Gameplay .hack (video game series)

the player s party, consisting of kite, blackrose, , wiseman, battling monster. red reticle shows enemy being targeted. players may attack in real time pressing x button.

.hack simulates mmorpg; players assume role of participant in fictional game called world. player controls on-screen player character kite third-person perspective first-person mode available. player manually controls viewing perspective using game controller. within fictional game, players explore monster-infested fields , dungeons, , root towns free of combat. can log off world , return computer desktop interface includes in-game e-mail, news, message boards, , desktop , background music customization options. player may save game memory card both desktop , within world @ save shop. data flag appears on save file after player completes game, allowing transfer of aspects of player character , party members next game in series.

the series typical of action role-playing games, in players attack enemies in real time. game s action pauses whenever menu opened select magic cast, items use, or skills perform. player directly controls kite , other characters controlled artificial intelligence. player may either provide computer-controlled characters guidelines ( attack , first aid , magic , etc.) or issue direct commands. hostile creatures contained within magic portals , combat not begin until player character approaches portal , releases monsters inside. kite possesses unique ability called data drain allows him transform these enemies rare items. many boss monsters known data bugs —enemies corrupted data gives them infinite health. data drain used repair damaged monsters data , render them vulnerable use increases kite s level of infection, randomly causing harmful side effects. infection can cured defeating enemies without data drain.

root towns non-combat areas of world player may restock items, buy equipment, or chat , trade other players of world. in many towns, player may raise sentient, pig-like creature called grunty, can ridden in fields , in later games raced prizes. blue portal called chaos gate used travel between towns (called servers ) , access fields , dungeons battles occur. three-word password system controls characteristics of each area; attributes such prevalence of monsters or items change depending on properties of each word in password phrase. plot-related areas have restricted access, player character has ability called gate hacking allows him access these areas using virus cores obtained through data drain.