Update: May 17, 2006
«©NCSX» The year is A.D. 2017 and 12 million users have made the MMORPG known as "The World" their little slice of solace away from the real world. Instead of paradise however, the virtual reality of the World has taken a somber turn where Player Killers are wiping out other player-characters. To assuage the citizenry, a skilled hero named Haseo addresses the threat but is summarily schooled and reduced to newbie level. Reborn like a babe, Haseo has to traipse out into the World once more to find out what exactly is happening in the world.

.hack//G.U. Saitan (Rebirth) resumes the .hack MMORPG experience with a new storyline, new characters, and new systems to learn. Battles are fought directly on world maps where attacks and special attacks are bolted out in action-packed motion with dashes and slashes mixed together for exciting sequences. Later in the game, Haseo may motor around the world on a sort of motorbike that's designed to look like an animal of some sort and has a stubby tail on the back. When rolling, it makes a harsh grinding noise and leaves a wispy trail of debris as it putters around the wilds.

Bonus DVD
Two DVDs are included inside the package - a game disc and a terminal disc. Every order will also include a separate bonus .hackers DVD.

View the back cover and screenshots on the main NCSX website.

NCS Game Notes & Spoilers
» In the intro to the game, a wailing song evocative of a shrill version of Enya plays while various heroes and scenes of battle are shown in quick cut sequences. Text snippets that may be viewed as the intro plays include "Genesis of Ultima," "Geek's Utopia," "Gateway to Utopia," "Gathering of the Unwilling," and "Gate of Uroboros."

» On the title screen, the options are:

NEW GAME.....Start a new adventure
DATA LOAD.....Resume an adventure from memory card
OPTION..........Set game parameters such as vibration, camera type, cursor memory, sound, display.
CONVERT........Transfer data from the original .hack games (Vol. 1 to 4 and //fragment).

Little graphical glitches appear from time to time on the title screen in a mimickry of interference.

» Upon starting a new game, a player logs into the world and another intro starts with a shrill song similar to the original intro animation song. The character creation process is performed and what appears is Haseo, the lead hero of the game who hefts two weapons as he takes shape and solidifies into being.

» The camera pans in on a city and people are milling about. The camera shifts inside a building where a teleportation circle is spinning. Haseo appears and exclaims "WAAAAHHH" at his new surroundings. He is met by two greeters who welcome him to the World and they engage in a short chit-chat session.

» When characters who may be interacted with are passed, they'll flash and a sound will play which indicates that they're there to talk to. The two greeters will walk you through the features and aspects of the game and how to navigate around the menu system and game world. The presentation of the game is improved over the earlier .hacks with a friendly camera which accommodates the action as Haseo runs around

» Upon entering the first mission map, the three characters are standing near a beach while waves in the background slowly ebb and flow. To view an overhead local area map, press the "SELECT" button to view what areas are available to explore. Once Haseo begins running, the two greeters / temporary party members will trail him like faithful friends. While running around the world, lens flares will appear overhead. After crossing the first bridge, a trio of enemies await and one may rush into battle to get a feel for the attack method. Attacks are in real-time with the "O" button slashing out sword attacks in quick sequence if one is so inclined. After chaining four hits together in sequence, Haseo will automatically execute a double sword stroke attack which blows the test enemy subject backwards. Since they are test dummies, they just stand there, swaying to and fro as Haseo goes to town on them. Since they are test dummies however, their HP also never goes below 1 and they're invincible for the time being. A charge-up attack may be triggered by pressing and holding the "O" button. Once the gauge is full, release the buttom and Haseo will perform a powerful downward stroke. After fulfilling a power-stroke on an enemy, the conditions of the training session change and the enemies become vulnerable. All three heroes charge into action by hacking and slashing. The girl party member carries a sword larger than Cloud's. After the battle, open up the chest on the little hill by pressing "O" and Haseo will kick it open.

» During battle, party member profiles are shown on the lower-left corner of the screen and enemy HP is shown on the upper right corner along with a tension bar.

» In a few areas that the player passes when exploring , fish are strung up on lines between two stones marked with sigils. We suppose that the fish are up there for drying.

» In the next training battle, players are taught how to target a creature by pressing the "R1-trigger" and then rushing into attack to exact mass damage or to finish an enemy off. The concept of Rengeki bonuses is also introduced which rewards players for using the R1+Attack sequence.

» After Haseo enters a temple and kicks open one of the chests, the two greeters in his party turn against him and he makes a run for it. He's attacked and seemingly cleaved to death while the girl stands on his head after killing him with a chainsaw-sword. Later a stranger appears in the distance and shoots the two greeters with a blast from his gunsword. He then walks over Haseo and seemingly revives his with a flourish of his hand. Eight months later, the scene is a red field where a couple is surrounded by malcontents who eventually slash both to death. After mocking the dead bodies, a hero walks into the group of the and kicks one of them down. He then proceeds to perform major surgery on each one of them and dominates the field. It's Haseo who has been revived and carries some incredible weapons including a scythe which he uses to slash five enemies while in mid-air. Haseo also wears weird armor and has a chainsaw sword which whirs and chugs for a double dose of damage.

This item is also known as .hack//G.U. Vol. 1: Saitan

This document is ©NCSX 2006. All rights reserved. No reproduction in whole or in part of this document may be made without express written consent of National Console Support, Inc.