.hack//G.U.: Last Recode

.hack//G.U.: Last Recode is a PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows HD Remaster of .Hack//G.U, a single-player action role-playing game series from the PlayStation 2 released back in 2006-2008, developed by CyberConnect2 and published by Bandai Namco Games. The remaster compiles elements from all three .hack//G.U. games: .hack//G.U. Vol. 1//Rebirth (再誕 Saitan, lit. "Resurrection"), .hack//G.U. Vol. 2//Reminisce (君思う声 Kimi Omou Koe, lit. "The Voice that Thinks of You") and .hack//G.U. Vol. 3//Redemption (歩くような速さで Aruku you na Hayasa de, lit. "At a Walking Pace"). It also includes a brand new chapter, .hack//G.U. Vol 4//Reconnection.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) Pretty much the antithesis of Sword Art Online (even if the original PS2 games were made before the isekai genre became popular), in that it doesn't rely on tropes to attract audiences. In fact, by comparison, there are very few tropes at all.
 * 2) Does a perfect job simulating an MMORPG, with NPCs who have their own personalities and go on their own quests.
 * 3) An incredible amount of lore to the world it takes place in, with optional news articles talking about the history behind The World R:2 (the game you're playing, after the first shut down), and realistic debates over the impact of video games and entertainment on others.
 * 4) Lots of meta moments, both in and outside of the game like discussions about negative impacts of gaming, references to some real-life gaming incidents, realistic chat forums, and so on.
 * 5) Awesome cutscenes with plenty of action for the most part.
 * 6) Great voice acting in both Japanese and English, with a particular standout being Haseo (voiced by Takahiro Sakurai and Yuri Lowenthal, respectively).
 * 7) Haseo is a very interesting character. Again, unlike Kirito, being a Mary Sue with tons of clichés, he's a vulnerable, flawed, and realistic character who feels like he fits in with the MMO world. Instead of being unlikeable or stereotypical, he feels very realistic.
 * 8) Fun gameplay, wherein you play as Haseo with members in your party if you want, fight real-time, but can pause the fight in order to use health items or special moves. You can't do it all the time, however, which forces you to be more careful before going into battle.
 * 9) Lots of extra-curricular activities to undertake, like finding chim (which can help you access new areas or fix a robot that's persistently breaking), finding animals to bless you with good luck, and plenty of side-quests.
 * 10) Plenty of other interesting and likeable characters in the world, such as Ovan, Silabus, Atoli, and Yata, all of whom have great voice actors (like Jamieson Price and Steve Blum).
 * 11) You can essentially create your own dungeons by combining three different words which change not only the scenery, but also the difficulty and mission style.
 * 12) More anime-esque graphics by comparison to the original game.
 * 13) Great soundtrack.
 * 14) Fixed a lot of problems with both the .hack series and the original games.
 * 15) Interesting story written by the same guy who did the 1995 Ghost in the Shell, Kazunori Ito (and who also created the .hack series with an anime).
 * 16) An extra chapter which resolved the cliffhanger left by the end of Volume 3 "Redemption" and ends the G.U Trilogy with a satisfying conclusion.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) Some clichés here and there.
 * 2) Haseo's standoffish personality in Reborn can be a little grating to some people. He does get better, though.
 * 3) Plenty of filler.
 * 4) Repetitive mission structure, where you pretty much mostly go through dungeons and find a rare item or kill a boss.
 * 5) The new graphical style can be hit or miss for some. Character's mouths don't move when they talk unless it's a pre-rendered cutscene.

Reception
.hack//G.U.: Last Recode received a mixed to positive reception. The PS4 and Nintendo Switch versions earned a 76/100 on Metacritic, indicating 'generally favorable' reviews.The PC version received a 69/100, indicating 'mixed or average' reviews.