.hack//Sign - The Complete Seriesby Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Studio
Credits Grade: 8 Tsukasa wakes up inside a dungeon in the MMORPG called "The World," without any short-term memory. The situation worsens when he realizes he is unable to log out because he's not sitting at a terminal. Despite his anxiety, he comes to befriend other players in The World, who help unravel the mystery of his situation. Tsukasa seems tied to The Key of the Twilight, which both ties in closely to and broadens the mystery surrounding him.This is a slow-paced, character-driven story. It is really good and very much worth viewing through to the end, but if that's not your cuppa, you may lose interest early on. Most of the story is told through dialogue and there's very little action. The amazing music (well worth owning the soundtrack on its own, by the way) does a good job of creating a false sense of faster pacing during some scenes and setting tone in others. While the characters may appear visually stoic, it's worth keeping in mind that they are merely characters in a game (that go still and vacant when the user steps away from the terminal for a moment, removing their headset / visor), so they are actually quite expressive for what they are. Sub and dub are equally good, and the dub doesn't take any artistic liberties with the script, which is good since this story is very layered and full of misdirection and mystery. The themes this story deals with are quite heavy, which makes everything more real and provides the shadow to the light of The World. There is humor and a range of complex emotions, which help invest me in scenes and characters. I found the sudden meaningfulness of the relationship between Tsukasa and Subaru to be somewhat forced. I understand, in the end, that they are a good match for friends, but during the course of the show, it would make much more sense for Tsukasa to grow closer to Mimiru (which, they do, but it is stemmed from Subaru's involvement). Seeing Subaru outside The World gave me a deeper appreciation of her and how she chooses to play the game. Bear is one of my favorite characters; he's the right balance of serious and trustworthy adult and heart-of-a-child gamer, willing to explore and take risks. His involvement is very important to Tsukasa's development because he is an adult. I love how he figures things out and makes a touching offer to Tsukasa. Sometimes the fact that BT plays both sides is annoying, but it works out in the end and it drives home the point of everyone playing the game their own way. We don't really learn much about Crim, but he works well as an influential character to other characters and a mediator in various situations in the second half of the plot. Sora is a player-killer, and thus not a very popular guy. Learning who he is on the outside is insightful ... and sad. Thankfully, we see that he becomes a part of the group, in his own way, and gains acceptance. Silver Knight is the dutiful guy who has to find his raison d'etre when Subaru finds a new way to play the game that provides deeper meaning, connection, and understanding. He tags along in the end like a lost puppy, but I was glad to see him humbled and at least trying to change, even if he doesn't understand everything that's going on. I remember watching this series when it first came out (early 2000s), and despite no longer being set in the "future," it holds up well to the passage of time at this point, thanks in part to the fantasy setting of the game, the realistic themes, and because games have not evolved to that point yet. Because of its slow pacing, it's a series that takes some dedication (and possibly the right mood) to get through, but it's well worth it. I look forward to pulling off the shelf in a few years and watching it again. Written: April 18, 2015
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