Namco Bandai Announces .hack//Link

The .hack series is, for whatever reason, absolutely enormous. It's got multiple games, anime series, manga, and all sorts of other swag. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed what I played of the games, and the anime seemed cool, but I'm just not sure how big .hack really needs to be?

Regardless, someone at Namco Bandai thinks there should be more .hack, so more .hack is what you get.

Enter .hack//Link, the newest game in the franchise, and apparently also the last (though I'm sure other manga/anime/other stuff will still follow). Announced in the latest issue of Famitsu, the game appears to follow a middle schooler named Tokio Kuryuu as he enters the mysterious MMO world, The World. The plot also apparently involves a beautiful girl named Ayaka Amagi who transfers into Tokio's class, and somehow ends up playing a part in his online adventures.

Fans of the series should squeal with delight to learn that characters from various iterations of the series will be making appearances, including characters from the original games, the .hack//G.U. games, the TV anime series, and even the novels! (Wait, there are .hack novels? I guess you really do learn something new everyday...)



.hack//Link has been announced for PSP release in Japan, though no solid date has been announced at this time.