Wikipedia

.hack(video game series)

(Redirected from.hack//QUARANTINE)
Not to be confused withHack (video game).

.hack(/dɒthæk/) is a series ofsingle-playeraction role-playingvideo games developed for thePlayStation 2console byCyberConnect2and published byBandai.The four games,.hack//Infection,.hack//Mutation,.hack//Outbreak,and.hack//Quarantine,all feature a "game within a game",a fictionalmassively multiplayer online role-playing game(MMORPG) calledThe Worldwhich does not require the player to connect to the Internet. Players may transfer their characters and data between games in the series. Each game comes with an extraDVDcontaining an episode of.hack//Liminality,the accompanyingoriginal video animation(OVA) series which details fictional events that occur concurrently with the games.

.hack
Genre(s)Action role-playing
Developer(s)CyberConnect2
Publisher(s)Bandai
Creator(s)Hiroshi Matsuyama
Producer(s)Hirotaka Watanabe
Daisuke Uchiyama
Artist(s)Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
Writer(s)Kazunori Itō
Composer(s)Chikayo Fukuda
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Original releaseInfection
  • JP:June 20, 2002
  • NA:February 11, 2003
  • PAL:March 26, 2004
Mutation
Outbreak
  • JP:December 12, 2002
  • NA:September 9, 2003
  • PAL:September 10, 2004
Quarantine
  • JP:April 10, 2003
  • NA:January 13, 2004
  • PAL:December 10, 2004
frägment
  • JP:November 23, 2005
Parent seriesanime series
Spin-offsG.U.
Link

The games are part of amultimedia franchisecalledProject.hack,which explores the mysterious origins ofThe World.Set after the events of the anime series,.hack//Sign,the games focus on a player character named Kite and his quest to discover why some users have becomecomatosein the real world as a result of playingThe World.The search evolves into a deeper investigation of the game and its effects on the stability of theInternet.

Critics gave the series mixed reviews. It was praised for its unique setting and its commitment to preserve thesuspension of disbelief,as well as thecharacter designs.However, it was criticized for unevenpacingand a lack of improvement between games in the series. The commercial success of the franchise led to the production of.hack//frägment—a Japan-onlyremakeof the series withonline capabilities—and.hack//G.U.,another video game trilogy which was released for the PlayStation 2 between 2006 and 2007. A remastered collection of the latter was released for thePlayStation 4andMicrosoft Windowsin 2017, titled.hack//G.U. Last Recode.The collection was later released on theNintendo Switchon March 11, 2022.[3]

Gameplay

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The player's party, consisting of Kite, BlackRose, and Wiseman, is battling a monster. The red reticle shows which enemy is currently being targeted. Players may attack in real time by pressing the X button.

.hacksimulates an MMORPG; players assume the role of a participant in a fictional game calledThe World.The player controls the on-screenplayer characterKite from a third-person perspective but first-person mode is available. The player manually controls the viewing perspective using the game controller. Within the fictional game, players explore monster-infested fields and dungeons, and "Root Towns" that are free of combat. They can also log off fromThe Worldand return to acomputer desktopinterface which includes in-game e-mail, news, message boards, and desktop and background music customization options.[4]The player may save the game to amemory cardboth from the desktop and withinThe Worldat a Save Shop. A Data Flag appears on the save file after the player completes the game, allowing the transfer of all aspects of the player character and party members to the next game in the series.[5]

The series is typical of action role-playing games, in which players attack enemies in real time.[6]The game's action pauses whenever the menu is opened to select magic to cast, items to use, or skills to perform. The player directly controls Kite and the other characters are controlled byartificial intelligence.The player may either provide the computer-controlled characters with guidelines ( "attack", "first aid", "magic", etc.)ter approaches the portal and releases the monsters inside.[4]Kite possesses a unique ability called "Data Drain" which allows him to transform these enemies into rare items.[7]Manybossmonsters are known as "Data Bugs" —enemies with corrupted data which gives them infinitehealth.Data Drain is used to repair the damaged monsters' data and render them vulnerable[8]but its use increases Kite's level of infection, randomly causing harmful side effects. The infection can be cured by defeating enemies without Data Drain.[9]

