

Definitely a plus on the part of the developer, you are offered the choice of English or Japanese voice-overs with English subtitles...the English voice-overs can definitely be embarrassing to listen to at times.

Gameplay

You check e-mail and read message board posts for objectives, which are updated with each mission.

The game is very open-ended; in manner, you can "create" your own dungeons by inputting keywords at portals, which specify the strength of the enemies, and the value of treasures within the dungeon. Naturally, greater rewards mean greater risks. E-mails and message board posts will tell you different keyword combinations for dungeons related to side quests and advancing the story, but if you want to level build like crazy too, you can input intense keyword combinations for dungeons with insanely powerful enemies and valuable treasure.

Gathering allies and communicating with them is effectively reminiscent of real MMPORPGs, you have to meet them, and they gives you the means to contact them so that you can add or remove them from your party whenever you like; of course, allies aren't always available, and that is a strategic limiter. You can also give and trade items to and with your allies.

Battles are rather reminiscent of Star Ocean 2 and other action RPGs; just press the "X" button near an enemy to attack, or call up menus to use your skills or magic spells. You can also call up menus for your allies to use specific skills or spells, or you can specify certain general strategies that the AI can act upon.

Overall

If you want a game that effectively emulates a MMPORPG without actually being one, .Hack is your piece of cake. All of the nuances are there, including characters who make irrelevant comments about the state of the real world, or other things that do not relate to the game at all. Characters even use emoticons and online speak in their text boxes :D LoL.



YES!!!   April 9, 2005
Naomi the Lion
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

YESS!!!! I LOVE THIS GAME!!! I have been a fan of the .hack manga and anime forever, and this game was great!!!

I really suggest you look at the manga and anime before you buy the game. If you don't like that you probably won't like the game. If you STILL insist on playing the game, check it out at the video rental shop, k? That way we dont get people claiming it was a total waste of money here ;)

Oh, when you buy a game it's basically like saying that you are going to play the game in the future. If you DONT play games more than once, yea, you did waste your money.

For those who are pissy about how people liked this game partially because of the anime, you should probably realize that the game was made from the anime. In order to completely get it you have to look over manga, anime, card games etc. Thus, THEY GET IT MORE THAN YOU DO. THE ANIME AND THE GAME FEED INTO EACH OTHER, SO IF YOU LOVED THE ANIME YOU'LL PROBABLY LOVE THE GAME, morons...:(

Also, I bet that the people who despised this game didnt watch the DVD with the game. THAT IS IMPORTANT. Generally when they give you a DVD with these things it'll help you see the point of the game.

Also, after you play the game you should read the ".hack//LEGEND OF THE TWILIGHT" manga. It's a cute little manga. Rena, a beginner player of "The World" wins a contest to gain the character avatars of the legendary .hackers, "Kite" and "Black Rose." Rena gets her brother, Shugo, to play with her. Soon after they enter the fields they encounter a level 40 monster which shouldn't be in the beginners area. Shugo is killed by the monster and wakes up to see Aura and is brought back to life by her kiss. Then she gives the braclet of twilight. Actually I suggest you read it BEFORE AND AFTER the game.


Be prepared for a new Generatin of RPGs   March 7, 2003
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

An extremly clever game that simulates an online game. You receive e-mails from your party,you can write questions on a board and get them answered and you can check the news of that world. it's amazing:

1. Story line: great, you even get to know wht is happening in the outside world by watching a 45 minute anime DVD! how cool is that? you can't get bored with this game as it is always on the move.

2. Graphics: Graphics are very good but not in FFX style nor in Grandia's [disappointing] graphics. it is colorful, detailed and near animation like except it's in 3D you can check screen shots on the net like I did (and i'm extremly careful when it comes to graphics).

3. Music: It has great classic RPG type of music, great enough to put you in the area's mood. If it is happy, dull ya know.

overall, this game is worth and to make it more interesting buy the anime series, it's great.