.hack//G.U. Last Recode

Fun fact: .hack//G.U. takes place in the year 2017.

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Log back into the .hack//G.U. trilogy and return to “The World,” as Haseo tracks down Tri-Edge in .hack//G.U. Last Recode, now with enhanced graphics, improved gameplay, and brand new modes! This collection includes all 3 original .hack//G.U. titles, Rebirth, Reminisce, and Redemption, all fully restored and remastered. As well as an all new exclusive 4th Volume: .hack//G.U. Reconnection. • 15 …

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,028 reviews

story390 positive mentions

grinding137 negative mentions

story
1,269 mentions
31 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story of .hack//G.U. Last Recode is widely praised for its depth, character development, and emotional engagement, often described as a standout feature of the game. While some players find the pacing slow and the gameplay repetitive, many appreciate the intricate plot and the way it explores themes of identity and virtual reality. The addition of a cheat mode allows players to focus solely on the narrative, making it accessible for those primarily interested in the story rather than the gameplay mechanics.
- “The story is absolutely amazing, and if that's something you care about, you will be far from disappointed by it.”
- “The story quickly becomes one you invest in, with characters you’ll love, or hate, or love then hate then love again as their character development is without equal, not just in JRPGs, but in storytelling as a whole.”
- “This game is for anybody that likes MMOs and for those who like RPGs; the story is very amazing and pulls at the feels.”
- “The story is near impossible to get invested in because the characters are mostly unpleasant and/or completely clichéd... plus constantly having to log out to check emails between every story event is beyond stupid.”
- “The story quickly becomes one you invest in, with characters you’ll love, or hate, or love then hate then love again as their character development is without equal, not just in jrpgs, but in storytelling as a whole.”
- “The story is full of plot holes (like the main character somehow forgetting all he knew about the game once he goes back to level 1), the ending (as of volume 3) is totally unsatisfying.”
gameplay
416 mentions
21 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive and simplistic nature, often likening it to older JRPGs. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and story-driven elements, others criticize the lack of depth and innovation in combat mechanics, describing it as a mash of basic attacks and grinding. Overall, the gameplay is seen as serviceable but dated, appealing primarily to those who prioritize narrative over intricate gameplay.
- “The gameplay is smooth and the battles start where you stand; you can even interrupt other people's battles.”
- “The gameplay loop is a lot of fun with lots to do.”
- “The gameplay is shockingly good for a PS2 era game; I was worried as JRPGs can be hit or miss for me.”
- “The gameplay is very repetitive.”
- “The gameplay is shallow, but if this doesn't bother you, you'll like it.”
- “The gameplay is not phenomenal but improves slightly per volume.”
graphics
309 mentions
21 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are significantly improved from the original PS2 version, they still exhibit a dated aesthetic typical of early 2000s titles. Some appreciate the nostalgic charm and enhanced visuals, particularly in cutscenes, while others criticize the overall graphical fidelity as lacking compared to modern standards, often experiencing performance issues unless they manually adjust settings. Overall, the remaster offers a decent visual upgrade, but players should not expect a complete overhaul.
- “The graphics are still beautiful.”
- “The graphics got a boost from the original release, the cut scenes look exceptionally good.”
- “With better graphics, higher frame rate, and a whole new chapter!”
- “The graphics and 3D models look very dated; and the action combat is clunky and not very engaging.”
- “The graphics will hurt your eyes at first.”
- “For players who come into this game expecting anything other than high-end PS2 era graphics, this can be a major turn off.”
music
167 mentions
60 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its beautiful and immersive soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Standout tracks, such as the Hulle Granz Cathedral theme and various vocal pieces, are frequently highlighted, while some users note a nostalgic connection to the music from previous entries in the series. Despite a few criticisms regarding repetitiveness in certain tracks, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a significant strength of the game, contributing to its emotional depth and engagement.
- “The music is absolutely gorgeous.”
- “The soundtrack is beautiful, and I love running around kicking/knocking over chim chims.”
- “The music is fantastic, hauntingly beautiful, and at times hilarious.”
- “I thought that there was too much choir music.”
- “When I load up my game the music wouldn't come out, even the SFX isn't there as well.”
- “Music is pretty alright, but from what I remember it wasn't anything really special, save for a few tracks.”
grinding
142 mentions
