G.U. Vol. 3: Redemption First LOOK <Ign>

azureeagle · Post by **azureeagle** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 9:45 pm

June 15, 2007 - Last week, we unveiled some of the first details that were released on .hack//G.U. Vol 3: Redemption. Namco Bandai's upcoming RPG, which brings players to the reality blurring MMO known as "The World," is the culmination of the trilogy, and finally wraps up the tale of Haseo and his friends. At Namco Bandai's recent Gamers Day, we managed to get some hands on time with the final installment to see what fans of the series will experience when the game is released this September.

First of all, here's a quick, but mild, spoiler warning, just in case you haven't finished off Vol. 2: the game ends with a cliffhanger. Vol. 3 picks up immediately where Vol. 2 left off without any break in the action. There is a slight difference though. Whereas Vol. 2 had 13 different definitions of what G.U. could be, the main definition for Vol. 3 revolves around two words: Grow Up. In Redemption, Haseo will feel enormous weight on his shoulders because of his actions from the previous two games, which will have an immense impact on both the real and the digital world. The corruption that affected the game will start to spread to the real world, slowly knocking out GPS systems, electrical grids and even nuclear power plants. Friends and characters that he cares about will be harmed and possibly incapacitated, while others will turn their backs on him. As a result, the character will start to grow up a lot over the course of the adventure, learning the value of sacrifice as well as his responsibility, trust and loyalty to his allies.

Expect more dungeons, more battles and new abilities in Vol.3.As Haseo grows and improves as a person, so too will his various abilities. We noticed in battle that his fighting abilities are much faster than in the previous two installments of the series. For example, Haseo could change his weapons and launch a strike, culminating with a trigger finish in previous games. Now, Haseo can start out with a blade or another weapon, launch this trigger finish and then perform a double trigger finish to complete a stronger combo and switch to his ranged attacks. Depending on how he balances these moves, such as starting an armor break to wear down an enemy's defenses, the double trigger can be extremely effective. It can also help you build your morale gauge so you can data drain opponents, capturing their data cores and ending the battle.

Fights aren't the only thing that have evolved in Vol. 3. The World itself has changed, with new locations and features to explore. We weren't able to check out the Outer Dungeon, one of the new areas that Haseo and his party would fight through, but we did check out the new steam bike races that Haseo could enter to defeat creatures like Golden Goblins. Not only can you receive new upgrades for the bikes, but you'll receive newer rewards for completing the bike races and missions that have been included in the game.

The true test of your skill will be the Forest of Pain once you complete the game.With at least three endings to Vol. 3: Redemption, there will be plenty of replayability for gamers regardless of whether you'll played the entire series. However, for players that have been bringing along their save files from Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, you'll still carry over the wallpapers, email and music that you've unlocked, as well as bonus items and weapons. You'll probably need this extra gear, because once you beat the game, players will unlock a massive dungeon known as the Forest of Pain. Based off of a concept from the original .hack anime series, the Forest of Pain is a 100 level dungeon whose difficulty constantly increases as you reach a new stage. We'll have more on .hack//G.U. Vol. 3: Redemption shortly.

Here's the website: http://ps2.ign.com/articles/797/797054p1.html

RykkuAlsheid · Post by **RykkuAlsheid** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 10:01 pm

While it is nice to have a solid month name as to when it's coming out... Isn't this game done? Weren't they working on it at the same time as Reminisce? I'm hoping it's coming out VERY EARLY September, like first Tuesday early.

alpha69 · Post by **alpha69** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 1:40 am

YES i hope it early september!!!

cant wait any longer!!!!!

Rade · Post by **Rade** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 9:15 am

Zer0 wrote:
Rade wrote:So can anyone who's played Vol.3 confirm whether or not it does have 3 alternative endings? If so, without revealing any spoilers, could you tell us what sort of differences there needs to be in each game to get each ending?
It has 22 different endings. You use a greeting card to determine which ending you want.

Whoa. So, is there a point in the game where I have to do this, and so can therefore create a seperate save just beforehand in order to try out all the different cards and see all the endings?

.hack//BICTIOUS · Post by **.hack//BICTIOUS** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 11:46 am

When you get the member addresses of all the characters, Aura will give you an e-mail. Send that to someone for the Marriage/Friendhip event.

Azure crow · Post by **Azure crow** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 12:05 pm

.hack//BICTIOUS wrote:When you get the member addresses of all the characters, Aura will give you an e-mail. Send that to someone for the Marriage/Friendhip event.

You forgot that you have to have the person's affection that your sendinhg it to at the second highest level

They make you work for your marriage.

ReiMehari · Post by **ReiMehari** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 12:30 pm

If I used used a code...do you think I could marry multiple times?

Rade · Post by **Rade** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 12:35 pm

.hack//BICTIOUS wrote:When you get the member addresses of all the characters, Aura will give you an e-mail. Send that to someone for the Marriage/Friendhip event.

Ohh, so, when Zero says there are 22 different endings, he means that the ending differs depending on who you send that e-mail to, and therefore marry or something? I guess the 'friendship' part would be if you sent it to a male character like Kuhn lol, although if you sent it to Endrance I'm willing to bet he'd want a wedding

It's pretty cool though that you can choose who you marry.

jwgs0010 · Post by **jwgs0010** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 12:41 pm

Rade wrote:
.hack//BICTIOUS wrote:When you get the member addresses of all the characters, Aura will give you an e-mail. Send that to someone for the Marriage/Friendhip event.
Ohh, so, when Zero says there are 22 different endings, he means that the ending differs depending on who you send that e-mail to, and therefore marry or something? I guess the 'friendship' part would be if you sent it to a male character like Kuhn lol, although if you sent it to Endrance I'm willing to bet he'd want a wedding

It's pretty cool though that you can choose who you marry.

Bictious's ID pic is the pic when u *married* andrance

Rade · Post by **Rade** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 12:42 pm

I thought that was just a good editing job

Well... that's just plain creepy. *Laughs himself silly at idea of Antares in a wedding dress*

jwgs0010 · Post by **jwgs0010** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 12:45 pm

Rade wrote: I thought that was just a good editing job Well... that's just plain creepy. *Laughs himself silly at idea of Antares in a wedding dress*

Actually endrance is gay.....but antares isnt...he has his own family

.hack//BICTIOUS · Post by **.hack//BICTIOUS** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 12:55 pm

jwgs0010 wrote:
Rade wrote: I thought that was just a good editing job Well... that's just plain creepy. *Laughs himself silly at idea of Antares in a wedding dress*
Actually endrance is gay.....but antares isnt...he has his own family

Endrance isn't gay, he's pansexual. He'll like pretty much anybody (or anything) that treats him with certain affection.

jwgs0010 · Post by **jwgs0010** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 12:58 pm

How about Saku?

.hack//BICTIOUS · Post by **.hack//BICTIOUS** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 1:07 pm

He apparently knows she and his other fangirls only chase him because he's pretty. It's different from the type of affection he's seeking.

jwgs0010 · Post by **jwgs0010** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 1:16 pm

.hack//BICTIOUS wrote:He apparently knows she and his other fangirls only chase him because he's pretty. It's different from the type of affection he's seeking.

BUT....he is PRETTY...... XD