Root Towns are non-combat areas ofThe Worldwhere the player may restock items, buy equipment, or chat and trade with other players ofThe World.[6]In many towns, the player may also raise a sentient, pig-like creature called a Grunty, which can be ridden in fields and in later games raced for prizes. A blue portal called the Chaos Gate is used to travel between towns (called "servers" ) and to access the fields and dungeons where battles occur. A three-wordpassword systemcontrols the characteristics of each area; attributes such as the prevalence of monsters or items change depending on the properties of each word in the password phrase.[4]Certain plot-related areas have restricted access, but the player character has an ability called "Gate Hacking" which allows him to access these areas using "Virus Cores" obtained through Data Drain.[6]

Plot

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Setting

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The.hackgames are set in an alternate history Earth, in the year 2010. After acomputer viruscalled "Pluto's Kiss" crashes nearly every computer in the world, access to the Internet is closed to the general public to address security concerns.[10]After two years without the Internet and online games, aMMORPGcalledThe Worldis released.[11]It becomes the most popular online game of all time with over 20 million unique players.[12][13]Shortly before the events portrayed in the.hackgames, a number of users become comatose as a result of playingThe World.[14]However, the developers blame their condition oncyberterrorism.[15]

The Worldwas developed by a German programmer named Harald Hoerwick; its backstory is based on theEpitaph of Twilight,an epic poem by Emma Wielant. Her death inspired Hoerwick to create the game. Elements of the poem are coded into the game's programming.[16]The hidden purpose of Hoerwick's game is to develop theultimate artificial intelligence(AI), which is capable of making decisions for itself.[17]To this end, Hoerwick inserted functions into the system which monitor and extract behavioral data from millions of the game's players to aid in the AI's learning process. After Hoerwick's death, these pieces of code becameblack boxesto the current developers, who cannot fathom their purpose, yet are critical to the proper functioning of the game.[18]

Characters

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Main article:List of.hackcharacters

The mainprotagonistof.hackis Kite, a new player ofThe Worldwhose friend Orca becomes comatose under mysterious circumstances.[4]Kite is joined by nearly twenty other players in his quest to solve the mystery of the coma victims. The players who have the greatest impact on the success of Kite's mission are BlackRose, a fellownewbietoThe Worldwhose brother is also in a coma; Balmung, a legendary player who seeks to eliminate sources of corruption in the game he loves; and Wiseman, an information broker who becomes a key strategist for Kite's team. Helba, a professionalhacker,and Lios, a reluctantsystem administrator,also aid in Kite's efforts to rescue the coma victims. Two non-human characters play important roles in the story: Aura seeks to complete her growth into the ultimate AI, while Morganna, an AI who rebels against her task of nurturing Aura, acts as the unseen primary antagonist.

Story

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In.hack//Infection,Kite's friend Orca invites him to playThe World.In the first dungeon they visit, they encounter a girl in white, Aura, being chased by a humanoid monster. Aura tries to entrust Orca with an item called "the Book of Twilight", but the monster attacks him, crashingThe World's servers. Kite's player discovers that Yasuhiko, Orca's player, has fallencomatoseafter the attack, and resolves to discover the cause.[19]Kite meets BlackRose, who takes him to acathedralwhere they are attacked by a headless swordsman. The legendary player Balmung appears and defeats it, but the monster revives itself as a Data Bug.[8]The Book of Twilight then activates, altering Kite's character data and giving him the Twilight Bracelet. He uses its Data Drain to correct the swordsman's code, allowing Balmung to kill it. Balmung accuses Kite of causing the viral infection spreading through the game, and leaves.[20]Kite and BlackRose decide to cooperate to help the coma victims. After investigating a number of leads, Kite and BlackRose track down Skeith, the creature that put Orca into a coma. They defeat Skeith. The remnants of Skeith attracts a much larger enemy named Cubia, which defeats Kite and his party. Helba then drives Cubia away.[21]

