AoD Advance Review: .hack//SIGN Vol. #6

[Chris Beveridge]

Review (http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/2699.php)

[crimsonmanticore]

One small question: Are the new episodes on both releases or just the Special Edition? Also, is there anything on the Special Edition that's worth the extra $15? Cause the announcement of the extra eps was a big deal, and if it's only with the Special, then by all means I'll pick it up. Please let me know. Thanks! ^_^

[Fencedude]

There are three "extra" episodes.

Episode 15: Evidence (recap episode, useless)
Episode 27: Intermezzo (the story of Mimiru's first adventure in the world, entertaining, though rather pointless)
Episode 28: Unison (takes place after the games, features the cast of SIGN and the major game characters)

The regular edition only has Evidence and Intermezzo, to get Unison you have to buy the LE.

[The_Mahou]

Meaning the version that Chris reviewed was the "standard" version, since I saw no mention of "Unison" in the review...right?

[Jolson]

I was hoping that this would have an opinion on Unison. I suppose there'll be a separate review for the limited edition later.

[crimsonmanticore]

Okay, that's all I wanted to know, thanks! But I have been waiting for this release for a while, so I guess I've got some catching up to do. I only have the first three.

And I know this probably doesn't fit the topic, but will Bandai ever release the soundtrack separately for .Hack//Sign? I REALLY want it.

[Jolson]

The first soundtrack was given a separate release some time ago. I have only seen it sold in online stores, though.

[crimsonmanticore]

Thanks for the info... hopefully one of the local stores'll get it soon.

[hokagejin]

Has anyone found a copy of .Hack//SIGN LE Volume 6: Terminus at Gamestop. I called every Gamestop in my local area and they said they'd been sold out, or didn't even get a shipment of it.

[DeadlyMessiah]

[ QUOTE ]
hokage-battousai said:
Has anyone found a copy of .Hack//SIGN LE Volume 6: Terminus at Gamestop. I called every Gamestop in my local area and they said they'd been sold out, or didn't even get a shipment of it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nope. I called Media Play up, and the moron said they can't special order it for me, I just have to wait until they get it in. What kind of store is that?

[crimsonmanticore]

I have the answer. The SE is not coming until next Tuesday, IOW, the 16th. Try back closer to Tuesday. Some places get it a few days early, so try anytime like that. Hope this helps! ^_^

[HawkEyeTS]

Well, I picked up the "Limited Edition" version of this from Best Buy last night and frankly I'm rather disappointed. I had hoped to the last minute that something, anything, would be included other than Unison in the LE, but sadly no. At least Best Buy is marking down new Bandai product to incredibly low prices ($23.99 for the LE, $19.99 for standard) so it was still a good buy. I think they're going to really confuse some customers though by the way they worded the back. They say in the contents that it contains episodes 23-25, but then in another place say it includes Intermezzo and Evidence, and in a third place mention Unison as the bonus item for the LE. I have a feeling some people are going to misread all that as just being 3 episodes total instead of 6 over two discs.

All in all Bandai, a show well done, even though the final disc's extra was disappointing. I really expected more after the months of "we're deciding what to put with it" but I guess it can't be helped.

[DeadlyMessiah]

[ QUOTE ]
crimsonmanticore said:
I have the answer. The SE is not coming until next Tuesday, IOW, the 16th. Try back closer to Tuesday. Some places get it a few days early, so try anytime like that. Hope this helps! ^_^

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, but that doesn't explain why MP can't special order it. If I want a dvd, they are suppose to order for me if I so choose, unless it is out of print.

[crimsonmanticore]

That's good news! Now I'll have no problem getting the rest of .Hack now! Thanks for the price lowering tip! I'll definitely strike on them next Saturday! I'll bet that doesn't include the super Vol. 1 though... ^_^

Oh... I hadn't read that bit... Well, at least I can pick up Vol. 6 SE for dirt cheap.

[crimsonmanticore]

Yeah, I agree. That doesn't make sense to me either.

