Rating: 
Summary: .Hack
Review: .hack is the very best serse ive ever seen. These eposobes were some of my favorites. I like the music so much i would buy this just for the cd that comes with it!
Rating: 
Summary: .hack//sign is a good series
Review: .hack//sign is a very creative series. With 4 video games, and 26 episodes of //sign, and several of //dusk (unreleased in America to my knowledge), it's an expansive series. This collection of episodes (15-18) has nothing particularly spectacular. Warning, this series is not fast-paced. If you like action, get Trigun, or Neon Genesis Evangelion. But for those who love a deep and intricate storyline that will captivate you, get into .hack//sign.
Rating: 
Summary: A quiet interlude
Review: Containing some of the series' best-scripted episodes, this whole volume is proof that SIGN is at it's best during quiet moments when we learn more about the characters. After the intense cliffhanger of the last volume is resolved, things slow down a little. It's the calm before the storm as the next volume will starts heading the party towards it's inevitable confrontation with The Voice tormenting Tsukasa.Tsukasa himself takes a backburner to some extent once we find out what has happened to him, as these episodes are largely devoted to character studies of the two women of the party - B.T. and Subaru. As the DVD jacket suggests, Crim also plays a large role, his relationships with the women acting as a catalyst for revealations about them. Crim is a decidedly good man, but he's only human like everyone else. In this volume, we find out that offscreen he's committed the faux pas of giving B.T. mixed signals by meeting with her in the real world in spite of the fact that he already knows he's not going to return her blatant interest in him. This leads to an uncomfortable scene in which he's forced to gently but firmly refuse to see her again offline, leaving a humiliated B.T. to struggle between any loyalty she owes Bear and her jealousy of Subaru, who she knows has a bond with Crim that she never will. Subaru, meanwhile, pays for her championship of Tsukasa as she watches the Crimson Knights disband before her eyes, throwing her into The World as most players know it for the first time. At first Crim is there to protect her, thoroughly enjoying the knight in shining armour act, but in a case of really lousy timing his job forces him to leave again while she's still overwhelmed. All he can do is try as best he can to lovingly prepare his friend for what he knows she has facing her in his absence. One of the most memorable sequences in the series, Subaru's first day in The World on her own is both sad and inspiring, including a glimpse of her in the real world as she's comforted by an empathetic Tsukasa that explains her aversion to combat and why she doesn't just stay offline while Crim's away. Incredibly deep and nuanced, Sign just keeps getting better and better.
Rating:
Summary: A quiet interlude
Review: Containing some of the series' best-scripted episodes, this whole volume is proof that SIGN is at it's best during quiet moments when we learn more about the characters. After the intense cliffhanger of the last volume is resolved, things slow down a little. It's the calm before the storm as the next volume will starts heading the party towards it's inevitable confrontation with The Voice tormenting Tsukasa. Tsukasa himself takes a backburner to some extent once we find out what has happened to him, as these episodes are largely devoted to character studies of the two women of the party - B.T. and Subaru. As the DVD jacket suggests, Crim also plays a large role, his relationships with the women acting as a catalyst for revealations about them. Crim is a decidedly good man, but he's only human like everyone else. In this volume, we find out that offscreen he's committed the faux pas of giving B.T. mixed signals by meeting with her in the real world in spite of the fact that he already knows he's not going to return her blatant interest in him. This leads to an uncomfortable scene in which he's forced to gently but firmly refuse to see her again offline, leaving a humiliated B.T. to struggle between any loyalty she owes Bear and her jealousy of Subaru, who she knows has a bond with Crim that she never will. Subaru, meanwhile, pays for her championship of Tsukasa as she watches the Crimson Knights disband before her eyes, throwing her into The World as most players know it for the first time. At first Crim is there to protect her, thoroughly enjoying the knight in shining armour act, but in a case of really lousy timing his job forces him to leave again while she's still overwhelmed. All he can do is try as best he can to lovingly prepare his friend for what he knows she has facing her in his absence. One of the most memorable sequences in the series, Subaru's first day in The World on her own is both sad and inspiring, including a glimpse of her in the real world as she's comforted by an empathetic Tsukasa that explains her aversion to combat and why she doesn't just stay offline while Crim's away. Incredibly deep and nuanced, Sign just keeps getting better and better.
Rating:
Summary: What is Light and What is Shadow
Review: Each of the pieces of the .hack bundle presents a different vision of both the real world and its imaginary counterpart - The World. Like Rashomon, they offer use a set of varying viewpoints and challenge us to form our own opinion. In this, the video series, the characters believe that a secret artifact, the Key of the Twilight, hold the means of solving the mysteries of the virtual universe. For Tsukasa, who is trapped in the game while his body lies comatose, it is the promise of a return to a normal life. For others, the key spells power, or wealth. But in a sense, it is really a red herring, distracting the viewer from the more subtle dramatic interplay taking place among the characters. For this series isn't really about the game, but those who play it. For some it has come to replace live, and for others it is only a game they play for fun. Who is right? - we are offered only vague signs and portents to make our own decision. In this set of episodes the real story is the unfolding and development of two characters that previously held lesser roles - BT and Subaru. BT's avatar it one of cold, self-centered sensuality - perhaps, though, it hides a deep neediness and loneliness. Confronted with Sora, who only sees other players as tools, she finds a reflection of herself - and is disquieted by it. Subaru, however, takes her place as one of the heroines of the story as her feelings for Tsukasa put her in direct conflict with many of the Crimson Knights. The results appear disastrous, but in the end we are given a flash of understanding about both her own bravery and what underlies it. We are reminded vividly for the second time that The World is only a reflection of the characters' realities. Is there a tragedy coming? Or transformation and healing? For now we are only given the delicate underpinnings of an increasingly complex story. When this series started I expected a pleasant presentation of adventures in a virtual role playing game. But it has become much more - sneaking up on the audience and engaging their vision.
