Hack//Legend of the Twilight

Publisher
Bandai
Director
Koichi MashimoKoichi Mashimo, Kouji Sawai
Production
Bandai, Bee Train, Yomiuri Advertising
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
12 episodes
Year
2003

.Hack//Legend of the Twilight - Volume 3

By Joseph (Joe) Wood
21st Nov 06

The third and final volume of .hack//Legend of the Twilight does not end the series on a high; in fact what we have is a slow, unimpressive, unambitious ending to an average, but not entirely unenjoyable, short series.

In the final four episodes of the series, Shugo and company’s attempts to find Rena are becoming increasingly difficult due to the exploits of the Cerulean Knights. The Cerulean Knights, led by Kamui, continue to track down and delete rule breakers in “The World” regardless of the seriousness of the crime. Unexpected help comes in the form of Reki, Balumg’s assistant, who gives Shugo a lead to find his sister, and those responsible for kidnapping her. Using his bracelet Shugo and Co. come face to face with the hackers responsible for all the current events in “The World”. When also confronted by the Cerulean Knights, the hackers bring out Morti, a vagrant A.I., who plans to destroy “The World” in order to understand the true meaning of death. Morti spreads a virus through the system and only Shugo can stop it, but to do so he may have to sacrifice himself and his sister.

Even though working towards its conclusion, the story moves incredibly slowly and the various story elements come together in what feels a very forced method. When something happens the show takes far too much time trying to explain the reasons for why the event is taking place, mainly because one, or often more, characters won’t understand the first explanation , the viewer has to sit through the same explanation, worded differently, two or three times. There is also a shift to a more philosophical direction, Morti, the vagrant A.I.’s search for the true meaning of death, opens a debate between several of the characters on what death is. Previous instalments of .hack// covered ideas like this well, but mainly because the anime version of Legend of the Twilight has been far less serious in nature for the majority of the series, this change doesn’t seem to suit it.

Unfortunately these last episodes do little to make up for the poorly implemented story in terms of comedy or impressive animation sequences. The third volume contains far more fighting and action than the previous two volumes put together, but there is little that will impress visually. It is a shame, the animators have gone a few notches above the average for the rest of the series, but there is certainly room for the boat to have been pushed out a little further.

Despite this there are still a few light-hearted laughs to be had and the series is still likely to appeal to younger viewers. The anime version differs radically from its manga counterpart so .hack// veterans will certainly find something new here, although not necessarily better. An Average, yet fun, series .hack//Legend of the Twilight may not be recommended for all but there are plenty who will enjoy it.

R2 DVD Notes

Features: English/French/Japanese Audio, English/French/Dutch Subtitles, Clean Opening and Closing animation, Trailers, Alternative Cover

Release information: Publisher: Beez Entertainment Release date : 23-10-2006 Length: 100 min Classification: PG

Notes: Not much in terms of extras the Alternative Cover's a nice touch though.

-- Joseph (Joe) Wood 21st Nov 06

Hack//Legend of the Twilight Images