.hack//Infection (Video Game 2002)
".hack//Osen kakudai vol. 1" (original title)

A player of a popular online role-playing game known as "The World" plays the game to investigate what it did to put his friend in a coma.

Directors:

Hiroshi Matsuyama, Hiroto Niizato

Writers:

Kazunori Itô (story), Kirin Mori (script),

Stars:

Mona Marshall, Sayaka Aida, Wendee Lee

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mona Marshall	...	Kite (voice)
Sayaka Aida	...	Kite (voice)
Wendee Lee	...	BlackRose (voice)
Masumi Asano	...	BlackRose (voice)
Kirk Thornton	...	Orca (voice)
Yasunori Masutani	...	Orca / Sanjuro / Moonstone (voice)
Doug Erholtz	...	Balmung (voice)
Nobuyuki Hiyama	...	Balmung / Nuke Usagimaru / Marlo (voice)
Mary Elizabeth McGlynn	...	Helba / Emma Wielant (voice) (as Mary McGlynn)
Yumi Tôma	...	Helba / Gardenia / Emma Wielant (voice) (as Yumi Touma)
Debra Rogers	...	Mia (voice)
Minami Takayama	...	Mia (voice)
Brianne Siddall	...	Elk (voice)
Mitsuki Saiga	...	Elk (voice)
Bob Papenbrook	...	Lios (voice) (credit only)

Storyline

A fourteen year old boy named Kite is invited by his schoolmate, Orca, to play the online game The World. While playing the game both Kite and his friend are attacked by an unknown monster. As a result, Orca becomes comatose in the real world. Despite his friend's condition, Kite continues to play The World believing he'll find a way to revive Orca. While playing, Kite accepts Book of Twilight from a mysterious girl in white. Kite is transformed into an outlaw player within the game wielding the very same power responsible for Orca's condition.

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Taglines:

You're in Their World Now

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

T

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [us]

Country:

Japan

Language:

English Japanese German

Release Date:

10 February 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

.hack//Infection Part 1

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cyber Connect 2, Project .hack

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Piros is based off of game director and CyberConnect 2 CEO Hiroshi Matsuyama.

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Quotes

[you chose "Talk" to BlackRose after you started a conversation]
BlackRose: What, you want to trade? Better not give me any junk!

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Connections

Followed by .hack//G.U. Returner (2007)

User Reviews

Dot-hacking is good!

The first of a series of four games. A really different RPG in its genre (it simulates an online universe without being actually online) coupled with an original scenario.

Newcomers to the universe of "The World" should either watch the series.hack/SIGN or the OAV .hack//Liminality (shipped with the PS2 game) before playing the game itself in order to be more familiarized with this universe. Other than that, despite the average graphics and the sometimes repetitive action, the game does have some good features, such as the battle sequences in real-time.

The most noticeable side of this game is that the scenario also progresses while you're not logged into "The World". Mails and Board messages also make you progress when you think you're stuck. The Message Board itself contains many helpful tips for the beginner in "The World". A concept quite reminiscent of "The Matrix" since the story evolves in both real and virtual worlds.

While in "The World", you will also meet a wide variety of playable characters, each one having his/her own personality and character class: Blademaster (experts with swords), Heavy Blade (who manipulate two-handed swords), Heavy Axeman, Long Arm (equipped with halberds), Twin Blade (they have two daggers or two claws, this is also the class of Kite, the main protagonist) and Wavemaster (magic users).

This is overall an experience worth trying.