"The .hack series finally Grew Up!"

Alright, I'd like to start off saying that I used to be a big .hack fan. I am not as much anymore, however my love for it is slowly rising again with G.U. What I am trying to get at is that this review is meant not only for fans, but people new to the series as well. The dot hack (.hack) series began with the t.v. series called .hack//SIGN. This was the first good taste of "The World," and what it had to offer. After this sprung the first four games entitled INFECTION, MUTATION, OUTBREAK, and finally QUARANTINE. This was a bold leap, and there were mixed feelings among the .hack fans. Soon after, another t.v. series known as .hack//Legend of The Twilight spawned, which was a comical chibi style runoff of the games. Now we have .hack//G.U. and it's own t.v. show as well. In this review I will talk about many things including the first volume's storyline, graphics, music, game-play, features, characters, and re-playability.

Storyline: 10/10
One thing the dot hack series has in common is it's storyline. The story takes place in a MMORPG (Online game) known as "The World." It is a place for people around the world to create their own customized characters and play the role of a hero. They can chat, go on adventures, fight monsters, or just collect items. .hack//G.U. however follows the story of a guy named Haseo, the "Terror of Death." If you had played the last four games, this nickname may seem familiar. Haseo forms his character, logs in for the first time, and goes on an adventure. Along the way, a couple of seemingly friendly people help him to reach the treasure he was looking for. Soon after, the players reveal themselves to be P.Kers (Player Killers,) and kill Haseo. A special P.Ker named "Tri-edge" also killed one of his best friends named Atoli, and she falls into a coma. When he returns to "The World," Haseo swears revenge, and becomes a P.K.K. (Player Killer Killer, lol.) He gains many levels through training, kills P.Kers constantly, and becomes known as the "Terror of Death" for his actions. Haseo gets told that he can find "Tri-edge" in a designated spot, and quickly goes there for revenge and answers. When Haseo is confronted with the special P.Ker, he is data drained (put back to level one.) This is where your part in the story begins...
Although the story is similar t those before it, G.U. is very interesting, and shouldn't disappoint even the most critical RPG player. Although the story is no Final Fantasy, it definitely ranks up there.

Graphics: 9/10
The graphics in G.U. are a huge improvement from the past four games. They consist of a high quality cell shading. I'm not usually a fan of this, but the graphics can make for some cool effects. Also, you feel like you're right in the middle of an anime. The special FX are amazing, especially in battles, where everything is flashing and slashing. They may be a little outdated, but you must realize that this game was made awhile ago. Again, not Final Fantasy quality, but graphics aren't the only thing to a game.

Music: 9/10
Dot Hack has always had some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard. This is another section where this game shines brightly. Although I was a little too wrapped up with everything going on, the music sure made the game much more enjoyable. Some of the tracks just make you want to stare into the game's sunset and just listen.

Gameplay: 8/10
Don't get me wrong, the gameplay is absolutely awesome. You handle Haseo just like a normal RPG. You can walk, jog, run fast, and even ride your own motorcycle! The battle system was extremely improved from the past games, and is now faster, cooler, and way more enjoyable to take part in. You can move more fluidly, and it is in real time (No random battles.) Also, unlike the other games, you can learn magic like Repth (Cure) and keep it on at all times. The only thing that brings this section down is the repetitive fields. The past games had a bunch of different weathers, fields, time of days, etc. This game only has THREE DIFFERENT FIELDS: Underground dungeon, Temple, and Beachside plains. Although this may sound bad, there are varying weathers, and different times of day to give them some variety. DO NOT let this shift your question of playing, as you don't even realize the fields much. The town (Mac Anu) returns, and is even more beautiful than ever. Without the repetitive fields, this section would get a 10/10. Going into what seems to be the same dungeon over and over again can get annoying, but many games are much worse than this one.

Characters: 8/10
Sadly to say, the characters in this version of .hack are lagging. Over the course of the game, you get to have control of five other characters other than Haseo. You may only have three in a party at once, and find yourself sticking to certain characters better than others. For me, I used mainly two characters the entire game because they were the only two I really liked. Piros the 3rd makes his annoying return in G.U. which is a huge mistake. He is so annoying to be around, and is EVEN more annoying than the past games. If you're a Piros lover, than never mind what I said, but who could ever like him? Characters are a big part of the story, and the ones in .hack//G.U. are a little above average.

Replayability: 10/10
I don't know about replaying the entire game over, but G.U. has so many features that it will keep you playing for around 40 hours. This may seems like such a small amount compared to Final Fantasy XII's 150 hours, but you must realize that G.U. is only a portion of the game. There are so many things that you will want to accomplish before you head to the next volume that you will find yourself playing it until 3:00 in the morning. These tasks can get repetitive, but it gives you a good feeling of accomplishment when you're done.

Features: 10/10
Features, features, features! This game has so many extras that it makes my head explode! You always start off in your own little desktop-themed place. Here you can view and send mail, read tons of forums, watch news MOVIES, and a bunch of other cools stuff. Not only this, but you can customize your desktop with BGM, wallpapers, and you can even customize the colors of everything! The Book of 1000 returns in this latest version of "The World," and it functions just the same. Like I said before, you have many tasks to do, and this is one of them. The Book of 1000 is somewhat like a log of how many monsters you've killed, items collected, people talked to, fields visited, etc. The more of each of these you do, the more features you unlock. It is very fun, and you can't wait to see what you get next.

Overall Score: 10/10
Yes, this game has it's flaws, but what game doesn't? Even the best games out there have something wrong with them. .hack//G.U.//Volume 1//Rebirth has many more high points than low points, and should be a treasure addition to anyone's collection.

Rent or Buy: Buy
Although .hack isn't for everyone, I would definitely suggest buying it. If you are a little skeptical, then rent first. If you have any doubts because of the past games, don't. .hack//G.U. has been completely revamped, and is way better. I hope this review helped you out, and look forward to seeing another one as soon as the second volume comes out!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/23/07