In.hack//Mutation,Kite and BlackRose encounter system administrator Lios, who declares Kite's bracelet to be an illegal hack.[22]He tries to delete Kite's character data, but fails due to Kite's data being encrypted by the Book of Twilight. Helba intervenes, and convinces Lios to observe Kite for the time being.[23]Lios directs them to an area where they find Innis, a monster with powers similar to Skeith's. Upon defeating Innis, Kite receives an e-mail from Aura, who reveals that she is an AI. They travel to an area to meet her; but Cubia attacks them, and they repel the monster with difficulty.[24]Short on leads, they contact Wiseman, who is intrigued by Kite's bracelet. He suggests that Skeith and Innis are based on the "Cursed Wave", an antagonistic force featured in the poemEpitaph of Twilight,upon whichThe Worldis based. Wiseman helps grant them access to Net Slum, a place known as a paradise for hackers and wandering AIs. Upon arrival, another Cursed Wave monster called Magus attacks them. They defeat it and return to the Root Town, where they discover that the computer virus has spread toThe World'smain servers and into the real world.[25][26]

In.hack//Outbreak,Balmung realizes that he cannot end the situation on his own, and joins Kite's quest.[27]BlackRose tells Kite that her brother became comatose under similar circumstances as Orca, which renews both characters' determination.[28]Wiseman formulates a plan to combat the Cursed Wave, enlisting Helba's assistance. Their teamwork destroys the Wave monster Fidchell, but the aftermath causes networks in the real world to malfunction.[29]Aura contacts Kite again, but their meeting is cut short by Cubia's reappearance. Lios, observing Cubia's power, agrees to join Kite, Helba, and the others to combat the Cursed Wave.[30]In the resulting operation, the team pools their resources to defeat another Wave monster called Gorre, with no repercussions in the real world.[31]

.hack//Quarantinesees the current server becoming increasingly unstable. To fix the problem, Helba replaces it with a copy of the Net Slum.[32]At the bottom of a dungeon, Kite encounters Mia, a member of his party. He discovers that Mia is actually another Cursed Wave monster named Macha, whom he reluctantly defeats.[33]Meanwhile, Cubia grows stronger, and Kite's team barely fends off its latest attack. In contrast, Operation Orca is a success as they destroy Tarvos, the next Wave monster. Kite seeks the advice of Harald Hoerwick, the creator of the game who survives beyond death through his AI incarnations. Aura appears and hints that Cubia is the "shadow" of Kite's Twilight Bracelet.[34]Cubia ambushes them and destroys the AI Harald. In their final battle, Kite recalls Aura's hint and has BlackRose destroy the bracelet, causing Cubia to fade away. Without the bracelet, the final Wave member, Corbenik, ambushes the party in Net Slum Root Town. With the aid of the spirits of the coma victims, Kite penetrates Corbenik's barrier. Aura sacrifices herself to end the battle, restoring the network to normal and reviving all the coma victims.[35]

Development

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Release timeline
2002.hack//INFECTION - Part 1(PS2)
.hack//MUTATION - Part 2(PS2)
.hack//OUTBREAK - Part 3(PS2)
2003.hack//QUARANTINE - Part 4(PS2)
2004
2005.hack//frägment(PS2/PC)
2006.hack//G.U. Vol. 1: Rebirth(PS2)
.hack//G.U. Vol. 2: Reminisce(PS2)
2007.hack//G.U. Vol. 3: Redemption(PS2)
2008
2009
2010.hack//Link(PSP)
2011
2012.hack//Versus(PS3)
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017.hack//G.U. Last Recode(PS4/PC)

Development for.hackbegan in early 2000 with the aim of shocking and surprising the player and creating a distinctive product.[36]CyberConnect2's presidentHiroshi Matsuyamaplayed a key role in developing the concept for the series. A number of core ideas, including "slaying dragons or being a thief in London" were explored, but these were rejected in favor of an "offline/online game".[37]Matsuyama said that this would give young gamers an opportunity to experience online play without paying monthly fees or needing powerful Internet connections.[37]The developers looked at a number of MMORPGs such asPhantasy Star Online,Ultima Online,andFinal Fantasy XIfor inspiration, and drew influences from the prior works of character designerYoshiyuki Sadamoto(Neon Genesis Evangelion) and scenario writerKazunori Itō(Ghost in the Shell).[37]Itō noted that casting the player into the role of a subscriber ofThe Worldcreates a unique story-telling situation which draws the player deeper into the plot.[38]