1 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be both a tedious and rewarding experience, with many players noting that while it is often necessary for leveling up and completing side quests, it can become repetitive and time-consuming. Some players appreciate the improvements made in the remaster that reduce the grind, making it less punishing than the original versions, while others feel that the grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment of the story. Overall, grinding is a significant aspect of the gameplay, but its necessity varies depending on player goals, such as completionism or simply progressing through the narrative.
- “There's no grindy achievements, or 'find this secret!' types.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's very grindy, which would be perfect for putting on a movie or podcast except there's no volume controls because it's a port of a PS2 game.”
- “The thing that pissed me off the most though is when you spend all this time grinding and then you go to a boss fight, and right as you get their health to zero, the game cuts off and shows you losing the fight because the other person is supposedly too strong.”
- “This game is a 15 minute anime divided up by 75 hours of intense grinding.”
optimization
45 mentions
29 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as slow menu navigation, frame rate drops, and stuttering, particularly on PC. While certain users report smooth gameplay and improved graphics compared to the original PS2 version, many others criticize the port for being poorly optimized, leading to high GPU usage and inconsistent performance. Overall, the optimization appears to be a major concern, with players needing to adjust settings extensively to achieve satisfactory performance.
- “The game is well optimized and the textures got major touch-ups from the original PS2 version.”
- “Performance-wise, the game holds up well and does not suffer from slowdowns of any kind on my system.”
- “Everything from graphics, load times, and optimization is perfect in this port.”
- “Despite the improvements to performance in those areas with the setting changes, the frame-rate dropped while navigating forums and plummeted while trying to load the 'website' for the world, the in-game MMORPG that serves as the focus of the game.”
- “Some of the optimization is absolutely horrible and will suck 100% of your GPU usage for no reason when you're just in a menu.”
- “Very poorly optimized and, overall, it looks like CC2 just went for a quick cash grab with very little effort whatsoever put into making this for PC gamers.”
stability
40 mentions
13 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
85 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and corrupted save files, making it nearly unplayable for some. While a few users have experienced minimal issues, the overall consensus highlights significant bugs and glitches, particularly in the ported version, which detracts from the gameplay experience. Patches have improved performance for some, but many still encounter persistent stability problems.
- “I haven't had any problems playing; no freezes or anything like that, and my love for this game stays intact <3”
- “After the patch, the game now runs great!”
- “The game runs great; I've had no issues so far.”
- “Game freezes unexpectedly, wiping progress since the last save.”
- “Beware: game freezes, shuts down, and white-screens without any warning.”
- “Unfortunately, the game constantly (and I do mean constantly) freezes and requires a full system reboot.”
character development
34 mentions
59 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its depth and believability, making it a standout feature. While some players noted issues with pacing and narrative transitions that could disrupt character arcs, the overall consensus is that the characters are well-crafted, relatable, and undergo significant growth throughout the story. The game is recommended for those who appreciate rich storytelling and emotional investment in character journeys.
- “It also has, in my opinion, some of the best and most believable character development over the course of the games, and I highly recommend people give the game a try.”
- “The story quickly becomes one you invest in, with characters you’ll love, or hate, or love then hate then love again as their character development is without equal, not just in JRPGs, but in storytelling as a whole.”
- “The story also keeps you interested with probably the best character development of any JRPG you're ever going to play.”
- “You play through the prologue, which is supposed to set up the plot and character arcs going forward, only for a massive time jump to be placed right afterwards and skip an enormous amount of story and character development to the point that the main character is practically a completely different character than the one the story sells you on in the prologue. Let alone the fact that the main character now has a goal that came out of nowhere and has no emotional weight behind it due to the fact that the game chose to pull all of this super edgy content out of nowhere.”
- “And finally, they might actually include real-world events into the story. This comes from the fact that I saw loads of interesting news articles in these games that looked like so much more fun to play than the world, and that there's so much off-screen character development that happens with these characters while they're away from the game. Both of these points just seemed like a huge missed opportunity.”