[MrDisco]

i'm rather suprised by the positive votes and the A- rating given to this volume. am i the only one who was totally frustrated by all the loose ends the series ends on? (yes i know its a multimedia driven title). alot of the eps can be summed up as 'see boy sulk. see boy's friends pop by. see boy run away'

[crimsonmanticore]

I'm sure it will be resolved... just not now. Wait until Udeden... I've heard a lot of the answers or at least most of them should be there (In case you're wondering Udeden is Legend of the Twilight or something along those lines.)

[Rhodes]

What loose ends?

The story from the get go was about Tsukassa not being able to log out and what is happening to the real Tsukaasa in RL. That gets resolved and yeah it leads to a new story... that story is covered in the PS2 Games. And once you finish that... the story the games lead to is covered in the manga TP is publishing and was recently animated (Bandai will release that later this year).

Its like you watching Star Wars... you finish the movies but there are the books which tell what happened to Luke and the rest after Return of the Jedi ends.

[HawkEyeTS]

[ QUOTE ]
crimsonmanticore said:
That's good news! Now I'll have no problem getting the rest of .Hack now! Thanks for the price lowering tip! I'll definitely strike on them next Saturday! I'll bet that doesn't include the super Vol. 1 though... ^_^

Oh... I hadn't read that bit... Well, at least I can pick up Vol. 6 SE for dirt cheap.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeh, Best Buy is still "Worst Buy" for anything not released since the Bandai wholesale repricing. Please Teacher has the last two discs at $29.99 still. /images/graemlins/depresse.gif I really hold no hope that they'll ever stop and reprice their current stock...

[Jigen_Daisuke]

I have the limited edition preordered at DDD and also at Amazon as backup in case it ends up on "Backorder" at DDD. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[DeadlyMessiah]

[ QUOTE ]
MrDisco said:
i'm rather suprised by the positive votes and the A- rating given to this volume. am i the only one who was totally frustrated by all the loose ends the series ends on? (yes i know its a multimedia driven title). alot of the eps can be summed up as 'see boy sulk. see boy's friends pop by. see boy run away'

[/ QUOTE ]

What? The ending is perfect. Tsukasa is able to log out. Everything else you play the games for.

[neaux]

I really like the story behind .hack. that being said... this has been the hardest series to watch. The series is painfully slow.. with little to anything ever happening.

but I enjoyed the video games immensely. I enjoyed liminality. I'm just glad this is the last disc.

[Jigen_Daisuke]

In .hack//SIGN Ver. 06 Terminus, on the Japanese track, episode 23 "Net Slum" ends, and episode 24 "Catastrophe" begins, with an angry Morganna - aka The Voice - doing some really horrifying screaming.

The evil Morganna (Morgana), aptly named after the infamous villainess of Arthurian legend, is voiced by Tanaka Rie.

Morganna's hideous screams in .hack//SIGN vividly contrasts with Tanaka Rie's Chii cutely saying "chii" and "pantsu, pantsu" in Chobits, her Lacus Clyne adorably uttering "ara, ara" in Gundam SEED, and her Mariel soothingly saying "haato" ("heart") in Hanaukyou Maid Tai (Hanaukyo Maid Team).

[leongsh]

[Impatiently waiting for my pre-order for .hack//SIGN Volume 6 LE to ship from Amazon]

Hurry up! /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

[onigiri]

[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
[Impatiently waiting for my pre-order for .hack//SIGN Volume 6 LE to ship from Amazon]

Hurry up! /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I second that. Has anyone who preordered theirs from Amazon gotten it yet? I just checked my order and it hasn't shipped yet. The estimated delivery date is something like April 6. I don't want to wait that long.

[MrDisco]

sure i agree the 2 principle characters bumping into each other in real life was a nice ending but the extremely slow pacing just to come to that conclusion was a bit mind numbing. add in all of the other plot devices and elements which do not get resolved in this series makes it hard for me to see the value in giving it a high rating. think of it this way - if i didnt know anything about the show or this website and picked up the boxset on a whim would i come away satisfied or frustrated at the end?

[Jolson]

I wouldn't worry about having to wait until April 6th. It seems that the date was never changed to reflect the delay till March 16th, so it was just listed as backordered. It will most likely arrive shortly.

[onigiri]

[ QUOTE ]
Andre Linoge said:
I wouldn't worry about having to wait until April 6th. It seems that the date was never changed to reflect the delay till March 16th, so it was just listed as backordered. It will most likely arrive shortly.

