.hack//Legend of the Twilight

This was, overall, a pretty enjoyable read. It was funny at all the right places, but without getting too cheesy. Its weakest point is probably its plot. It’s very vague and doesn’t have any set goals. It also makes numerous references to previous instalments in the .hack franchise, so it can be a tad confusing if you haven’t watched .hack//SIGN or played the games. The conclusion is weak, and left me feeling mildly unsatisfied. But there is some intriguing mystery and interesting twists. However, on the other hand, vague unending plots are the very essence of MMORPGs. The characters are great. The art is amazing, and asexpected of .hack, the character designs are original, memorable, and fun. The characters all have interesting personalities, and there is considerable character development in the protagonist. Another character that really grows on you is Kamui. It’s a lot of fun to try to guess what the character’s IRL selves are like. Legend of the Twilight brings you all the fun of MMORPGs in manga format. You can get immersed in it as if you were the one playing The World (and if they ever develop a game like that, I’m getting it). It’s a bit short, but I think the size is just right for such a plot. Worth every cent I paid for it.

.hack//Legend of the Twilight, the manga version, is one of the most amazing mangas I have read for a very long time! And I can compare with the anime version. Early on, it matches the anime version but after Volume 1, the manga diverges away. And the story is amazing! I won't give away details, but it's definitely worth taking a look at, especially for .hack purists. Character design and artwork was amazing! There are moments where the artwork turns comical (especially the pixelated moments) and it lends clarity and hilarity to those situations. Characterization was also a big plus as a the major players began todevelop their strong growth over the course of three volumes. The only gripe I have that it is relatively short. Other than that, it is amazing! I definitely enjoyed it!

7.5/10 +Cute characters doing cute things; cozy vibes +Beautiful artwork that fleshes out game world -Poor balance between game world and “real” world -Lack of stakes and fleshed out characters make story hard to follow Very different from its anime counterpart, .hack//Legend of twilight is a simple story about making friends and having fun playing a video game. The characters are all unique enough and the beautiful artwork fleshes out the game world nicely. While cute characters doing cute things isn’t necessarily a problem, there has to be a central conflict driving the plot. Without our heroes having something at stake, our story is simply a chain of events. .hack’s problemis just that: there is no consequences for MCs Shugo and Rena going on their quest. No background into their lives (why are they playing the game?), plus lack of any major conflict (there’s no consequences for them to stop playing), and you’ve got a recipe for a dull fantasy. It’s hard not to recommend .hack, as there’s a lot of potential here for a fantasy epic. Yet without solid character work to back it up, it's a muddled joyride. If not for its uncomfortable sexual tones, the anime stands as the better version of this story.