From the start of its development,.hackwas envisioned as a four-part series intended to mirror the four-volume story arcs found inmanga.[37]Matsuyama theorized that the act of transferring saved data across the four volumes would help to create a sense of the human drama embodied by the games' story and invest the player into the narrative.[39]The games were developed simultaneously alongside other elements ofProject.hacksuch as.hack//Signto emphasize the multimedia aspect of the franchise.[37][39]The three-month gap between each game's release allowed the developers to make minor changes in response to criticisms.[36]The games were packaged with bonus DVDs featuring episodes of.hack//Liminality,an original video animation (OVA) series that depicts events that occur concurrently with the games.[40]The developers intended the OVA series to depict fictional events happening in the real world outside the game.[41]Players in Japan who purchased all four games were rewarded with.hack//Gift,an OVA parodying the.hackseries.[42]After the completion of the series, the development team produced.hack//frägment,a game using the sameengineas the.hackseries with an online multiplayer component.[43]The aims of.hack//frägmentwere to allow the developers to watch player interactions in an online environment and to gauge interest in an online.hackgame.[44][45]

Reception

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Aggregate review scores
Game Metacritic
Infection 75/100[46]
Mutation 76/100[47]
Outbreak 70/100[48]
Quarantine 70/100[49]

By April 2004, the games had sold1 millionunits in Japan and the United States.[50]By March 2004, sales of the.hackgames exceeded 1.73 million, with 780,000 copies sold in Japan.[51]

Critics gave the series mixed reviews..hack//Infectionreceived the most positive reviews of the series; critics were intrigued by the games' unique premise. Jeremy Dunham ofIGNwas impressed by the game's commitment to preserve the illusion of online and praised the character designs and the inclusion of the Japanese voice track, but criticized the camera manipulation and the game's shortness and lack of difficulty.[6]AGame Informerreviewer praised the way it captures the sense of community that a real MMORPG offers.[52]

Many reviewers cited the game's unusual setting as the counterbalance to the mediocre gameplay, repetitive environments and poor camera control.[53][54]Overall, the first game was moderately well received, with reviewers overlooking gameplay flaws because of a compelling story.[55][56][57]Christian Nutt ofGameSpyawarded if four stars out of five and commended Bandai for breaking new ground and Cyber Connect 2 for providing an engrossing RPG experience.[58]Gary Steinman ofOfficial U.S. PlayStation Magazinewrote, "[a]t its core,.hackis not a good game ", calling the battle systems" wildly unbalanced "and the graphics" spectacularly underwhelming ", but said the" mind-bending "story allowed him to look past its obvious flaws and anticipate future games in the series.[59]Greg KasavinofGameSpotwas less forgiving, deriding.hack//Infectionas a sub-par version ofKingdom Hearts.[60]

.hack//Mutationalso received mixed reviews, and many critics complained that little was done to address the problems of its predecessor.[61]Fennec Fox of Gamepro said that game, "is simply an extension of Infection", with "muddy graphics, questionable control, and a story concept that's just interesting enough to keep you going."[62][63]Greg Kasavin of GameSpot gave it a rating of 6.7 out of 10 and wrote, "not only does it bring you exactly the same sort of repetitive hack-and-slash gameplay, but it's also similarly short and simple and once again offers little in the way of plot or character development."[64]Nutt found the second game to be more addictive than the first, despite its numerous shortcomings such as obvious padding towards the end of the story. He praised the "mixture of cool story and viscerally engaging RPG gameplay", the accelerating story, gameplay progression and memorable boss battles.[65]Other reviewers were encouraged by the MMORPG-oriented details that contribute to the game's presentation and built excitement for the future of the series.[66][67][68][69]IGN also named.hack//Mutationas PlayStation 2 Game of the Month for May 2003.[70]

.hack//Outbreakrepresented a shift in the critical reception of the series as reviewers grew tired of the incremental or nonexistent improvements between titles.[71][72][73]Kasavin rated it 6.4 out of 10, and wrote that it "just doesn't make for a satisfying experience".[74]Dunham gave it an overall rating of 8.4 out of 10, praised the battle system and wrote that there had been a great improvement in the artificial intelligence of ally characters and enemies, although he was disappointed by the lack of any other changes.[75]Nutt awarded.hack//Outbreakthree stars out of five, writing that the game's "extremely challenging enemies and lots of solo missions give the game an edge that keeps it from becoming boring". However, he criticized the four-part game structure, observing, "we are paying Bandai $200 for one game" and that "the extreme lack of improvements from volume to volume is... downright exploitative of the fans".[76]

