Ranked #1604

.hack//G.U. Returner

It's a sequel to the three .Hack//G.U. games for ps2 console. I personaly completed all three games and the storyline was outstanding! This special episode contains spoilers of the 3rd .Hack//G.U. game, but it also shows something the game doesn't after ending.
Dfenitely recommend to watch this if you're a fan of .Hack or played the games!

Firstly, the synopsis currently written for this OVA is inaccurate, to a point. The point of this OVA is almost the same as Unison was for .hack//SIGN and Offline Meeting for .hack//UDEDEN. It plays the role of the OVA where many characters from the preceeding game/anime meet up.

Also, I personally feel that watching .hack//G.U. TRILOGY isn't a nessecariy requirement for viewing this. Trilogy does nothing but summarizes the three games, to a point, in CGI form. I'm stating it wasn't good, I am just saying this isn't a sequel to Trilogy, as MAL would have you believe. In fact, watching Trilogy is only nessecairy if you didn't play the games, but if you hadn't, why are you here? Go buy the games and play them, your missing out on a great RPG series.

Having stated these opinions and points, I will now post my personal thoughts on this OVA.

As stated, this OVA takes the role of a "character get together" episode. However, unlike the other episodes in this series that did sort of the same thing, this one has a small twist that it actually has a plot.

To summarize it without any spoilers; Haseo recieves an email telling him to meet at a special area. Haseo almost ignores it, until he notices the sender is Ovan. Curious to know if this is the truth, or a hoax, Haseo goes to the area to investigate. However, the email has been sent to many other members as well, leading Haseo to run into many familiar faces. Also, Saku decides to use the email area as a private time for her and Endrance, and she finally decides to tell him her true feelings.

The story is actually quite entertaining, with some interesting twists. It adds a nice touch of closure to the G.U. story. The art work is very unique in character design and some scenery. Also, some of these characters are being animated in the anime 2D style for the very first time.

The music is great, as I have come to expect from the .hack series (except the manga, of course :D), and the characters all have the depth to them that has been established previously during Roots and the G.U. games.

The Enjoyment factor for this is fairly high, especially if you've been wanting more since finishing the G.U. games. Overally, the OVA recieves a 7 out of 10 from me. While my enjoyment was high from experiencing more for G.U., the rest, such as the animation was the same as I have seen before, and it really feels like watching an episode of Roots (but, I admit, I believe thats what they where going for). read more