Rating:
Summary: What is Light and What is Shadow
Review: Each of the pieces of the .hack bundle presents a different vision of both the real world and its imaginary counterpart - The World. Like Rashomon, they offer use a set of varying viewpoints and challenge us to form our own opinion. In this, the video series, the characters believe that a secret artifact, the Key of the Twilight, hold the means of solving the mysteries of the virtual universe. For Tsukasa, who is trapped in the game while his body lies comatose, it is the promise of a return to a normal life. For others, the key spells power, or wealth. But in a sense, it is really a red herring, distracting the viewer from the more subtle dramatic interplay taking place among the characters. For this series isn't really about the game, but those who play it. For some it has come to replace live, and for others it is only a game they play for fun. Who is right? - we are offered only vague signs and portents to make our own decision. In this set of episodes the real story is the unfolding and development of two characters that previously held lesser roles - BT and Subaru. BT's avatar it one of cold, self-centered sensuality - perhaps, though, it hides a deep neediness and loneliness. Confronted with Sora, who only sees other players as tools, she finds a reflection of herself - and is disquieted by it. Subaru, however, takes her place as one of the heroines of the story as her feelings for Tsukasa put her in direct conflict with many of the Crimson Knights. The results appear disastrous, but in the end we are given a flash of understanding about both her own bravery and what underlies it. We are reminded vividly for the second time that The World is only a reflection of the characters' realities. Is there a tragedy coming? Or transformation and healing? For now we are only given the delicate underpinnings of an increasingly complex story. When this series started I expected a pleasant presentation of adventures in a virtual role playing game. But it has become much more - sneaking up on the audience and engaging their vision.
Rating:
Summary: From the creators of Neon Genesis!!!!!
Review: I've watched A LOT of anime way before it became mainstream, so I have had a sample of all the good stuff that made it here before the crappy kids shows. Neon Genesis is a supurd anime, you can't call yourself an anime lover before you watch that, however as much as I liked that anime, I LOVE .hack//SIGN. This sotry is slower moving, you see mostly character development and none of that bloody violence that is prevolent in most anime and other media. If you love getting involved with the characters you'll love this. Every person alive can relate to at least one of the characters in .hack, it's amazing to watch it and see how their lives play out. Even better, if you like this anime enough, there are four games to play that take place 6 months after this story. They pick up where it left off and solve the riddles that are left unsolved at the end of this series. Now I have to say that to be an true anime fan you have to have watched 2 series, Neon Genesis Evangelion and of course, .hack//SIGN! ^_^ \/
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: In this volume, Tsukasa and Subaru develop a friendship, and Subaru starts to discover who she is. I was really moved by these episodes. I usually don't buy special editions, i prefer just the episodes, but i was forced to purchase this due to the limited inventory of Spec's. I was surprised by the soundtrack. I love the music of the series, but I thought the CD would just be a bunch of bridges. I was surprised to find that it had many of my favorite songs. Don't miss it.
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: In this volume, Tsukasa and Subaru develop a friendship, and Subaru starts to discover who she is. I was really moved by these episodes. I usually don't buy special editions, i prefer just the episodes, but i was forced to purchase this due to the limited inventory of Spec's. I was surprised by the soundtrack. I love the music of the series, but I thought the CD would just be a bunch of bridges. I was surprised to find that it had many of my favorite songs. Don't miss it.
Rating:
Summary: The Calm After The Storm
Review: Things were bound to cool down after the action-packed third volume of this popular series revolving around Tsukasa, a player trapped and unable to log out of "The World," the most popular online community/RPG of the near future. This volume starts of with a recap of the previous one: several players have formed teams to search for the "Key of the Twilight," a legendary item that, rumor has it, could reset The World or free Tsukasa. Several players were transported to an alternate dimension and found a character called "The Broken Man" spouting nearly-incoherent clues about the Key. At the disc's end, Tsukasa sacrifices himself to free buddies Mimiru and Bear, and lies lifeless on the ground. The players sit and speculate after the recap: what has happened to Tsukasa? Who is The Broken Man? And what, if anything, significance did his babbling have? Meanwhile, we find a shell-shocked Tsukasa sitting back in his hidden world, dazed out and whimpering while picking on a teddy bear, the strange female voice continuing to speak to him. This may be the slowest disc of the series, which is saying a lot considering the dripping-molasses pace this series offers. There is indeed very little in terms of physical action, and surprisingly, very little in terms of advancing the series. The disc does contribute to the overall feel by examining BT, one of the sub-main characters who hedges the line between good and bad. She finds herself at the mercy of two players, but is "saved" by Tsukasa; pangs of guilt over her views and treatment of Tsukasa make her open up to him. Similarly, her growing affections for the likeable Crim are deflected when she offers to meet in the real world. She sits sobbing as he leaves, her online character emotionally distressed by the lack of real-life interaction. This makes a great statement about the feel of the series: some can still make out the line between the virtual World and the real World; others are beginning to lose that distinction. A semi-major plot event occurs at the end of the disc, with no major ramifications to the rest of the series other than a set-up for a character to change allegiances later in the story. A slow, slow disc, even for ".hack" fans. It'll be like watching a snail crawl through tar for non- ".hack" viewers.
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