Namco Bandai .hack Outbreak Part 3

.hack Outbreak

Strengths: Fun simulated MMORPG, good controls

Weaknesses: Can get repetitive

Summary: .hack Outbreak is the third game in the four part .hack series. This game picks up right where part 2 left off and you can even import your save data from part 2 directly into this game. Nothing much has changed from the first two games, but there are new areas to explore and new items to collect. If you haven't played the first two games, I would suggest doing so, but it is playable if you haven't. Overall, it's another solid simulated MMORPG in this series.

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.hack , part treux

Strengths: *Original concept and story* - *Fun to play*

Weaknesses: *Doesn't bring anything new into the mix*

Summary: If you are reading this, you most likely have played the first two .hack's in the series - or are looking at all 4 reviews to get a feel for the whole series, since at the time of my review all 4 games have been released.

I actually picked this game up first, since it was part of a cheap sale - then i bought the rest.

The series as a whole is definitely a unique concept. You are part of a virtual MMORPG(Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game). You don't need an internet connection, it is all simulated. Your character is basically trying to cure his friend who has fallen into a coma. This initial premise spawns the adventure that unfolds in 4 different PS2 releases.

It's a fun RPG. Doesn't take as long as other RPG's, but combined as a whole, its a decent chunk of playing time.

I would look to buy all 4 titles at once. I paid about $60 for all 4, which isnt a bad deal at all. 4/5 stars for this game, and the series as a whole.

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Dot Hack 3: Outbreak

Strengths: Interesting storyline and concept

Weaknesses: Repetitive to the other games in the series

Summary: If you have played Dot Hack, parts 1, 2, or even 4, then you do not need to read this review. Besides advancing the story and adding some items and characters, this is the exact same game as the other 3 Dot Hacks. If you have not played Dot Hack parts 1, 2, or even 4, then I have to ask the question, why are you playing part 3? At any rate, the game does offer an interesting concept. You are playing as a character in an online role playing game, which is not actually online. All the characters in the game are NPCs (non-playing characters) that are controlled by the computer. But everything else has been setup as a virtual online world; you even receive e-mail from other characters in game. The basic premise is to destroy a variety of monsters, upgrade your weaponry and items, level up, and visit new dungeons in order to advance the game.

The game is original in concept, but this is now the third game out of a 4 game series. There are hardly any tweaks as it is basically the same game as the other 3 with a few adjustments. The game is decent at best; do not buy it at full retail price, but if you can find it dirt cheap, it may be worth your time and money.

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Hack Part 3

Strengths: Gameplay and plot.

Weaknesses: Same as the first 2 games.

Summary: This is the continuation from the first 2 games. This is why they called it part 3. The gameplay is basically the same. The bad thing about it is that you have to buy all 4 games in order to complete the series. This game is similar to the other parts. There is not much difference between the games. You might feel this is repetitive or tedious. There is no improvement of graphics. This game is probably around 23 hours of play. It is a pretty good RPG. It's not bad at all.

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Interesting Idea, Poor Concept

Strengths: Decent voice acting, good gameplay, lots of extra bonuses, intriguing characters, plot finally starts going somewhere.

Weaknesses: Poor graphics, far too brutal for newcomers, new content lasts for around 20 hours, most areas still aren't anything to write home about.

Summary: The concept of combining anime, manga, and video games in order to tell a story about a particular online game and the world around it, both online and offline, was a staggering concept. Unfortunately, by .hack//Outbreak, the formula is starting to get far too formulaic.

I respect .hack's plot and what it tries to do. When .hack deals with the central plot and with the characters found in The World, it's a wonderful experience. I love the branching e-mails you can get from your "friends", and all of the banal things you can learn from your correspondance. The gameplay itself is also quite simple and, once you understand the system, can be handled quite quickly with little preparation. Also, if you spend a bit of extra time in the earlier games amassing money or items, you are pretty much set throughout the majority of the other games in the series, which isn't too shabby.

But, unfortunately, there are major flaws to .hack that are typical with most of Bandai's major games. The graphics are sub-par, even when the game originally came out. Most of the added effects used to add more depth to the various areas or to mask some problems with jagged polygons ended up not working at all. It's fairly telling when major universities show .hack in their game programming classes as examples of how not to code levels. The random dungeon aspect of the game also wears out its welcome this far into the series considering that, if you've been playing for all of the bonuses and additional items and whatnot, you've pretty much seen all of the dungeons and their variants by now. There isn't really anything that stands out and wows you in the end save for the plot, and even then it only comes around so often in the grand scope of things.

