PlayStation 2

.hack//INFECTION - Part 1

.hack is really quite a remarkable title. Weighing in at around 15 hours, it did a good job of keeping the game a decent length, and yet made sure it was enjoyable the whole way through. While .hack is not going to thrill anyone with its visuals or sound, the sheer replayability and depth of gameplay is incredible, and that’s what games are SUPPOSED to be all about. Bandai, you have guaranteed yourself a customer for your future .hack episodes. If they are all this long and have the same compelling story, solid gameplay, and the option to choose the Japanese voice overs, I will be a most happy repeat customer.

The various gameplay elements (controls, etc.) may be somewhat similar to other games you have played, but the story is very original. The characters aren't as developed as many people may like, but its not much of a problem since this is only the first of four games, and you are only being introduced to the game and the characters in this volume. The unique way the game elements are explained through e0mail and message board posts will keep you interested and wondering what kind of game you are actually playing (it's really interesting to see "version update information" on a message board while playing a game on your Playstation 2. Keeps you thinking, eh?). The high replay value and high funness factor of this game will more than keep you busy until the next volume, and once all four volumes come together it promises to have one of the greatest stories out of any RPGS out there.

If you’re tired of playing the same old cookie cutter games over and over, .hack Infection was made for you. While it does have some flaws, it’s literally dripping with originality and the plot is so surprisingly complex and fascinating that you’ll probably scream in frustration when the words "to be continued" flash on screen. Besides the game you’ll also get a 45 minute DVD (called .hack//Liminality) that tells more of the plot from the "real" world (focusing on some of the players who have gone into comas).

The more I played Dot Hack, the more I got sucked into it. I also realized that what really made it good wasn't just its refreshing take on conventional RPGs, but that it also captured some of the community aspects of a MMORPG.

As a whole, .Hack//Infection is a fun game by itself despite being only 1 part of 4. It includes most elements of a successful and addictive RPG. The battle system makes this game very fun, along with the exploration of limitless dungeons. However, the gameplay does end up becoming somewhat repetitive as it involves a lot of dungeon crawling, and the dungeons themselves don't vary enough to give the game a feel of exploration. Instead, the game opts to create a visibly limited world in which an intriguing and mysterious story unfolds that keeps you interested until the end. As with any game, it is not without its flaws, but the good outweighs the bad in this not-so-traditional role-playing game experience.

Un dungeon-RPG doté d'un bon scénario, en français (le doublage japonais étant à débloquer), mais souffrant de plusieurs lacunes. Voici en gros ce qu'on retire du premier épisode de Dot Hack qui en tant que RPG se dote de combats dynamiques, d'une interface perfectible et de problèmes de caméras mais qui arrivera sans peine à vous retenir devant votre écran. Un met de choix à ne pas laisser passer en attendant le second épisode, Dot Hack // Mutation...Et l'histoire continue...

While, in concept, sophistication of story-telling, relevance and artistic style, .hack infection rises, cream to the top, of the videogame milk bottle; technically, it curdles and sinks, lumpy and pixilated back towards the bottom. Though stylistically irreproachable, .hack infection: Volume 1 does not meet current graphical standards on the PlayStation 2. The interaction with your virtual friends in the game is not particularly well implemented (Baldur's Gate, for example did a better job some years ago on the PC), English translation is not always excellent, and the lead character's online avatar (whom you do not get to choose) is not particularly sympathetic, and seems skewed to appeal to an audience younger than has the capacity to truly appreciate and meditate on the relevance of the higher aspirations of the project.

We got a kick out of Dot Hack. The feeling of “just one more dungeon” dominated our lives for the 3 days to completion. The engaging environment held our attention without much effort. The strategic nature of combat, plus the convoluted plot kept us going for hours on end. The constant unlocking of both frivolous and important gameplay features created a “what’s next” anticipation. Now, if I could only read Japanese better, Dot Hack Part 2 is already out in Japan!