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought it was something like that. Just makes me nervous.

[Kikuchiyo]

[ QUOTE ]
MrDisco said:think of it this way - if i didnt know anything about the show or this website and picked up the boxset on a whim would i come away satisfied or frustrated at the end?

[/ QUOTE ]I think that's a question only you can answer. It just depends on what kind of shows you like. I'm surprised you finished it if you found it so boring and uninteresting. Or did you just watch it all on Cartoon Network?

I picked up the first LE boxset because of the great extras it came with, but I ended up liking the show so much I bought the whole series. Also, what did you mean by "if I didn't know about this website"? Do you mean Chris' reviews?

Whatever. Not trying to start a fight. Just my thoughts. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[Kikuchiyo]

[ QUOTE ]
onigiri said:
[ QUOTE ]
leongsh said:
[Impatiently waiting for my pre-order for .hack//SIGN Volume 6 LE to ship from Amazon]

Hurry up! /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I second that. Has anyone who preordered theirs from Amazon gotten it yet? I just checked my order and it hasn't shipped yet. The estimated delivery date is something like April 6. I don't want to wait that long.

[/ QUOTE ]I ordered mine about a week ago. Still didn't get it. Waiting really sucks sometimes, especially when it's an LE.

[Lovely]

*caaaarefully trying to avoid reading the spoilers in this thread ^o^ *

I just got my shipping confirmation from CD-Universe today. Weee XD ! I'm so happy ^_^...

[Kikuchiyo]

[ QUOTE ]
Lovely said:
*caaaarefully trying to avoid reading the spoilers in this thread ^o^ *

I just got my shipping confirmation from CD-Universe today. Weee XD ! I'm so happy ^_^...

[/ QUOTE ]Now I wish I ordered from them. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

[The_Mahou]

Had this one preordered at TRSI for months and I'm happy to finally see this processing. More than likely, I'll be seeing it next week.

Finished the PS2 games, now I'll have SIGN all finished. Chibi//Hack is next and preordered! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[Fencedude]

[ QUOTE ]
ArseneLupinIII said:
In .hack//SIGN Ver. 06 Terminus, on the Japanese track, episode 23 "Net Slum" ends, and episode 24 "Catastrophe" begins, with an angry Morganna - aka The Voice - doing some really horrifying screaming.

The evil Morganna (Morgana), aptly named after the infamous villainess of Arthurian legend, is voiced by Tanaka Rie.

Morganna's hideous screams in .hack//SIGN vividly contrasts with Tanaka Rie's Chii cutely saying "chii" and "pantsu, pantsu" in Chobits, her Lacus Clyne adorably uttering "ara, ara" in Gundam SEED, and her Mariel soothingly saying "haato" ("heart") in Hanaukyou Maid Tai (Hanaukyo Maid Team).

[/ QUOTE ]

No offense, but is it REALLY necessary for you to do an Ad for Rie Tanaka in almost every thread you enter?

[lockmastah]

[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
No offense, but is it REALLY necessary for you to do an Ad for Rie Tanaka in almost every thread you enter?

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't ask silly questions, of course it is! ArseneLupinIII is more fanatical about Rei Tanaka than I am over Maaya Sakamoto (http://www.maayasakamoto.net). Why he doesn't run his own Tanaka fansite boggles me. I wish he would, cause then maybe he would stop rambling about her so much on the forums. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[evilarrex]

[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
No offense, but is it REALLY necessary for you to do an Ad for Rie Tanaka in almost every thread you enter?

[/ QUOTE ]

She IS a nice piece of eye-candy isn't she? A few pix (http://www.geocities.com/seiyuu_directory/rie.html)

[Jigen_Daisuke]

[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
[ QUOTE ]
ArseneLupinIII said:
In .hack//SIGN Ver. 06 Terminus, on the Japanese track, episode 23 "Net Slum" ends, and episode 24 "Catastrophe" begins, with an angry Morganna - aka The Voice - doing some really horrifying screaming.

The evil Morganna (Morgana), aptly named after the infamous villainess of Arthurian legend, is voiced by Tanaka Rie.

