.hack//G.U. vol. 1//Rebirth review

The simulated MMORPG saga continues

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

  • +

    The compelling story and premise

  • +

    .hack//Roots references

  • +

    Managing your guild

Cons

  • -

    Repetitive dungeons

  • -

    Too few monster models

  • -

    Not enough quests

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

Fans of the original .hack series and anime have another reason to dust off their virtual desktops with .hack//G.U. Vol. 1//Rebirth scheduled to release early next week. With a story intertwiend with .hack//Roots - a new anime series that debuts on Cartoon Network in November - the game takes place in the not-so-distant future, where a fantasy online role-playing game called The World has become a cultural phenomenon.

You control Haseo, a brash Adept Rogue who needs to find a way to save his friend Shino from certain death byhunting downTri-Edge, a mysterious PK (Player Killer) who put Shino into a real-life coma with his in-game attacks.

Like the original .hack games, .hack//G.U. succeeds in enveloping you in the premise that you are a pawn investigating adiremystery within a MMORPG. You'll post on the (totally fictional) forums to look for healers to party with, check your emails for clues, and search the news for information that will lead you to Tri-Edge.

But things aren't always so serious. The World is a game, after all, and towns are filled with player characters who add depth and humor to the experience. One player named b1u3 will explain that she really wanted to make a character named Blue, but that it was already taken. Another female character will confess that she's a guy in real life.

More info

GenreRole Playing
DescriptionA compelling story and action-packed dungeon crawling collide in this sequel to the fake-online RPG series.
Franchise name.hack
UK franchise name.hack
Platform"PS2"
US censor rating"Teen"
UK censor rating""
Alternative names"hack","dot hack"
Less
GamesRadarTylerNagata