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First off, .hack//Link is an upcoming game for Sony PSP. Sorry to those who do not have one! It is expected to be released in Japan in February 2010. In Link, Players take control of Tokio Kuryu, a second year junior-high student. Over 100 characters from past .hack games, anime, manga, and books will make an appearance. This game does not take place in The World R:2... but takes place in The World R-X. Which in the world of .hack, is on a handheld. (That's why it is on the PSP!)

Gameplay promises to retain the basics of past titles, with players facing off in battle against enemies as they explore dungeons. The difference here is that you move around in a party of two, with the CPU-controlling the other character. The game will include 33 such CPU-controlled characters.

Another change includes a more action-heavy combat system. While specifics haven't been revealed, your movement and the cut-in animation sequences during combat are said to be somewhat like a fighting game. The game does promise a simple control scheme, though, for those who aren't too good with action games.

.hack//Link is listed as 70% done since September 24, 2009.

Confirmed Returning Characters (More To Come)
Albireo
Alkaid
Atoli
Azure Flame Kite
Balmung
BlackRose
Haseo
Kite
Midori
Mimiru
Mistral
Orca
Ovan
Silver Knight
Subaru
Tabby
Tsukasa

You control Tokio and the CPU controls the person you chose to be in your party. Like how the CPU controlled your party members in the other games. And no, Kite did not die.

For those who do not know...
From left to right: Orca, Balmung, and Kite's real life bodies.

Rena enters the ".hackers Character Contest", which was an event created by Aura which included the limited-edition Kite and Blackrose-type PCs which were given to a lucky winner... being Rena. She gives the Kite-type one to her brother. As to why Albireo is playing again... dunno, got to wait and see and play the game.

yay i love hack. my fav caracter is alberio(though i dont like the new spear he has)

The release for .hack//Link on the PSP has been pushed back a little in Japan, from a targeted February to a March 4th date. Also revealed is a .hack//historical Disc (DVD), which will come bundled with the game. According to Gamespot Japan, the disc will feature digest movies recapping both previous series of games and all four previous anime series.

In addition to the normal edition of the game, there will also be a special .hack//Link Quarantine Pack, which comes with the .hack//historical Disc DVD, a Blu-ray disc entitled .hack//re-birth, and two artbooks entitled Epitaph: Old Testament and Epitaph: New Testament. According to Gamespot Japan, .hack//re-birth will compliment the historical disc by offering the first episode of each of the four anime series, as well as .hack//GIFT, .hack//G.U. Returner, and a new recording of the "legendary" .hack//Radio. Epitaph: Old Testament, will disclose all of the mysteries of .hack leading up until now, while Epitaph: New Testament will reveal the never-before-seen truth and future of .hack.

I've got more news for you guildies!

Famitsu recently revealed that .hack//Link for the PSP would revive not one, but two .hack sagas lost to time. Both will be featured as playable episodes in the game:

The first story is .hack//ZERO. Locked in eternal hiatus following the Japan-only release of its first novel, .hack//ZERO bridges the gap between .hack//SIGN and the original .hack games. Although some hints were made in .hack and in the Terminal Disc, the series never saw a proper conclusion until now.

The second is .hack//ChupChopCase. Although never actually released as a product, .hack//ChupChopCase was a planned story that bridged the gap between .hack and .hack//G.U. Covering the time period recollected by the Terminal Disc, the "case" referred to is the loss of Mia, and this story follows the resulting effect on Elk and Piros. Natsume and Marlo will also be making appearances, and the audience will get to see Piros finally embrace his destiny and become Piros the 3rd!


Some more old faces are coming back to join the party!

Returning Character's pt. 2
BT and Bear
Elk and Macha
Kuhn and Pi
Silabus

Also, some of the returning characters are receiving Xth forms much like Kite's Duel Gunner form! Though they are all different classes not usually found in the game.

New Xth Forms
Haseo
Kite
Tsukasa
Mimiru
BlackRose
Silabus
Tabby
Midori