Morganna's hideous screams in .hack//SIGN vividly contrasts with Tanaka Rie's Chii cutely saying "chii" and "pantsu, pantsu" in Chobits, her Lacus Clyne adorably uttering "ara, ara" in Gundam SEED, and her Mariel soothingly saying "haato" ("heart") in Hanaukyou Maid Tai (Hanaukyo Maid Team).

[/ QUOTE ]

No offense, but is it REALLY necessary for you to do an Ad for Rie Tanaka in almost every thread you enter?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes.

[Jigen_Daisuke]

This post is about the person whose namesake Tanaka Rie (Morganna, Morgana) plays in .hack//SIGN.

[ QUOTE ]

Morgan (http://www.geocities.com/Area51/1567/morgan.html)

In Arthurian legend, Morgan who was an enchantress and shapeshifter, had a goddess like aspect and was known by the epithet "le Fay." Her English name comes from the French Morain le Fee, the fay or fairy and in Italian she is Fata Morgana. She also was a pupil of Merlin, and learned much of her magic from him. Morgan le Fay was represented as a dark goddess characterized by the powerful earthly qualities of winter and warfare. Some accounts say she could fly with wings and change shape. Her anithesis was Queen Guinevere, daughter of Leodegrance and wife of Arthur, whose role was that of the 'Flower Bride' and represented spring and growth. Morgan ruled a castle of maidens near Edinburgh and was also the goddess of an island in the sea called "the Fortunate Isle," "the Island of Apples," or more commonly known as Avalon where the sisterhood of 9 dwelt. She was the chief of the 9 sisters, whose names included Moronoe, Mazoe, Gliten, Glitonea, Cliton, Tyronoe and Thitis. Many accounts of this isle correspond with the Celtic Otherworld.

As a literary character, she seems to have taken shape during the early 12th century in the Arthurian lays of Breton minstrels, racially akin to the Welsh. When they adopted her she was a water nymph of Breton folklore. Welsh legend furnished a similar figure called Modron, said to have been Avallach's daughter, and her attributes were annexed to Morgan. Other tales claim to trace her origins to the Irish goddesses Macha, a triple godess that was an athlete, queen and warrior, and Morrighan, a warrior goddess.


[/ QUOTE ]

[AbeChinchilla]

[ QUOTE ]
MrDisco said:
add in all of the other plot devices and elements which do not get resolved in this series makes it hard for me to see the value in giving it a high rating.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're supposed to go play the video games. Everything is resolved in the video games.

[DeadlyMessiah]

[ QUOTE ]
ArseneLupinIII said:
This post is about the person whose namesake Tanaka Rie (Morganna, Morgana) plays in .hack//SIGN.

[ QUOTE ]

Morgan (http://www.geocities.com/Area51/1567/morgan.html)

In Arthurian legend, Morgan who was an enchantress and shapeshifter, had a goddess like aspect and was known by the epithet "le Fay." Her English name comes from the French Morain le Fee, the fay or fairy and in Italian she is Fata Morgana. She also was a pupil of Merlin, and learned much of her magic from him. Morgan le Fay was represented as a dark goddess characterized by the powerful earthly qualities of winter and warfare. Some accounts say she could fly with wings and change shape. Her anithesis was Queen Guinevere, daughter of Leodegrance and wife of Arthur, whose role was that of the 'Flower Bride' and represented spring and growth. Morgan ruled a castle of maidens near Edinburgh and was also the goddess of an island in the sea called "the Fortunate Isle," "the Island of Apples," or more commonly known as Avalon where the sisterhood of 9 dwelt. She was the chief of the 9 sisters, whose names included Moronoe, Mazoe, Gliten, Glitonea, Cliton, Tyronoe and Thitis. Many accounts of this isle correspond with the Celtic Otherworld.

As a literary character, she seems to have taken shape during the early 12th century in the Arthurian lays of Breton minstrels, racially akin to the Welsh. When they adopted her she was a water nymph of Breton folklore. Welsh legend furnished a similar figure called Modron, said to have been Avallach's daughter, and her attributes were annexed to Morgan. Other tales claim to trace her origins to the Irish goddesses Macha, a triple godess that was an athlete, queen and warrior, and Morrighan, a warrior goddess.


[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

I knew Morganna, etc, was a celtic goddess, but thanks for all that info. I love learning about the different dieties of cultures.

