 Yet Another Golden Grunty , October 12, 2003
Reviewer: Marc Ruby "The Noh Hare" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews
From a story viewpoint, this is the most interesting of the .hack games so far. Kite's efforts to find a way to help his friend Orca and other players who now lay comatose find him cooperating with a surprising array of characters. Several new companions appear, including Balmung, who originally stood in Kite's way. In addition, Kite manages to unite Helba and Lios in an effort to fight the encroaching virus wave that is attacking not only the game, but the world beyond it. And in the background, frightened CC Corp executives are preparing to pull the plug on the games servers - even though this will end all efforts to cure the injured.
If the story and character definition have improves, though, the game play has stayed the same. This isn't all bad, since the .hack series is marked by an easily playable game interface for what is actually a complicated RPG dungeon based battle style. But after two games, the third gets a bit repetitious. The dungeons aren't quite the fun they were, and long time players will find themselves rushing through the levels once they have figured out the needed battle strategies.
Which introduces the real flaw in spreading the game over four volumes, something I'll call 'over-levelling' for lack of a better term. All of the games allow the player to continue once the core game is complete. During the down time between games one is encouraged to play to complete side quests and improve stats. Which I did after completing .hack//MUTATION.
Unfortunately, the side effect is that all my main characters were already at high levels when I started Outbreak. The result is that I spent a whole game with Kite getting exactly one experience point per kill. In other words, he advanced exactly one level during the entire game. That is tedious, and reduces character development to a continuous quest for items that will permanently improve stats. Also, high stats mean you tend to blast through most conflicts without much need for finesse.
Despite this, .hack//OUTBREAK is one of this years better games. The marketing scheme where the story is allowed to progress ovewr several media makes the .hack universe a rich experience, and the games are marked by a high level of professional quality. If you are a fan of dungeon based RPGs you will want this. The accompanying Liminality DVD, by the way, is the best so far in the series.
 dot hack Outbreak (part 3) , June 7, 2004
Reviewer: nultimok (Weaverville, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This game was the greatest of the three dot hacks I haven't played 4 but it seems to be the best. You get new people after you beat the second one you get to use Wisemen in the 3rd one you find out that Mistral is pregnet and is a housewife it's crazy but I give this game five out of five it was hard at the end for me becuase I thought I could beat the last boss at level 72 but I couldn't so I gained more levels and then I went to the area where the red wand was found and beat that you see a new guy laughing and disaper out of thin air, and you get Sora's Blade which is a rare level 34 which is cool it glows white.
When you fight the last boss use the new blademaster and Blackrose which you have to do. The new blademaster is level 60 which ruled for me becuase I went to hard levels and gained mondo exp. you get a new Heavy Axe which is a girl you find out that she is level 1 which is a laugh what I did was gave her level 60 heavy items and a level 34 heavy axe. and I went to the first area to a level 18 and made her up to 20 then I left to the other area and I got her up too level 70.
You must read this. , January 29, 2004
Reviewer: Sorafan1 "Krustofski" (Florida, United States) - See all my reviews
Listen to me, ignore any negative review. If someone were to give this game a bad review, it must be because of their lack of good taste, for this is one of the greastest games on the planet.
Sure 4 games can be alot of money, but remember, each volume of the .hack games comes with a free dvd! No extra charge. And on the dvd theres an anime titled: .hack//liminally.
Now your probably thinking, "Well if its free, then it must be some cheap anime." Not true. In fact this anime was created by some of the cast who worked on the great "Ghost In A Shell."
Its packed with extras too, which will keep you entertained hours on end.
Now to talk about the game. Do I really need to say it? .hack is best RPG series since the good ol' Final Fantasies. Sporting even better graphics this time, even more items, skills, gameplay elements, levels, grunties, and unlockable desktop wallpapers, movie cinematics, and backround soundtracks.
Sure, this game is gonna cost alot of money. I mean, theres 4 total volumes.
But each volumes delivers new stuff. And as before, great boss battles arrive, filling up your screen with action. There are still new chracters arriving too, and the storyline is equal to such greats as Kingdom Hearts and the Final Fantisies, as I said in my .hack//infection review.
So what are you waiting for? Have you played the two previous volumes? Then buy the third. Are you new to the series? GO buy the first volume.
Trust me, anyway to Log In is a good way, till the very end. |
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