Some critics called the final game,.hack//Quarantine,a satisfying conclusion to a mediocre series,[77][78][79][80]while others said it is a confusing mess of poor pacing and plot holes.[81][82][83]Dunham awarded the game 8.3 out of 10 and called the plot twists "shocking and clever".[84]Kasavin rated it 6.1 out of 10 and wrote that, "[o]n its own merits, Quarantine isn't a bad game, and [loyal players] should find it to have a satisfying conclusion that, sure enough, leaves the possibility for further adventures in The World". He also called Bandai's decision to add 60 to 80 hours of padding to the game, split it into four full-priced products, and release these as a series disappointing.[81]Nutt was similarly disappointed with the final game, awarding it two stars out of five. He wrote that the story was well-presented and excellent, but that it was only present in the game's first and last quarters. He was satisfied by the game's ending and loved its story, style, and characters, but grew tired of the game's "endless chains of chambers, these easily-defeated enemies, this total lack of strategy".[83]TheGame Informerreviewer hoped to see a more effective implementation of.hack's concept in the future.[85]Japanese magazineFamitsu Weeklygave the.hackgames scores in the 29 to 30 out of 40 range, indicating average reviews. However, the JapaneseComputer Entertainment Supplier's Association(CESA) honored the series for its combination of different fictional media including games, anime, radio, and manga into a compelling whole at the 2002–2003CESA Awards.[36]

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The.hackvideo games are part of a multimedia franchise that includes novels,manga,andanimeseries. Set before the events of the video games,.hack//Signis an anime television series that establishesThe Worldas a setting..hack//Another Birthis a series of novels that retells the story of the games from BlackRose's perspective.[86].hack//XXXXis a manga adaptation of the games' story with changes to some elements, such as Cubia acting as a player character.[87]The first official sequel to the games is the manga and anime series.hack//Legend of the Twilight,which began serializing on July 30, 2002. It tells the story of Shugo and Rena—regular players who win avatars of Kite and BlackRose in a contest—and their exploration ofThe Worldand its secrets.[88].hack//G.U.is a series of video games also released in multiple parts that forms the centerpiece of.hack Conglomerate,a new project set seven years after the events ofProject.hackwith a new version ofThe World.[45]

Music

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.hack//Game Music Perfect Collection
Soundtrack albumby
Chikayo Fukuda
Released
  • JP:April 23, 2003
  • NA:March 16, 2004
GenreVideo game soundtrack
LengthDisc 1:68:50
Disc 2: 71:27
Label

The games' soundtrack, titled.hack//Game Music Perfect Collection,was released as a double album in Japan on April 23, 2003.[89]It features 68 compositions by Chikayo Fukuda, Seizo Nakata, and Norikatsu Fukuda. A special edition of this soundtrack includes a third disc featuring sound effects and clips used in the games.[89]The album was released with fewer tracks in North America as.hack//Game Music Best Collection.[90]Patrick Gann of RPGFan wrote that the second disc, which contains music for cutscenes and special events, was stronger than the first disc's generic town and battle themes. He called the soundtrack "techno meets opera", singled out the volume intro tracks for particular praise.[89]Gann noted that the North American release functions as a "Best of" album, but felt that "a lot of solid music [is] missing" in this release.[90]Other reviewers were less enthusiastic; Paul Koehler of RPGamer called the music "particularly bland" and IGN's Dunham lamented that the second installment did not introduce many new pieces.[69][91]However, he concluded that "the melodious piano and oboe themes were still brawny enough to convince us that we needed to buy the soundtrack sometime in the near future".[69]

