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PS2 | RPG | .hack: Infection

Boxart for .hack: Infection
.hack: Infection 48 screen shots
  • GRAPHICS: 3.0
  • SOUND: 4.0
  • CONTROL: 3.0
  • FUN FACTOR 4.0
  • AVG USER SCORE 3.8
  • AVG CRITIC SCORE 3.9

Hands-On: .hack: Infection

Hands-On by FENNECFOX | 07/26/2002 | 15:01:02 PM PST

Are you playing The World?or is The World playing you? Metaphysical questions abound in Bandai's RPG/anime hybrid.

If you play an offline game about playing an online game, are you really playing anything at all? As it turns out, yes: You're playing .hack ("dot hack"), one of the more original ideas for a console RPG in a long time.

Some kind of evil force is taking over The World, an online game played by millions around the world. This force put your friend Orca into a real-life coma and turned you into an outlaw player with the ability to mess around with the internal structures of the game. Convinced that The World's management is involved in some kind of conspiracy, you decide to delve into the game, chasing clues and dealing with fellow players who tend to know a lot more about your friend's past than they first disclose.

.hack can be roughly divided into two areas: The World itself, a set of base servers with a large pool of algorithmically generated dungeons, and your computer outside the game, which you use to read message boards and reply to personal e-mail. The plot advances like a typical console RPG (nothing will happen unless you take action yourself), but otherwise you?ll be free to explore dungeons and build up experience for as long as you want. The battle system should be familiar to anyone with real MMORPG experience?if you lack that, imagine a 3D action/RPG with the ability to issue strategic commands to up to two computer-controlled party members.

Developer Cyber Connect 2 (they did Tail Concerto and Silent Bomber for the PlayStation) has already succeeded in making The World a believable enough online RPG. The more-or-less complete U.S. build was practically brimming with atmosphere, impressive graphics, and characters that really seemed like they were being controlled by other humans. Despite a clunky camera system, .hack is likely one to watch in the annual end-of-year console RPG blitz. And let's not forget about the 45-minute anime DVD it comes with, either. Yes.