Dot Hack//G.U Last Recode is one of the best anime RPGs, and it’s super cheap right now

I think, all throughout my childhood, no game franchise touched my heart more than .Hack. For those out of the loop, .Hack (read as “Dot Hack”) is a mixed media franchise composed of games, anime, novels, manga, etc. The series set the stage for the “trapped in a VRMMO” trope all the way back in 2002.

While the original quadrilogy that released from 2002 to 2003 haven’t been seen in the public eye since the heyday of the PlayStation 2, the anthological sequel trilogy was remastered and re-released as a bundle back in 2017 called .Hack//G.U Last Recode for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC. 

And until October 19, .Hack//G.U Last Recode has a whopping 85% discount — but only on Steam. It’s still full price ($49.99) on both PS4 and Switch.

Last Recode is a worthwhile entry point

If you’re unfamiliar with the series, it follows an edgy young man named Haseo (played by Yuri Lowenthal) who becomes a vicious “Player Killer Killer” named The Terror of Death in the VRMMORPG “The World.” 

In time, however, Haseo learns of what lies in the shadows of “The World” and, with the help of friends, struggles to defeat the enigmatic ‘tri-edge’ and the malignant artificial intelligence known as AIDA. 

While you might think it’s not ideal to start with the sequel, there’s an argument to be made that the best thing you could possibly do is start with Last Recode due to quality-of-life improvements that make it an infinitely better game than either the original quadrilogy and G.U. trilogy.

Plus, Last Recode features the wholly original fourth volume, subtitled Reconnection, that has admittedly torn the fanbase asunder regarding its necessity and quality, but regardless I still believe it’s worth a play. So, if you’re looking for a truly quality (if a little melodramatic) anime RPG about people fighting against a malignant AI, you can grab .Hack//G.U. Last Recode on PC for $7.49 until October 19. It’s kinda wild you’re effectively getting four — okay, three-and-a-half games for less than $10. Can’t beat that!