One of the more interesting console RPGs of the last few years was the .hack series, Bandai's simulated MMORPG that did a great job at simulating an online game environment while introducing quite a few memorable characters and plot elements. This fall, Namco Bandai along with developer CyberConnect2 is bringing back the world of The World with an all new series, .hack//G.U., the first part of which is called Vol. 1//Rebirth. Featuring new characters, a darker tone and what's looking like a lot more gameplay, including the ability to form guilds and construct guild halls, G.U. just might fool you even more into thinking you're playing an online adventure.

During a conference call with the game's localization manager Brian Glazebrook, I found out that the disc will be packed so full of content that it should equal the running time of the original four .hack games! Now that's a lot of gameplay! Rebirth (the first of a three part series) takes place a few years after events in the previous series, but we won't spoil the ending for you (well, not too much) if you've not played them yet. When the massively multiplayer online game known as The World is reconstructed, plenty of new players hop into the addictive game world and find that this is definitely going to be the hardest game they've ever played. The new hero this time out is Haseo, a 'n00b' who is suckered into a trap by two other players who betray him. Haseo is rescued from certain virtual death by a third character who comes along at a crucial moment. Haseo then decides to take up arms against a 'player killer' and becomes known as the Terror of Death for a hot minute, before his powers are stripped down to level one by a powerful enemy force. There's more (of course), but fans returning to the series from the last set of games will notice the big changes right away.

For starters, the graphics have been given a major overhaul, moving into a cross between CG and cel-shaded styles. This adds a more fluid look to the characters and their animation, truly making G.U. feel like a very different experience while still retaining some familiar elements. Speaking of which, Glazebrook says that longtime fans of the series might see characters that look like some of their favorites, but definitely aren't who they seem to be on the surface. Some editors pressed him for details that would be considered HUGE spoilers, which made me wonder if these guys even care about the tiniest bit of suspense in their game experiences…

As much info as was given out during the conference, it was the things that weren't said or merely hinted at that had my brain bubbling with excitement. By the way, the gameplay is even more action-oriented than before, yet it keeps the familiar leveling up found in most console RPGs. One new addition is the Multi-blade class that has Haseo learning many different weapon skills rather than just your basic sword attacks. This allows each player to tailor the game experience to their tastes while experimenting with different combat styles.

Additionally, while the previous .hack series had a level cap that kept players from maxing out their levels by spending a few dozen hours simply grinding away in the first game, Glazebrook only made mention of a class change cap here. I'd imagine you won't be able to max out here either, but we'll see how that works. Another change is in the hacking system, which has been streamlined to an easier to navigate format. If you were scouring the pages of game magazines and websites looking for keywords to unlock special game maps, expect to do it all over again, as Namco Bandai plans to drop clues in a number of places online and off in the real world.

I'm sure the fine folks in marketing are coming up with some clever means of delivering keywords to potential players, but nothing was mentioned as set in stone. As soon as we get that info, it'll be passed onto you, dear readers. The addition of guilds and guild halls was touched upon during the call as well, and it's here that the game takes its cue from actual MMO games and should have players scouring towns and dungeons for the best party member to add to their roster. We didn't get an idea on just how many characters were going to be in the game, or who they are, but as I said above, that sort of suspense is what keeps me hooked.

One mystery that was solved right away is the DVD issue. This time out you won't get a bonus DVD with your game purchase. CyberConnect2 is making each game in this new series self-contained, by adding anime story segments to the game proper. In other words you'll be getting the back-story and other information as you play instead of watching a DVD before you play. 'Offline' in G.U., you'll be reading your in-game e-mail and hitting the message boards to chat with other characters from the game. Glazebrook explained there is currently a whopping 30+ MBs of compressed text alone, which translates to a hell of a lot of scripted dialog!

We also found out that all the voiceovers will be in English only, simply because there was no room to fit in both English and Japanese tracks. As long as the voice cast is enthusiastic enough to convey the correct spirit, this doesn't bother me one bit. Some folks who've followed this game for a while have been speculating as to what the G.U. in the title stands for and Glazebrook commented that it had a number of meanings. "Grow(ing) Up" is the one that's drawn the most interest, but it seems that some are taking this the wrong way, linking it to mean that gamers should grow up, or something similarly silly. My own take is that the series is growing up, becoming darker and grittier (but not in an M-rated way), as the characters and storylines take on more depth and the gameplay itself evolves into something new and better than what's come before. But hell, I've been wrong before. Nevertheless, I'm more looking forward to actually playing the game than trying to decipher two letters in its title!

For those who've played the import version, there's no news whether or not Parody Mode is aboard for the ride in the US release. However, we were told that folks with save data from the original .hack games will be in for a real treat (now if I can only find that blasted memory card, grrr). Overall, the new elements and improvements should definitely please fans of the original series, while making new players stand up and take notice. The big draw of course is the simulated online play that just might hold up better than some of the flood of current and upcoming MMO titles constantly swarming store shelves. Namco Bandai and CyberConnect2 have quite the formula for an even bigger hit than last time and we can't wait to get our hands on this one. We'll have more on .hack//G.U. Vol. 1//Rebirth shortly, so stay tuned.

Previewed by Greg Wilcox for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).