Bandai Hacks The World

One look around E3 and it was obvious that multi-player RPGs are THE in genre this year. From the loudest booth in South Hall to The lowest, darkest depths of Kentia Hall, it seemed like EVERY company had one. However, in an interesting twist, Bandai's MMRPG was actually an offline, online game. Confused?

In .hack (dot-hack), you play as a character named Kite who has been sucked into the latest gaming craze, The World, an online RPG. At first, Kite and his friend Orca have a great time adventuring in The World until a mysterious creature (one who doesn't show up in any of the players guides) attacks the boys. Consequently, the attack leaves Orca in a coma in the real world. Hoping to save his friend, Kite searches The World for a cure. During his search, Kite discovers The Twilight, a power given to him by a girl named Aura. In a very Matrix-like twist, Kite becomes an 'Outlaw', a player who can change the world around him and influence other players in the real world.

.hack will also ship with a 40 minute anime which parallels the game's story. .hack should be in stores this October.