.hack//Legend of The Twilight

“When Nostalgia Isn't Enough for a Sequel”

If you were an avid PlayStation 2 player like me, you may have encountered this name more than once or twice during that illustrious era. I was engrossed in .hack//G.U. for days after I got it because it was a top-tier role-playing game for the system.

Although the anime version of the series, .hack//Sign, is generally considered a trailblazer when it comes to virtual reality (VR) in anime, Legend of the Twilight is not exactly a hot topic, and I can understand why. The sequel does nothing to fill any gaps; instead, it raises new questions and plot points that the series has yet to address.

Moreover, the sequel disappoints fans, as their beloved characters are reduced to mere shadows of their former selves. This drastic change leaves fans questioning the necessity of this entry into the franchise.

For fans of the series, the contrast between the manga and the anime adaptation of “.hack//Legend of the Twilight” is stark. Unfortunately, the anime version veers far from the original material, leaving many story aspects unclear.

Furthermore, if you have never heard of this name and are wondering what this series is about, sit tight because you might get into something similar to the 2000s version of the modern hit Shangri-La Frontier. People who believe that Sword Art Online pioneered these video game storylines should do their research, as the 2000s era has some fantastic titles that entirely use that setting. With that being said, let's dive right in!

MMORPGs And Anime

Even long-running franchises are attempting to venture into the boundless potential of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), where players care only about their own character. Even though Riot is taking an eternity to release their version of the MMORPG world, .hack//Legend of the Twilight introduced us to “The World," an MMORPG that serves as the universe for the anime. Unsurprisingly, .hack//Legend of the Twilight shares many similarities with its prequel, “Sign.” After all, it is a continuation of the same series.

But seeing the characters reduced to chibi form makes you question why anime shows love to give their beloved series the "Bungo Stray Dogs War!," "Isekai Quartet," or "Koro Sensei Quest" makeover.

Fans of the series will undoubtedly recognize the legendary characters Kite and Black Rose, which Shugo and his twin sister acquire before entering the game. However, it is immediately apparent that this series differs significantly from its predecessor and the manga, even before beginning the game.

Although the developers have addressed the issue previously, it remains unfixed; when players die in-game, they enter a coma.

Furthermore, unlike the prequel, there is never any sense that an actual plot is unfolding, with the comedy and drama aspects occasionally taking over completely. So avoid going into this anime expecting a good story. We simply do not have that in this universe!

Characters That Are Reduced To Almost Nothing

As I mentioned earlier, characters from the previous series are here, and that alone might be a plus for many of you .hack fans out there. But let me warn you before anything that the characters aren't like you remember them to be.

Their appearance or personalities are changed and morphed to fit into the theme of .hack//Legend of the Twilight, which makes zero sense. Some characters look like downright knockoffs of the faces that define the series as a whole, which raises the question of why this installment was needed in the first place.

None of the characters stood out either, and if it weren't for me being a grade-schooler at the time it was airing, I wouldn't have enjoyed it.

Animation Filled With Nostalgia

One thing I credit the anime with is that the animation transports you back to the days when anime series had a story and a progression that kept you hooked on the show. Yes, I fired on all of the modern shows. But, again, if you look at the air date, it is back in 2003, so it is no surprise that we did not have anything that could compete with the quality of today's Unfotable because, at the time, this was the best that was available.

But even if you ignore that point and do not award the anime in that aspect, you can't deny that the animation style is nostalgic and takes you back. That alone makes it easier for many of you to sit through the episodes, which aren't enough for some reason.

At times, it feels like that magical girl show where the girl suddenly awakens a power that has never been seen in a million years, which is strange considering the .hack franchise. But that's mainly because .hack//Legend of the Twilight is all over the place, and not having a direction makes it suffer the most.

Bee Train, the studio behind .hack//Legend of the Twilight, isn't a name that's well known either, despite it being behind the hit classic Phantom Requiem for the Phantom and Tsubasa Chronicles, shows that have stood the test of time and are enjoyable even today. The fact that the company was making .hack hit every other form of media, whether it's manga, anime, video games, or merch, didn't leave enough for something that could qualify as a good anime. Still, this installment was needed for some reason.

Nino!

Nothing stands out regarding sound quality, but it could be improved if that makes sense. It is fitting for an anime about diving into a video game set in the 2000s. Aside from that, many people will be very interested in the opening performance by the same musicians who composed the well-known NHK anime opening theme song. That song is almost criminally addictive, despite the anime bringing up some highly questionable topics more than once. But we love that title now, don't we?

This show might be for you if you want to relive the .hack days. Moreover, if you’re looking to dive into an anime MMORPG or want more of Shangri-La Frontier before it returns later on, you might want to check out this series. As for the recommendation, I wouldn't say it’s a good anime series.

For me, it felt unnecessary—an entry, a follow-up to a cult classic that wasn’t needed and popped out of the blue. It can be prolonged and, with no concrete storyline, can make it hard to sit through and watch all these episodes, even when they're shorter than the prequel that some of us are huge fans of.

For the rating, I’d give it a 6, nothing more, nothing less. If they just continued “Sign,” it would’ve been a better sequel. Still, they just decided to go for a different route and, even while doing so, didn’t follow the source material, which is better than the anime adaptation we’ve gotten, to be honest.

Some exciting stuff came out of the series' 20th anniversary celebration two years ago, in 2022, but that was about it. I wonder if anyone from the modern era, or as they call it, Generation Z, is a fan of this series because it is spread across so many different forms of media that it will be challenging to keep up with.