.hack//Game Music Perfect Collection

Disc 1
No.TitleLength
1."Title"0:47
2."Desktop"1:41
3.""The World "Top Page"1:32
4."Δ Server Aqua Capital Mac Anu"2:14
5."Θ Server Highland City Dun Loireag"2:24
6."Λ Server Cultural City Carmina Gadelica"2:07
7."Σ Server Aerial City Fort Ouph"2:10
8."Ω Server Relic City Lia Fail"1:49
9."Puchiguso Farm"1:24
10."Prairie Rain Field Normal ~ Battle"2:22
11."Wasteland Field Normal ~ Battle"2:37
12."Earth Field Normal ~ Battle"2:09
13."Wilderness Field Normal ~ Battle"3:09
14."Snowfield Night Field Normal ~ Battle"2:37
15."Desert Field Normal ~ Battle"2:43
16."Scorching Field Normal ~ Battle"2:15
17."Forest Field Normal ~ Battle"2:32
18."Stone Wall Dungeon Normal ~ Battle"2:41
19."Cave Dungeon Normal ~ Battle"2:44
20."Castle Dungeon Normal ~ Battle"2:18
21."Flesh Wall Dungeon Battle"1:37
22."Phase 1: Skeith"2:37
23."Phase 2: Innis"2:27
24."Phase 3: Magus"2:21
25."Phase 4: Fidchell"2:29
26."Phase 5: Gorre"2:22
27."Phase 6: Macha"2:37
28."Phase 7: Tarvos"2:37
29."Phase 8: Corbenik (Stage 1~2)"2:54
30."Phase 8: Corbenik (Stage 3)"2:34
Disc 2
No.TitleLength
1."Vol. 1 Opening"1:33
2."Aura's Theme"2:52
3."BlackRose's Theme"1:59
4."Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground"1:01
5."First Time at the Holy Ground with BlackRose"1:51
6."Balmung's Entry and the Virus Bug"2:11
7."Mia's Theme"1:10
8."Piros' Theme"1:32
9."Cubia's Birth"1:28
10."Vol 1. ~ Vol. 3 Staff Roll"4:04
11."Airship Brigade"1:33
12."800 Significant Seasons Bonus Track: Panta"1:36
13."Vol. 2 Opening"1:33
14."Vol. 1 Recollection (Cubia's Birth)"1:14
15."Lios ~ Helba"2:33
16."Net Slum"1:41
17."Aura and Cubia"0:53
18."Cubia - Stages 1~3"2:20
19."Inverted Castle City"1:31
20."Inverted Castle City ~ Angolmore"1:17
21."800 Significant Seasons Bonus Track: Tempest"1:38
22."Vol. 3 Opening"1:30
23."Kite and Blackrose in Λ Town"1:36
24."Sora and Skeith"0:56
25."Puchiguso's Theme"1:32
26."Puchiguso's Race Victory Melody"0:42
27."Flying Creature"1:34
28."800 Significant Seasons Bonus Track: Cyan and Princess Teria"2:07
29."Vol. 4 Opening"1:29
30."Macha's Appearance"1:10
31."Mia's Death"1:59
32."Cubia Stage 4"2:15
33."Drain Heart"2:52
34."Ending"2:55
35."Vol. 4 Staff Roll"3:11
36."Recurring Illusions of Mia's Resurrection"3:14
37."800 Significant Seasons Bonus Track: Tail Concerto"2:30
38."800 Significant Seasons Bonus Track:.hack Mix"2:23

.hack//Game Music Best Collection

No.TitleLength
1."Δ Server Aqua Capital Mac Anu"2:12
2."Prairie Rain Field Normal ~ Battle"2:20
3."Aura's Theme"2:49
4."BlackRose's Theme"1:57
5."Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground"0:59
6."Balmung's Entry and the Virus Bug"2:09
7."Mia's Theme"1:07
8."Piros' Theme"1:30
9."Θ Server Highland City Dun Loireag"2:22
10."Phase 1: Skeith"2:35
11."Vol. 1 Recollection (Cubia's Birth)"1:11
12."Lios ~ Helba"2:30
13."Phase 2: Innis"2:25
14."Λ Server Cultural City Carmina Gadelica"2:04
15."Forest Field Normal ~ Battle"2:29
16."Net Slum"1:39
17."Phase 3: Magus"2:18
18."Σ Server Aerial City Fort Ouph"2:08
19."Phase 4: Fidchell"2:26
20."Puchiguso's Theme"1:29
21."Phase 5: Gorre"2:20
22."Macha's Appearance"1:09
23."Phase 6: Macha"2:35
24."Ω Server Relic City Lia Fail"1:46
25."Cubia Stage 4"2:14
26."Phase 7: Tarvos"2:34
27."Phase 8: Corbenik (Stage 1~2)"2:51
28."Drain Heart"2:48
29."Ending"2:52
30."Vol. 4 Staff Roll"3:09
31."Recurring Illusions of Mia's Resurrection"3:10

