.hack//Roots is the new twenty-six episode series set in the .hack// universe. Unlike the four original Playstation 2 games, .hack//Sign, .hack//Legend of the Twilight and most of the .hack// novels released previously Roots takes place in a version of “The World” somewhat different to previous instalments.

The original version of the online game “The World” and its servers were all severely damaged in a fire at CC Corp, the games developers. CC Corp used surviving fragments of code to create “The World R: 2”, many veteran players left due to the changes in the game, and Player Killers (PKs) began to roam the servers in search of easy money deterring new players. Episode one begins with the main character Haseo being attacked by PKs, before being saved by the mysterious Ovan, leader of the

“Twilight Brigade” guild. Ovan reveals Haseo has a “gift”, and asks him to join the “Brigade”. Haseo declines, but Ovan continues to try and persuade him through other members of the “Brigade”. Wondering about Ovan, Haseo begins to inquire about the strange player who seems to have illegally modified his character. It’s not long before Haseo is hounded not only by “Brigade” members, Shino and Tabby but random players as well as the Brigade’s rivals “TaN”. Both groups are looking for the legendary “Key of the Twilight” item said to exist in the game, and both seem to think Haseo is the key to finding it, but which side will he choose?

It’s certainly a brave move for .hack//Roots to attempt and cut itself off from the earlier parts of the franchise. The

new “World” is barely recognizable to its predecessor, with a few exceptions (such as the Warp Gate). It is darker and moodier, like an angst ridden teenager, but still manages to retain the best bits of the earlier series, like the great background art and chilling music.

Roots obviously has taken a lot out of Sign’s book. There is little action (more than in Sign at least), as most of the episodes just see the cast stood about, statically, talking. The plot moves slowly, and very little happens over the course of the four episodes of volume one. Not until the end of episode three does anything really change, and even then it is somewhat predictable, though episode four ends on a rather unexpected note. The problem is its too slow; sitting through

these first four episodes feels like a chore. Haseo doesn’t have any endearing qualities, and most of the other cast just aren’t interesting enough, seeming like almost carbon copies of characters from earlier .hack// series but without as much colour.

Roots certainly is a slow starter, but then so was Sign, which turned out to be rather good, so it is worth sticking with the series. However this first volume could of done with just a bit more, an extra episode or a few extras on the disc would of just might of smartened things up a bit more.

There is a “limited edition” volume one, which comes with a box (to hold the first three volumes of Roots) and a keychain but most importantly the soundtrack which is highly recommended.