Hinter '.hack//Infection' steckt eine interessante Idee und die Story ist wirklich gelungen. Schade nur, dass viele der guten Ansätze im Sand versickern und somit 'nur ein gutes Rollenspiel samt schicker Bonus-DVD bleibt, das vor allem Anime-Fans ansprechen dürfte.

.Hack Infection sure has potential enough to compete against Final Fantasy, yet it doesn’t beat the master of Role Playing Games. .Hack is just the ideal game for the hardcore RPG lover. Don’t play it if you have already fallen in love with the emotions of Final Fantasy. Despite of the original story, it feels rather antique. Let me explain why this is.

Highly original and addictive, .hack is more interesting than most of the MOM-RPGs the game attempts to simulate. The game has a good look, although it's a step down from the best Square, Enix and Namco have to offer. Still, the fascinating concept and excellent execution make up for the game's less polished elements. The DVD anime throw-in adds extra value and, unlike XenoSaga, is the first episode of a series that will actually be complete BEFORE the PS3 makes its debut in 2005 or so...

As for the recommendation, it is hard to recommend Infection by itself since it intricately ties into the rest of the series. However, Infection can easily be used as a barometer to test interest before investing further. The concept is original, the battle system enjoyable, and the story mysterious. A must play for fans of the anime and recommended for action RPG-lovers looking for something original and unique.

As for the recommendation, it is hard to recommend Infection by itself since it intricately ties into the rest of the series. However, it can easily be used as a barometer to test interest before investing further. The concept is very original, the battle system is enjoyable, and the story is mysterious. A must play for fans of the anime, and recommended for ARPG-lovers looking for something original and unique.

You can finish the game in 20 hours or less, though you can continue playing after that, unlocking some secrets and finding better equipment. Subsequent installments in the series will optionally allow you to export your character data, continuing on from where you left off. And hopefully future installments won't merely offer more of the same random hack-and-slash gameplay along with another 15-20 hours' worth of story that doesn't go anywhere. It's not that the first game in the series isn't any good--it's just that the concept is much better.

Bandai hat mit „dothack“ das Unmögliche möglich gemacht und den Flair und das Spielgefühl eines Online-Rollespiels perfekt in die Offline-Welt portiert. Wenn man sich durch Foren klickt, seine Emails überprüft oder mit alten (NPC-)Freunden neue Dungeons besucht, stets auf der Suche nach neuen Waffen und dem nächsten Levelaufstieg, entsteht fast die gleiche Suchtgefahr, die schon einst „Everquest“ zu „Evercrack“ werden ließ. Doch leider haben es nicht nur die positiven Aspekte dieses bis dato vornehmlich PC-Spielern vorbehaltenen Genres in „dothack“ geschafft. Echte Taktik ist in den Kämpfen ebenso unnötig wie scheinbar eine echte Storyline, die dem Hack`n`Slay-Spektakel einen Rahmen gibt. Gerade aufgrund der extrem eintönigen und grafisch minimalistischen Dungeons kommt so schnell Langeweile auf.

Sammanfattningsvis är i alla fall .hack långt ifrån fläckfritt, men idén bakom det är fullkomligt lysande. Eller, som jag hade sagt i The World: Den r0x! :P

Perhaps the expectations of this game were too high. But was it out of place to expect so much, seeing as this game was one of the most highly anticipated RPGs of 2002/2003? While it is a solid introduction to the four-part .hack series, .hack//Infection didn't completely satisfy.

There’s nothing quite like the MMORPG genre. Famous for their addictive nature and their sometimes frightening devotees, these games continue to grow in popularity each year. Stereotypes about the genre say that all you do is fight generic enemies, explore boring areas, and all the while trying to accomplish the never-ending quest of getting the best gear. Diehard fans adamantly deny this, or they at least try to. They’re usually too busy playing to do anything else. Trust me; I was like that a while ago.