Also, if for some reason this is your first time with a .hack game, be prepared. The game, if I recall, makes a few concessions about where you are at and tries to give you a bit of a break but, if you aren't really prepared and you have no previous experience with this series, you have to deal with quite a steep learning curve that may turn you off from the game outright. It also doesn't help that you have already missed half of the plot although, to be fair, you wouldn't be missing that much up to this point.

In the end, definitely rent before you buy. .hack, as a series, tends to be an interesting title for the PS2 but it's certainly not for everyone. At best, this series could be up your alley and may be worth the money. At worst, you will find that .hack is a tedious experience first and foremost. Also, if you're going to buy the game, try to look for it between the $18 to $25 range. Nowadays, if you end up paying anything more than $25, you're paying way too much.

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Pretty good part 3

Strengths: continuation of a good story

Weaknesses: same as previous .hack's

Summary: This game is the third in a four part series that simulates an online game world. It is an action RPG. You again take the role of Kite, with the help of his friends, to uncover why people are falling into comas. The gameplay is good, the story is great, and the characters are awesome. Veterans of the first two games will feel right at home with this one. The game is longer than previous .hack games but is still short. Great game overall.

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Hard not to enjoy a good story

Strengths: Strong concept, interesting plot and character

Weaknesses: Engine recyled, dungeons can be repetitive

Summary: The third entry in the .hack series for the PS2 (of the original storyline, with new storylines coming), and although some people might be bummed about seeing the same engine again, it kept dev time low and keeps the story continuity in check.

The graphics might not be pushing the PS2 to the max, but they get the job done, and some characters and enemies have interesting designs. You do get tired of seeing the same dungeon decorations over and over, though.

But it's worth it, the story continues to be interesting, and the concept unique.

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.Hack Outbreak Part 3 is a action/RPG for PS2. Yo ...

Strengths: Gameplay, sound, dvd episode, and the World.

Weaknesses: Graphics haven't changed much, feels like the same old game, and pricey for the whole 4 part package.

Summary: .Hack Outbreak Part 3 is a action/RPG for PS2. You play as Kite who is in this MMORPG and is trying to find out who's behind his friends coma and to cure him. The game play like a hack n slash with leveling up and spells. The problem with this series is it worth $200 to get the whole set? No, but your in luck. Most parts are way cheaper now and you could probably get the whole series for around $90-$100. You also get a bonus DVD anime episode that goes along with the game.

Give the game 3 stars for being a decent RPG with a few flaws.

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This is the 3 game in the series... and it's just ...

Strengths: Example of what a good online game could be... Wonderful gameply & story... Strong colorful graphic.

Weaknesses: Must play part 1 & 2 to understand this amazing storyline...

Summary: This is the 3 game in the series... and it's just as great as the other 2 games, but there isn't much improve over the 2 games to make this truely a step up. and Great Online RPG... that never connects to the internet...

Pros: Lots of magic spell and attacks, amazing storyline! Wonderfull graphic and soundtrack. Battle gameply is fun for awhile..

Cons: this game share lots of the problem the other 2 games had. Battel system is fun, but gets old fast.. too many ramdom battle... this needs to be toned down a bit. there is still some minor bugs, but the big enough to ruined gameply.

Overall: 3 OUTTA 5 STARS

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This is a pretty good continuation of the .hack se ...

Strengths: You can transfer saved files from previous game, unique simulation on MMORPG, both english and japanese subtitles, best story yet for the series

Weaknesses: similar to previous games, must buy 4 games to get complete experience

Summary: This is a pretty good continuation of the .hack series on the PS2. The major complaint is that the with 4 total games, they start to seem the same. Not much differentiates one from the other. It is nice that you are able to transfer game saves from the previous game so you are not starting from scratch again. Also, the story is pretty interesting and the premise is cool. I would never play a MMORPG for real, so this is a nice simulation. I'd recommend the .hack series to anyone looking for something a little different in their RPGs.

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This is the 3rd game in the .hack series. The .ha ...

Strengths: story getting better

Weaknesses: same old game play

Summary: This is the 3rd game in the .hack series. The .hack game is a virtual MMORPG, which is a very original idea. The problem with this game is that not much has change from the first 2 hack game, and things can get old very quick. On the plus side the game still have an anime feel, and the story is a lot better than the first game.

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The third installment of the .Hack series is here. ...

Strengths: Addictive

Weaknesses: Repetitive

Summary: The third installment of the .Hack series is here... and it's exactly the same as the last 2 installments. The graphics are still mediocre as is the sound. The gameplay is still repetitive and hasn't changed at all. Even the higher level attacks that pop up in this installment aren't all that interesting. Really, by this point, it's not worth buying the rest of the series since it's unexciting and the game's plot has devolved into utter garbage. Overall, it's still mediocre and probably not worth buying.

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