I watched, I enjoyed, and I was a tad bit confused. I guess I'll just have to play the games... soonly I'd imagine (as soon as I stop procrastinating with the tax return). I'm game-console-ly challenged. /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif

Anyway, I like BB for Bandai purchases... they price 'em on the cheap. I wasn't planning on picking this up yet (as there are still v3 LEs on up at BB)... but I did and I'm quite glad. The ending of the series didn't settle with me at first, but after thinking about it... it's not too shabby. Oh, I'm not much for the "silent movie" type feel they put on the "real world" dialogue... but those are only minor quibbles.

"Unison" was interesting, but confusing... again due to my lack of experience with any of the games, I assume. Ummm... yeah... so "positive" on both counts from me. Although the LEness was kinda odd... as it seems weird to put just one episode on a DVD, even if it is a "Bonus Disc." Blah blah blah... all that said... it was good.

[AbeChinchilla]

[ QUOTE ]
FunktasticMatt said:
I wasn't planning on picking this up yet (as there are still v3 LEs on up at BB)...

[/ QUOTE ]

I get the feeling that this volume should not be placed on hold.

Some people don't care for CDs, and especially if they have never heard of .hack//Liminality.

However, I'm sure more than 1500 customers are going to want the bonus episode, Unison.

[ QUOTE ]
AbeChinchilla said:
[ QUOTE ]
FunktasticMatt said:
I wasn't planning on picking this up yet (as there are still v3 LEs on up at BB)...

[/ QUOTE ]

I get the feeling that this volume should not be placed on hold.

Some people don't care for CDs, and especially if they have never heard of .hack//Liminality.

However, I'm sure more than 1500 customers are going to want the bonus episode, Unison.

[/ QUOTE ]

I definitely agree, as that thought crossed my mind as I came to the anime section. Thus, I picked it up and the hole in my wallet grew by some value. /images/graemlins/happy.gif I remember when the first volume came out, I believe I saw one box amongst the three different stores I visit... it was an LE I don't think many passed up if they had the choice.

In the end, I'm a happy customer... /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[Jigen_Daisuke]

Fragments (http://home.austin.rr.com/tsote/dothack/fragments.html) *link contains many, many spoilers*

[ QUOTE ]

The Beginning

Roughly around 1977 (roughly, because we're never given exact dates), Emma Wielant is born into the rich family of a German winery owner.* A few years later, her father dies.* Her mother dies when Emma is 18.* An uncle is named as her guardian, but he decides to adopt her in order to get at her inheritance.* Emma turns him down, but her money is tied up in a trust, and she can't get to it either, until she turns 21.* In order to support herself, Emma enters college and studies medical science.* On her 21st birthday, because she's pushed herself so hard with her studies, she starts coughing up blood.* On her doctor's suggestion, she goes to a resort in southern France to recover.* At the resort she experiences some kind of supernatural event which causes her to delve into metaphysical studies (the actual event is not mentioned).* Her interest in the unusual includes anthroposophy, the blending of human nature with computers, and the works of Rudolf Steiner.* At this time, she is dating a man 20 years older than her.* She also finds solace in writing poetry, and begins writing an epic poem called "Epitaph of Twilight".

[/ QUOTE ]

And so begins The World.

[Jigen_Daisuke]

[ QUOTE ]
ArseneLupinIII said:
This post is about the person whose namesake Tanaka Rie (Morganna, Morgana) plays in .hack//SIGN.

[ QUOTE ]

Morgan (http://www.geocities.com/Area51/1567/morgan.html)

In Arthurian legend, Morgan who was an enchantress and shapeshifter, had a goddess like aspect and was known by the epithet "le Fay." Her English name comes from the French Morain le Fee, the fay or fairy and in Italian she is Fata Morgana. She also was a pupil of Merlin, and learned much of her magic from him. Morgan le Fay was represented as a dark goddess characterized by the powerful earthly qualities of winter and warfare. Some accounts say she could fly with wings and change shape. Her anithesis was Queen Guinevere, daughter of Leodegrance and wife of Arthur, whose role was that of the 'Flower Bride' and represented spring and growth. Morgan ruled a castle of maidens near Edinburgh and was also the goddess of an island in the sea called "the Fortunate Isle," "the Island of Apples," or more commonly known as Avalon where the sisterhood of 9 dwelt. She was the chief of the 9 sisters, whose names included Moronoe, Mazoe, Gliten, Glitonea, Cliton, Tyronoe and Thitis. Many accounts of this isle correspond with the Celtic Otherworld.

