.hack//G.U. Last Recode (Nintendo Switch)

Publisher: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment

What I Paid: $34.95

Verdict: Not Shovelware. More than 100 hours. 100%ed it.

What I Say: I broke my rule of never buying games unless they are 75% off or more for this game. I’d experienced the first title (Rebirth) on the PS/3 and was keen to complete the story.

The set-up for this game is that you are a real human playing an MMORPG as a character named Haseo. The MMORPG is glitching and there appears to be real-world consequences of online actions. It’s up to you to investigate and try to fix things both in the online world and the real world.

Like all good JRPGs, there are tons of things to do and lots of side quests to flesh out the overall story. Small annoyances are having to log in and log out of the “MMORPG” quite often in order to advance the storyline and travel in the world gets somewhat repetitive after a while. I also wasn’t a fan of the motorcycle riding and used a glitch to get through many of the races.

Shino is a troubling character. Haseo is quite hostile towards her, to the point of being abusive and cruel, and yet she just puts up with this.

What They Say:

Log back into the .hack//G.U., an exciting action RPG that is now on the Nintendo Switch™! This collection includes all 4 .hack//G.U. titles (Rebirth, Reminisce, Redemption, and Reconnection) in one single integrated experience.

Immerse yourself in “The World”, a VRMMORPG filled with monsters, magic, and chaos. Follow Haseo as he hunts down a legendary Player Killer (PK) named “Tri-Edge” who PKed his friend Shino and sent her into a coma in real life.

Journey to the mysterious online world of .hack and experience an RPG like never before!

• 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF .HACK
  Celebrate the 20th anniversary of a beloved global cross-media franchise with the first .hack game on the Nintendo Switch™!
• THE G.U. SAGA RETURNS
  Includes all 4 .hack//G.U. titles in one game: Rebirth, Reminisce, Redemption, and Reconnection.
• RICH STORY CONTENT
  Dive into the world of .hack and experience a gripping story full of mysteries and eclectic characters. Reconnection, the new epilogue chapter, is sure to delight longtime fans as well as those new to the .hack universe.
• SOLID GAMEPLAY
  Collect powerful gear and recruit party members to help you in real-time battles against epic bosses.