.hack//G.U. Last Recode

Featuring improved graphics and more polished gameplay, .hack//G.U. Last Recode offers a fascinating look back at a classic JRPG series. While repetition can sometimes bog things down, the story and characters will keep you coming back to The World, determined to see Haseo’s journey through to the end.

.hack//G.U. Last Recode is a generous package with the three original PS2 episodes plus a new closing chapter. The modern improvements help make it more palatable for today's tastes but there is no doubt that this still looks and plays like an old game. How much of a negative that is will depend on the player.

Although Last Recode feels slightly dated, it still holds up in 2017. A touch more attention to detail on elements of the remastering would have helped on the visual front, and the overall pacing may frustrate anyone not accustomed to JRPGs of the era. But the sheer volume of content makes it worth fresh eyes – especially given it was never released in Europe to begin with. Adding in a whole new game and a tonne of bonus content makes it a worthwhile purchase for fans of the genre.

The .hack//G.U. Last Recode remaster is a more than worthy way to experience the original PlayStation 2 releases, offering several enhancements which improve the experience considerably and a real closure with the new Reconnection volume. The enhancements, however, do little to improve the stiffness of the experience, the repetitive dungeon design, and the slow story pace, making .hack//G.U. Last Recode a must buy only for fans of the series. Newcomers, however, may still find something to like in the games, as the story, albeit slowly paced, is quite interesting, and the world well fleshed out.

While .hack//G.U. Last Recode’s story still find ways to convey freshness and exuberance, its formulaic dungeon structure and repetitive progression sequences feel dated almost right from the get-go.