.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).

This review is coming from the point of a view of a person who has played only a bit of .Hack//Infection but has seen all the .Hack animes in chronological order. And I can honestly say I regret watching this anime with no knowledge of the game...what a mess...

Story: 8 - Very Good

The story is very simple and a good wrapping up of the anime and the video games. After our heroes have finished their journey they receive a message from Ovan inviting them to a festival. Even with my lack of knowledge from the game I can somewhat understand that something happened to Ovan ... in past events and this was an important event for Haseo and the new game characters we are introduced to. As events develop we are introduced to emotions which are well grasped in nostalgia. Overall I'd say it does a pretty good job as it gives us enough to guess what happened in the game but leaves many holes unanswered which make anime only viewers crave for the video games plot.

Art: 7 - Good

For an OVA the quality is lower than the considered 'Standard Quality'. Many scenes were drawn rather poorly. The colors were appropriate and the movements were OK but that's about where it goes.

Sound: 6 - Fair

The sound set the correct mood for the events but were not memorable in any way.

Character: 6 - Fair


The characters were the downfall of this OVA. They just popped up, we have no idea who they are. More or less we can guess how the characters get along with each other via the interactions but it's not enough to scream: "I love this character!" or make them memorable. Then again that's not the point of this OVA anyways as we are supposed to know them already so slash that comment.

Enjoyment: 6 - Fair


Many of the scenes were boring and throughout most of it my head hurt and all I could think of was that I wanted it to end already. The random monster that appeared was very confusing and felt more like a desperate attempt from the producers part failing in an epic way. The OVA would had been just fine with the characters exchanging conversations and recalling nostalgic feelings or simply getting back to date with their buddies. Like the rest of Roots the OVA would had been just fine without the random Ovan thing as he had always been a cliche unlikable character who somehow was supposed to be Haseo's "seme".


Overall: 6 - Fair

This OVA is simply a mess full of unwanted spoilers and one of the many OVA's that ruin the main plots ending. I warn you if you have no knowledge of the game don't watch it. It's a waste of time but if you're like me and simply enjoy finishing all the animes of a franchise go ahead but be warned this will give you a huge headache. And I repeat none of what I said is relevant for the fans that have played the video games.