.hack (video Game Series) - Gameplay

Gameplay

.hack simulates a massively multiplayer online role-playing game; players assume the role of a participant in a fictional game called The World. While in The World, the player controls the on-screen player character, Kite, from a third-person person perspective (with optional first-person mode). The player also manually controls the camera using the game controller's R1 and L1 shoulder buttons and right analog stick. Within the fictional game, players explore monster-infested fields and dungeons as well as "Root Towns" that are free of combat. They also can "log-off" from the game and return to a computer desktop interface which includes in-game e-mail, news, and message boards, as well as desktop and background music customization options. The player may save the game to a memory card both from the desktop and within The World at a Save Shop. After the player completes the game, a Data Flag appears on the save file, which allows the transfer of all aspects of the player character and party members to the next game in the series.

Typical of action role-playing games, players attack monsters in real time. However, the action pauses whenever the menu is opened in order to select magic to cast, items to use, or skills to perform. The player only directly controls Kite, while the other characters are controlled by artificial intelligence. The player may either provide guidelines ("attack", "first aid", "magic", etc.) or issue direct commands (for example, to cast a particular magic at a particular enemy) to the computer-controlled characters. Most monsters are contained in "magic portals" and combat will not begin until the player character approaches the portal and releases the monsters inside. Kite possesses a unique ability called "Data Drain" which allows him to transform monsters into rare items. Many boss monsters are known as "Data Bugs"—monsters with corrupted data such that their stamina is infinite. Data Drain is used to repair this damaged monster data and render them vulnerable. However, this power also increases the level of infection of Kite's player character, randomly causing harmful side effects. The infection can be cured by defeating monsters normally.

Root Towns are non-combat areas in The World. The player may restock on items, buy equipment, or chat and trade with other "players" of The World. In many towns, the player may also raise a Grunty, a pig-like sentient creature who can be ridden in fields and, in later games, raced for prizes. A key feature of all towns is the Chaos Gate. This blue portal is used to travel between towns (called "servers") as well as access the fields and dungeons where battles take place. A password system controls the characteristics of each area. Depending on the characteristics of each word in the three word phrase, the resulting area may have different attributes such as prevalence of monsters or items, among other features. Certain plot-related areas are restricted from access, but the player character has another ability called "Gate Hacking" which allows him to access these areas using "Virus Cores" obtained through Data Drain.