.Hack//Roots

Type: Anime
Status: Complete (26 episodes)

Premise: Haseo is a new player to "The World R:2" which is a reboot to the original world after it had a catastrophic error and was permanently lost. Playing as an "Adept Rogue" (a rogue capable of using multiple varieties of weapons) he is attacked by a Player Killer (PK) almost immediately. A strange man named Ovan revives him inviting him to join his guild in their search for "The Key of the Twilight", a legendary item which used to exist on the old version of "The World".

Thoughts: This anime has a vary interesting plot that gets rather dark after a certain point in the story, once this tipping point is reached the plot truly starts to come alive with Haseo finally becoming interesting (and twisted). While this shift is a long time in coming it is quite satisfying once it arrives. Sadly this series is actually the lead up the the .hack//G.U. video games and fails to present a completed plot making it somewhat pointless unless you play the game or watch it online (warning that game is LONG).

Prose: Nice animation and plot development, character interaction and sweet twist to the characters. Watch this in order to understand the progression of the G.U. games or in preparation to watch them online as it explains what has lead up to the game.

Cons: The anime itself is almost completely useless as a stand alone show. While it does present some interesting points it fails to bring the story to a conclusion and is rely intended to be viewed with the game.

-Notes: Fully dubbed. I actually watched this series out of order by mistake, this is actually the 3rd installment into the .hack// franchise and YOU SHOULD WATCH "Legend of the Twilight" before this if you are concerned with continuity. While it is not rely noticeable and never affects the viewing it is meant to be viewed after.

7.5/10          (Names to run away from: The Terror of Death)