As a literary character, she seems to have taken shape during the early 12th century in the Arthurian lays of Breton minstrels, racially akin to the Welsh. When they adopted her she was a water nymph of Breton folklore. Welsh legend furnished a similar figure called Modron, said to have been Avallach's daughter, and her attributes were annexed to Morgan. Other tales claim to trace her origins to the Irish goddesses Macha, a triple godess that was an athlete, queen and warrior, and Morrighan, a warrior goddess.


[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

Morganna (http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewpoetry.asp?AuthorID=17743&id=92406)

by L. Bohmer
Thursday, January 01, 2004

Black Satin is her hair,
Serpentine tresses that caress,
The Forest Floor.

The Falling Snow,
Turns to raindrops of midnight,
As it sinks into her ebony mane.

There she lies, serene,
On the forest floor,
Peaceful, aware and waiting.

She is not a maiden,
Not a mother, nor crone,
She is a seductive temptress,
An elusive sorceress.

If you spurn her blazing heart,
Soon your soul will smother in the embrace,
Of the bittersweet, beloved,
Talons of her revenge.

Fear not her dark love,
For like sumptuous chocolate,
It is both sweet, yet dangerous.

Honor her power,
Respect her mystery,
And win her treasured favor,
But to possess her untamable heart,
Is a hopeless quest and a journey to despair.

She beckons you into her arms,
Upon a bed of autumn leaves,
Atop the forest floor.

Loose yourself inside,
This luscious Faery Queen.
Succumb to her delectable invitation,
And her taunting laughter,
Will haunt your lost heart.
In the glamour of her irresistible night magick,
You will dwell forever and a day.

[DeadlyMessiah]

I watched my dvd today (except the clip show, I refuse to sit through boredom again), and both Intermezzo and Unison were great. I wished they went into detail on Mimiru changing players, but Unison kicked ass. I just loved how it was a nice conclusion to the SIGN and game storyline, and can't wait for LotTB. I give the whole series a 4.5/5.

[Fencedude]

Aww man, I hate it when I'm replying to a post and it is deleted.

Ah well, its useful info, so I'll post it anyway.

[ QUOTE ]

He never said Mimiru was Blackrose.

*Spoilers for Intermezzo and potentially Legend of the Twilight*

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> Before using the character model we know as "Mimiru", she used another character, shaped like a little gril.

Blackrose is the first person Kite met in "The World" in the game .hack//INFECTION, and became his most loyal ally throughout his adventer.

5 years after the games, a set of twins win a contest in which the prize was the character models of Kite and Blackrose. The Kite and Blackrose in .hack//Legend of the Twilight (Bracelet) are NOT the same ones as in the .hack games. </span>

[/ QUOTE ]

[crimsonmanticore]

Sorry. I deleted it because I thought that's what he was talking about. Gomen. I also haven't seen Unison yet, but I thought he was saying talking about BlackRose in relation to Mimiru, so it was a misunderstanding.

[DeadlyMessiah]

[ QUOTE ]
crimsonmanticore said:
Sorry. I deleted it because I thought that's what he was talking about. Gomen. I also haven't seen Unison yet, but I thought he was saying talking about BlackRose in relation to Mimiru, so it was a misunderstanding.

[/ QUOTE ]

What was deleted?

[Fencedude]

Inbetween your post and mine crimsonmanticore had a post, that is what my post was originally in response to, but he deleted it while I was typing it.

[crimsonmanticore]

Basically, my initial post was in response to your comment about the multiple usernames for Mimiru and I thought the comment was referring to BlackRose from Liminality. That's when I said, Mimiru is NOT BlackRose. So that's why I deleted it, because Fencedude corrected me.

[neaux]

I dont know what you are talking about. Unison was the most disturbing episode of any anime I have ever EVER SEEN.

