The .hack// franchise began as a large multimedia project. A 26 episode anime series, a series of four PS2 games, a four part OVA and a manga (which later got turned into a 13 episode anime series) which all dealt with a MMORPG called “The World” set in the near future. Since then novels, a new anime series (.hack//Roots soon to also be released by Beez) and a set of new video games have also surfaced. .hack//Sign the original 26 episode series is now going to be available in two box sets from Beez.

Set almost entirely in the online game “The World” the story deals with a “Wavemaster” (a magic user) called Tsukasa who becomes unable to log out of the game and return to his body. Tsukasa also develops strange abilities like to call on a strange monster to do his bidding and teleport from server to server at will. A number of characters are drawn to the inverted

Wavemaster and attempt to unravel the mysteries of his powers and inability to log out. Some merely want to help Tsukasa return others want to delete him from the game and others want to use his powers for themselves…but as these characters delve deeper they find that Tsukasa’s powers may be linked to the very heart of the game itself and the legendary “Key of Twilight”.

.hack//Sign’s story and characters are certainly its strong points, along with its visuals, specifically the backgrounds, and music. The vast majority of the story though is simply dealt with the characters sat around discussing things. There is action but it is rare and when done it isn’t often particularly impressive. Unlike the later .hack//Legend of the Twilight series Sign is a lot more serious it deals with far darker issues than you might expect.

There’s a lot hidden in the dialogue, hidden meanings and truths about the characters real lives, their intentions and goals. A

good English dub adds to this. Sign is deeper than might first appear and it could take several viewings before things become clear.

The box itself is well designed with good artwork and contains the first 4 DVDs of the series (which was originally released on 7 individual DVDs in the UK). The DVDs themselves seem to be exact copies of the original released and seem to contain all the same extras (although admittedly there are a lot of extras on each disc). Although included with the first box are the first two episodes of the .hack/Liminality 4-part OVA series (with the other two episodes in box 2).

Liminality was only previously available with the original 4 PS2 games, these four episodes unlike most other .hack// series are completely set in the real world. The episodes themselves centre around a new set of characters as they try to find why people who play “The World” are falling into comas. Being set

in the real world means Liminality is far more restricted in its art style, but again the first two episodes mainly consist of characters conversing rather than taking much action. Liminality’s story directly relates to the four .hack// games whereas Sign is several months before the games. Although watching Liminality won’t spoil Sign by revealing what happens, it’s immensely difficult to understand without having played the games (although there are novels of the first four games available on import which may work as well).

.hack//Sign is the perfect place for people who want to know what .hack// is all about to start. It does have its problems, it is not the best series for everyone due to its rather slowly paced nature. The box set is reasonably priced at aprox. £40 and with all the extras and the inclusion Liminality this box set is really trying, unlike some other releases which essential add only a box and nothing more.