.hack//Roots, Vol. 5 Reviews

Enraged and drunk on the terrible strength gained from the Forest of Pain event, Haseo embarks on a ruthless search for information concerning the whereabouts of Tri-Edge. His brutal inquisition leaves a trail of killed Player Characters in its wake. Saddened by this, Tabby is inspired to create a guild dedicated to healing Haseo and his victims. With the help of Tabby s newfound friends and Tohta, the new PC body of TaN s Tawaraya, the Paw Pad Squadron is born. Meanwhile, the mysterious Pi and Master Yata watch events unfold with intense interest, hoping to witness the awakening of Haseo s special power. When Haseo s search leads him to fight Midori, a player character who s expert fighting abilities allow her to run a profitable hit me if you can business and who has survived a battle with Tri-Edge himself, they are sure that it will be enough. Featuring the original creative team from .hack//SIGN. Production by Bee Train, Director Koichi Mashimo, Music by Yuki Kaijura. Character design by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto. Genre: Action/Drama/Sci-Fi.

As .hack//Roots begins building to its conclusion, the stakes in the battles grow higher and the fights grow more deadly. Haseo has become a mad dog within the World of the game, destroying everyone in his path as he searches for Tri-Edge. Midori, a player who saw Tri-Edge attack Ovan and survived when he attacked her, proves too strong for Haseo--which infuriates him. Master Yata and Pi keep watch on Haseo and Kuhn, waiting for the mysterious powers they possess to manifest themselves. Tabby launches a guild of her own, to heal Haseo and resurrect the players he kills, much to Haseo's disgust. Much of the action takes place in a market at the base of an obelisk, whose coolly gleaming sides contrast effectively with gritty industrial sites and strange forests. The handsome visuals are supported by Akira Horikoshi's score, which shifts gracefully from folk music to flute and piano solos to jazz and pop vocals. (Rated 13 and older: violence) --Charles Solomon MPN: 22244 - UPC: 669198222443