Hack Sign is reminiscent of Serial Experiment Lain (from the cyber-storyline, the artwork, even the opening). If you watch the show check out Tsukasa's cap and compare it to Lain's in the opening to Serial to see what I mean. So if you liked that series you'll probably love this one as well.

I remember back when I played Ultima Online for days-on-end (often going without sleep, food, or daylight), wandering around as a lonesome wizard, running from PK's (that's player killers if you don't know), trying to find my role in this open ended online RPG. When I ran or fought my heart would beat a hundred times a sec. At time the game became my reality. If you've ever had an experience like that you'll find Hack Sign a little more than the traditional anime series.

The story is simple and yet not.

The time is around 2010. Much like today there are thousands of players all over the net. The difference? Virtual Reality (well that's not much of a difference since if you're really into a game now matter how bad the graphics are you're there, it's real, and you can almost taste the air). That's right in the future, in this anime, people play online RPG's in virtual reality (well at least most do). The main character, a player named Tsukasa blacks out during a session of such a game called "The World" and awakens to find that he cannot log out of it. Furthermore, in his clutter of memories he recalls talking to a strange cat-like character. Tsukasa learns that he has been granted the power to do what he wishes and is protected by a giant geometrically shaped monster. The story

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progresses with a myriad of players either helping Tsukasa or plotting against him. Some think Tsukasa is fulfilling a prophecy written by a German hacker. Others think he's a victim. And that's about all I'm giving away about the plot. In each episode the audience sees another little piece of Tsukasa's story.

Like the before-mentioned Serial Experiment Lain, Hack Sign is layers within layers of storyline. The character development is intricate, with each character having his or her own problem, goals, and relationship to Tsukasa.

Overall the show is a bit melancholy. All of the characters are sad most of the time. Though each character learns important lessons about their lives and form bonds between other characters, one has to wonder why they would play such a game for enjoyment. And then again, I've been there in their shoes, playing an online RPG as

though it were a job or a duty instead of a game. I think this is the real jewel of the series.. it's mental realism. Don't expect a lot of action- at least not out of the early episodes.

The music is pretty good, and is strangely enough in English most of the time. The art is great as well. There are not too many pan-scans and other techniques that get laughed at when watching older series like Record of Lodoss War. The series comes together nicely. There always a bit of intrigue to keep you coming back. Perhaps the series would be better with a little more fighting (monsters or players) but that would detract from the awesome character development and overall mood. I'm giving this anime a 9/10 not because of any flaw it probably only reaches/touches a certain audience.

9/10