n a popular online virtual-reality role-playing game called The World, a character named Tsukasa wakes up in a chamber that looks like the stomach of a huge beast. He has no idea how he arrived or what he was doing before he lost consciousness. Though clearly confused and possibly unnerved, he spurns attempts to help him—when another player, a sword-bearing warrior girl named Mimiru, shows concern over him, he teleports away to avoid dealing with her. When he's approached by a member of the Crimson Knights, an organization of grim, slightly bullying players who enforce The World's rules, and asked questions about things he doesn't remember, he avoids that encounter, too. As the series .hack//SIGN continues, Tsukasa continues dodging confrontations and conversation whenever possible, and in the process makes a series of enemies who might be friends if he only took time to explain his troubles to them.
Among his possible enemies are a rangy, grinning player-killer named Sora; the head of the Crimson Knights, known only as Silver Knight; the Knights' de-facto leader, an angel-winged girl named Lady Subaru; and an opportunistic solo player known as BT. Mimiru and a sympathetic older player named Bear seem more likely to come down on Tsukasa's side, and he responds to their continued interest in his situation with a mixture of disappointment and snideness, with occasional flashes of contrition. He treats his growing list of enemies mostly with contempt.
He can afford the contempt because he has strange abilities that no one else shares. Unlike other players, who have to log out to go to work or to school, Tsukasa is unable to leave The World, and has no idea what his body back in the real world is up to. He also has a powerful ally he refers to as The Guardian—a barbell-shaped, fluid creature that defends him and attacks his enemies (or, unfortunately, anything it perceives as his enemies). Finally, he has access to places no one else seems to go, where a floating, seemingly unconscious girl hovers above a bed. But as more and more of The World turns against him, his advantages count for less and less.
Odd images with intriguing implications
.hack//SIGN is well-realized and intriguing from the start: The animation is simple but attractive, and The World's hugely varied settings provide ever-changing backgrounds. The haunting background music is highly effective, and the dub is sober and sedate. Even the basic scenario is fascinating: .hack//SIGN's approach to online gaming is both knowledgeable and cozily appealing. The characters are all recognizable online-gamer types—from geeks to control freaks to bread-and-butter players—and their casual habit of discussing real-world gameplay aspects, such as e-mail communication, player IDs, saved games and the local message board all keep the high-fantasy setting from becoming too overdone.
The basic problem—or possibly the thing that makes .hack//SIGN most unique—is the script, which moves along at a snail's pace, dodging (in slow motion, yet) any development that would actually advance the plot. Tsukasa's ongoing refusal to talk about his issues or his mysterious abilities keeps the story on hold for several episodes, and also makes it difficult to empathize with him. His melancholy manner and sweet, sad face (designed by Neon Genesis Evangelion designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, and reminiscent of that series' mopey star Shinji) are at odds with his verbal rudeness and disconcerting non sequiturs, which are annoying enough that it's consistently surprising when Mimiru and Bear worry about him instead of booting him in the tush and moving on.
Mostly, though, they talk about him. As do the other characters. There are a few moments of fantasy combat, as players take breaks from the Tsukasa issue and head off to level up, but mostly, the opening installment of .hack//SIGN features a lengthy series of worried chats between people who don't have the first clue what they're talking about, and can only vaguely theorize. Like most mystery series, .hack//SIGN dribbles out revelations a little at a time, but it fills the spaces between with welcome character development and not-so-welcome downtime. Patient viewers may enjoy the lavish scenario, which combines most of what's interesting about interactive video games with much of what's frustrating about them, and weaves it all together into a solemn, quiet story. Action fans will just wish they were playing in The World themselves, and could ditch the chatty types and go beat on monsters.
.hack//SIGN started airing on the Cartoon Network before the DVD was even released, so anyone who's not sure it'll fit their tastes should probably try to catch it on TV before buying into the DVDs. And if the series doesn't appeal, there's always the tie-in video game.
— Tasha
Back to the top.