- “There is some character development, however.”
humor
24 mentions
96 % positive mentions
-8 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it genuinely funny despite its flaws, such as awkward dialogue and over-the-top character interactions. While the main storyline may not always land its comedic moments, the parody elements and absurd situations provide plenty of laughs, making it an enjoyable experience overall. Players appreciate the heartwarming and hilarious scenes, as well as the nostalgic charm that keeps them engaged.
- “The characters, their lines, and a lot of what happens is hilarious or overacted to the point of absurdity.”
- “Laughing at the story and picking apart the ridiculousness is what kept me going to the end.”
- “There is plenty of heartwarming and hilarious moments in the game.”
- “Obnoxious morons who... like really... are they supposed to be funny?”
- “The jokes fall flat and feel forced, lacking any real wit or charm.”
- “I found the humor to be cringeworthy and more annoying than entertaining.”
emotional
22 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mixed response from players, with some finding it deeply moving and heart-wrenching, particularly in later installments that feature strong character development and impactful moments. However, others criticize the storytelling for its abrupt time jumps and lack of emotional weight in character motivations, leading to a disconnection from the narrative. Overall, while there are standout emotional moments, the execution varies significantly across the series, leaving some players feeling invested while others remain disappointed.
- “It was very heart-wrenching <3”
- “This story will tear you up; it probably has the most character development, and if you are emotionally attached to characters, you will learn a bit more about them.”
- “I cried, I cheered, I beat every optional boss, and hell, I even married another man in this.”
replayability
15 mentions
20 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low due to its heavily story-driven nature and definitive endings for each volume, which limit opportunities for further engagement after completing all content. While some players appreciate the nostalgia and additional bonuses available, many express disappointment in the lack of replay value, particularly in the final chapter and the overall collection. Despite these drawbacks, the remastered version offers improved playability and some extra content, which may appeal to dedicated fans.
- “But it includes all of the PS2 content that was released back in the day, so it's still worth buying for nostalgia and replayability reasons.”
- “To me, they also have good replay value.”
- “Note: this game offers an average of 20 hours per volume, and it provides replayability to max everything.”
- “Very fun and addictive, but it has no replay value on the final chapter. The game is just a dead end. I also don't respect the fact that there is no improvement in graphics in the final chapter, considering the first three chapters came out many years ago. Those are my biggest disappointments. Besides that, story, gameplay, music, all just perfect.”
- “Having said that, there is a definitive 'end' to each volume after you have completed all events and maxed out the abilities, affection, and equipment of each playable character. Although this may take work for even the most dedicated of players, there is no replayability after doing that; it just ends.”
- “Since this game is heavily story-driven and the narrative is limited, replayability of each volume is low. Due to the lengthy nature of the saga, this means that replayability of the entire collection is also low.”
atmosphere
12 mentions
58 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive portrayal of an early internet MMO, enhanced by strong world-building, art design, and a captivating soundtrack. Players appreciate the combination of gameplay elements that contribute to a vivid and believable MMO experience, despite some criticisms regarding the pacing of new content and combat mechanics. Overall, the atmosphere is described as sublime and deeply engaging, creating a unique depth that resonates with players.
- “Art design, atmosphere, world building, and the feel of it all is so sublime that I have trouble properly wording it.”
- “On top of this, the music, atmosphere, and extra content creates a depth and breadth you've likely never experienced in a game.”
- “Is an offline, single-player game that emulates the atmosphere and features of an actual MMORPG.”
- “The best part of this game is definitely the atmosphere of the early internet MMO that it portrays with various forums inside the game.”
- “Various gameplay elements also add to the vividly realized MMO atmosphere.”
monetization
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews; while some users appreciate the absence of microtransactions and commend the effort put into the game, others criticize it as a poorly optimized cash grab that lacks depth and quality for PC gamers.
- “No lag, microtransactions are well implemented.”
- “There are no microtransactions.”
- “All in all, it seems to be an advertisement for a new series.”
- “Very poorly optimized and, overall, it looks like CC2 just went for a quick cash grab with very little effort whatsoever put into making this for PC gamers.”