.hack//frägment

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.hack//frägmentis amultiplayer online gamebased on the fictional MMORPG,The World.It was released only in Japan on November 23, 2005 and online service ended on January 18, 2007, after being extended two months because of its popularity.[92]Famitsu Weeklygave.hack//frägmenta cumulative score of 29 out of 40 over four reviews, much like its reviews of the main series.[93]The game was never released outside of Japan because it was only intended for a Japanese audience.[45]The game uses a modified version of the engine used in the.hackvideo game series and thus its gameplay differs from those games in a few ways. Players explore areas and fight monsters in real time but the game does not pause when the menu is opened. Due to this change it is now possible to assign items, messages and skills to hotkeys like in many other online games. Players may still use the skill "Data Drain" to weaken monsters and collect rare items.[94]The user interface and control scheme are otherwise mostly unchanged.[94]

Players may create their characters based on a number of preset body shapes and color schemes and may choose aclass(such as Wavemaster or Twin Blade), character name and bonus stat points. In online mode, players may enter a lobby and search for a maximum of two other players to join them on an adventure.[43]The game includes an expanded communication interface that allows players to chat, send e-mail, post to an in-gameBulletin Board System,and receive server news updates.[95]It is possible to establish ad hoc chat rooms separate from the public-access ones. Guilds are permanent, exclusive chat rooms for members, and can also be used to set up a storefront to sell items to online players.[43]

In offline mode, players may use the same character that they use for online mode, and any skills, items and levels they gain will carry over into online mode. Players may invite or create characters from the.hackgames,.hack//Sign,and.hack//Legend of the Twilightinto their party.[94]The "story mode" of.hack//frägmentis similar to that of the.hackgames, though it does not feature any of the antagonists from the original games, and the scenario is an entirely non-canon what-if story.[94][96]

Players may also install a companion program on their PC called "Area Server", which allows them to create fields and dungeons for players to visit online.[43]As players clear fields and dungeons on a user's Area Server, the Area Server gains experience points and levels. Once the server reaches a certain level, it is possible for custom areas to become "corrupted", much like in the events of the.hackgames. Players can visit a corrupted area by breaking into it with virus cores obtained from using the Data Drain skill on enemies, and can defeat a data bug boss enemy at the bottom of the corrupted dungeon.[97]Once the boss monster has been defeated, the area corruption is cleared.

Since the game's official online service was closed in 2007, aprivate serverhas been created by fans of the game,[98]along with afan translationinto English.[99]

