Pre-E3 06: .hack//G.U.
PS2: Online, offline - the fake virtual world is back with more conspiracies and action than ever
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Every Friday
GamesRadar+
Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.
Every Thursday
GTA 6 O'clock
Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.
Every Friday
Knowledge
From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.
Every Thursday
The Setup
Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.
Every Wednesday
Switch 2 Spotlight
Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.
Every Saturday
The Watchlist
Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.
Once a month
SFX
Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!
The original .hack games centered around The World, a fictional online game. To save its players, it was utterly destroyed at the end of the saga. In .hack//G.U., a sequel has been launched. You've also got a different quest in .hack//G.U., one anyone who's spent any time playing online RPGs can appreciate. You're hunting player killers - the losers who attack other players - and kicking their asses off the net. Problem is: what happens when you run into a PK that's stronger than you? Well, you'll find out as soon as you get a chance to boot up .hack//G.U. and watch its intro. Haseo, the main character of .hack//G.U., amps up the attitude compared to the previous hero Kite. It will be interesting to see just how he deals with threats to his virtual world.
But it's not just the story that makes .hack unique. As in Kingdom Hearts, the main character of .hack prefers to get up-close and personal with his enemies, as long as he has back-up. You'll be wielding a blade in each hand as the game begins; tap the button to let loose a combo on your enemies. Once you've got enough power stored up, you can throw in a special move for good measure. The game's interface has been streamlined from the original's clunky menu-driven gameplay - just tap a button or two to pick a special. You'll be able to switch to massive sword or other weapons in later chapters - which should help stop combat from descending into the snore-fests that the original .hack' s battles eventually became. You can even throw out a cheap shot on enemies as you run up to them - as long as they don't see you first.
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


