Hack/Legend of the Twilight

Rating:
Summary: FAULTY DISCS!
Review: While I'm sure that the series will be entertaining once I get to see it, for now I'm going to have to give it one star for the buggy, non-working discs that were printed for the intial run. I also can't seem to get a response out of Bandai concerning a replacement. At any rate, WAIT to buy this until you know for a fact that working DVDs have been shipped.

Here's a run-down of the problems:

Disc loads up the trailers/previews section instead of the main menu. None of these can be viewed.

Trying to run any of the episodes just takes you back to the trailers menu.

I may be able to get something to work via the Next and Last chapter buttons on my remote, but any way you slice it this is some piss-poor business.

Rating:
Summary: Another defective disc...
Review: With the success of the original .hack releases behind them, Bandai went on to make a short series out the .hack mange, which have also only just appeared in translation. Set four years after the first crisis it is the story of two new players, Shugo and Rena, who are introduced to The World as part of a promotion where they win the right to use the characters of the original dot hackers - Kite and Black Rose.

The same events that heralded the first crisis are beginning to reappear. Balmung, who has become a system operator, is concerned that Twilight is returning. When Aura appears to give the new 'Kite' his data drain bracelet and dangerous creatures begin to appear in beginner's dungeons we know that once again The World needs saving. Shugo and Rena bring a lighter and more human touch to the story though which seems to make it all the better.

The differences from the manga series are subtle, but significant. In the TV series, the twins have been separated in their parents divorce, and the relationship between them is a primary focus for the story. The World is the only place they can meet. Several of the internal relationships are rearranged as well. Shugo is a bit more inept as a fighter, some episodic details are left out, and new characters are introduced to smooth the way. But the over all story is the same.

It's difficult to compare manga and TV series, since the media are so different in what they can allow. The TV Series flows much better than the manga, and the characters come across as a bit older (in behavior) than they do in the comic. All of the changes are favorable, and I found myself enjoying the lighthearted touch of the TV series much more than I expected to. Artwork is better than the first TV series and the viewer gets a genuine feel for what life is like in the artificial reality called the world. Well worth watching for any .hack fan.

Be warned though that I experienced the same technical problem on one of my DVD players that a previous reviewer did - with the disk loading the trailers/previews repeatedly. These disappeared when I used my computer's player though. This is a serious issue from a purchase point of view, and you should insist on a trial period when buying.

Rating:
Summary: .hack//FOREVER
Review: With the success of the original .hack releases behind them, Bandai went on to make a short series out the .hack mange, which have also only just appeared in translation. Set four years after the first crisis it is the story of two new players, Shugo and Rena, who are introduced to The World as part of a promotion where they win the right to use the characters of the original dot hackers - Kite and Black Rose.

The same events that heralded the first crisis are beginning to reappear. Balmung, who has become a system operator, is concerned that Twilight is returning. When Aura appears to give the new 'Kite' his data drain bracelet and dangerous creatures begin to appear in beginner's dungeons we know that once again The World needs saving. Shugo and Rena bring a lighter and more human touch to the story though which seems to make it all the better.

The differences from the manga series are subtle, but significant. In the TV series, the twins have been separated in their parents divorce, and the relationship between them is a primary focus for the story. The World is the only place they can meet. Several of the internal relationships are rearranged as well. Shugo is a bit more inept as a fighter, some episodic details are left out, and new characters are introduced to smooth the way. But the over all story is the same.

It's difficult to compare manga and TV series, since the media are so different in what they can allow. The TV Series flows much better than the manga, and the characters come across as a bit older (in behavior) than they do in the comic. All of the changes are favorable, and I found myself enjoying the lighthearted touch of the TV series much more than I expected to. Artwork is better than the first TV series and the viewer gets a genuine feel for what life is like in the artificial reality called the world. Well worth watching for any .hack fan.

Be warned though that I experienced the same technical problem on one of my DVD players that a previous reviewer did - with the disk loading the trailers/previews repeatedly. These disappeared when I used my computer's player though. This is a serious issue from a purchase point of view, and you should insist on a trial period when buying.