Notes

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References

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  1. ^".hack//MUTATION (Part 2)".IGN.Archived fromthe originalon June 3, 2004.RetrievedJuly 2,2024.
  2. ^"Gaming Life in Japan".IGN.August 29, 2002.RetrievedJuly 2,2024.
  3. ^"The World is returning!".
  4. ^abcdSmith, David (August 7, 2002).".hack Infection Vol.1".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on June 29, 2011.RetrievedJune 29,2010.
  5. ^Dunham, Jeremy (March 19, 2003).".hack//MUTATION (Part 2): First Impressions".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on June 29, 2011.RetrievedJune 29,2010.
  6. ^abcdDunham, Jeremy (February 10, 2003).".hack//INFECTION (Part 1) Review".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on March 18, 2011.RetrievedJune 23,2010.
  7. ^Torres, Ricardo (December 3, 2002).".hack infection part 1 Preview".Game.CBS Interactive. Archived fromthe originalon December 26, 2018.RetrievedJune 29,2010.
  8. ^abCyberConnect2 (February 11, 2003)..hack//Infection(PlayStation 2). Bandai.Balmung:It's a bug from a computer virus. The virus is rewriting the data. It has a HP that is – infinite.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^.hack//Infection North American instruction manual.Bandai Games. 2002. p. 14.
  10. ^CyberConnect2 (May 7, 2003)..hack//Mutation(PlayStation 2). Bandai.News:The end of this year marks five years since "Pluto's Kiss," the network crisis that nearly destroyed the world.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^CyberConnect2 (February 11, 2003)..hack//Infection(PlayStation 2). Bandai.News:BANDAI also announced that it will be compatible with the current key network OS, "ALTIMIT," and the device will also act as an internet terminal as well. According to company officials, CC Corporation's popular online game "The World" is slated to be one of the launch titles.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^CyberConnect2 (February 11, 2003)..hack//Infection(PlayStation 2). Bandai.NoNo:'The World' has sold over 20 million copies worldwide!{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^CyberConnect2 (February 11, 2003)..hack//Infection(PlayStation 2). Bandai.News:[ "The World" ] is currently being submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records as the "Highest Selling Game in History."{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^CyberConnect2 (February 11, 2003)..hack//Infection(PlayStation 2). Bandai.News:Two high school students in Kanazawa City of Ishikawa prefecture were found unconscious in their clubroom. One has regained consciousness at the hospital, but the other, Tomonari Kasumi, is still in a coma.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^CyberConnect2 (September 3, 2003)..hack//Outbreak(PlayStation 2). Bandai.News:CC Corporation said in a press conference today that comas caused while playing the online game, "The World," were result of hackers and not a flaw in "The World" itself.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^.hack//Liminality Vol. 4(DVD). Bandai. January 14, 2004.Easter egg:In the "Epitaph of Twilight," the one who will destroy the world is depicted as the Cursed Wave, or the Abominable Wave. /... / In the game, a ripple-like shockwave is emitted by the Eight Phases of Morganna... Based on these events, Wiseman began to refer to the Eight Phases as the Cursed Wave.
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  20. ^CyberConnect2 (February 11, 2003)..hack//Infection(PlayStation 2). Bandai.Balmung:That skill... You are the same as the virus.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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  24. ^CyberConnect2 (May 7, 2003)..hack//Mutation(PlayStation 2). Bandai.Helba:You defeated Cubia. I'm impressed.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. ^CyberConnect2 (September 3, 2003)..hack//Outbreak(PlayStation 2). Bandai.Helba:[Kite] and his party defeated Skeith, Innis, and Magus. Yet, in spite of their triumph, the situation only worsens.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^CyberConnect2 (January 14, 2004)..hack//Quarantine(PlayStation 2). Bandai.Helba:Casualties are no longer contained in the game and the damages extend to the real world.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  27. ^CyberConnect2 (September 3, 2003)..hack//Outbreak(PlayStation 2). Bandai.Kite:But... it's really not something I can accomplish alone. Could you lend me a hand? /Balmung:You're... Of course!{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  28. ^CyberConnect2 (September 3, 2003)..hack//Outbreak(PlayStation 2). Bandai.BlackRose:Do you want to know something? My brother fell unconscious here.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. ^CyberConnect2 (September 3, 2003)..hack//Outbreak(PlayStation 2). Bandai.Kite:The virus refused to remain in "The World" and began flooding our territory – the real world.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ^CyberConnect2 (September 3, 2003)..hack//Outbreak(PlayStation 2). Bandai.Lios:I'll keep my promise. I will help you.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  31. ^CyberConnect2 (September 3, 2003)..hack//Outbreak(PlayStation 2). Bandai.Lios:All appears to have gone well. An investigation will still be needed, but... I guess you've succeeded for now.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^CyberConnect2 (January 14, 2004)..hack//Quarantine(PlayStation 2). Bandai.Kite:Net Slum? /Helba:It's a mirror of Ω server... which is mine.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  33. ^CyberConnect2 (January 14, 2004)..hack//Quarantine(PlayStation 2). Bandai.Mia:I only exist in "The World."{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  34. ^CyberConnect2 (January 14, 2004)..hack//Quarantine(PlayStation 2). Bandai.Aura:Cubia is the shadow. When there is light burning in the darkness, a shadow is born. When the bracelet appeared in this world, Cubia was born as well.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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