/images/graemlins/stunned0.gif

[AbeChinchilla]

Eh, for me the dancing was a bit much.
Otherwise, the episode was great.

Maybe you should play the games...

Unison = after the games

[The_Mahou]

Yay! My copy FINALLY came in. Another series finished, but one that actually left me satisfied.

I'd definitely call "Unison" a treat for those who have finished the games. At least for me it was. It was great to see the SIGN and game characters together finally and I just found the whole thing fun.

I'm also glad they decided to dub that particular extra, especially since they didn't do that with GIFT. I've always wanted to see a Amanda Winn-Lee character and a Wendee Lee character go at it and seeing the whole Mimiru/Blackrose exchange had me grinning. This is exactly what I missed with GIFT.

Overall, a great end to a good series in my opinon. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[AbeChinchilla]

[ QUOTE ]
The_Mahou said:
I'm also glad they decided to dub that particular extra, especially since they didn't do that with GIFT. I've always wanted to see a Amanda Winn-Lee character and a Wendee Lee character go at it and seeing the whole Mimiru/Blackrose exchange had me grinning. This is exactly what I missed with GIFT.

[/ QUOTE ]

Awesome, so the same game dub cast members reprised their proper roles?

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>(Including Mia??)</span>

[The_Mahou]

[ QUOTE ]
AbeChinchilla said:
[ QUOTE ]
The_Mahou said:
I'm also glad they decided to dub that particular extra, especially since they didn't do that with GIFT. I've always wanted to see a Amanda Winn-Lee character and a Wendee Lee character go at it and seeing the whole Mimiru/Blackrose exchange had me grinning. This is exactly what I missed with GIFT.

[/ QUOTE ]

Awesome, so the same game dub cast members reprised their proper roles?

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>(Including Mia??)</span>

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep! The VAs from Animaze (who did the dubs for the games) were there as their characters, which really made me feel a lot better. I'm so glad PCB brought them in for that episode.

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>And yes, Debra Rogers does voice Mia in Unison like she did in the game. The scene between Tsukasa and Mia at the bar was especially touching. It was also pretty interesting hearing Tsukasa and Elk in the same room, considering Brianne Siddal plays them both.</span>

[Grimmjow Jeagerjaques]

I'll add another spoiler space here
*
*
*
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Crud. Not that I have anything against them, but I've got a decent sized game backlog, so I'm not sure when I'll be able to go through all four. Regardless of this being a "bold multimedia experiment", there was some stuff that just plain should have been resolved in the show. First and foremost, Sora. This character should have been deleted. What purpose did he serve except to be an asshole? He should have gotten wasted by Crim or BT one good time before this show ended. I realize Player Killers are a part of MMORPGs but snotty little bastards like him piss me off.

The whole thing with 85% of the show being the characters sitting around waiting for Tsukasa to show up was just irritating. They could have injected way more story into this thing than that. I mean MMORPGs are about leveling up and learning techniques right? Why couldn't they have focused on that a little more? They also could have dealt with the characters lives outside The World a little more. These aspects of the show were glossed over to focus on "Waiting For Tsukasa" /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif. The episodes that actually dealt with playing an MMORPG, and the characters real lives along with the overall plot were the best(Intermezzo being one of them), most of it was just too damn tedious. And that ending, I'm not talking about the epilogue, I'm talking about the "final battle" or rather lack thereof. That was just DISGUSTING. That was an insult to people who'd sat through the series. This was almost as bad as both of Eva's endings.

Sigh, oh well. It wasn't the worse show to watch, but it could have been much, much better. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll play the games eventually, but I just had to get that out. To much of that "Waiting For Tsukasa" crap was making my head hurt.

One more thing, are Tsukasa and Subaru a lesbian couple now? Just curious, they seem way to chummy to be just friends.

[Fencedude]

To your final question, yes.

And learn to use spoiler tags.

[The_Mahou]

I think you're missing one of the major points of SIGN if you think it's just simply about "The World" being a game. SIGN was a character and dialogue driven story, not an action driven one. From the very beginning of the story it was about helping Tsukasa to log out, not about defeating the big bad evil in the traditional sense.

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Actually, by Tsukasa deciding that he wanted to logout on his own and in effect allowing Aura to awaken, they acheived exactly what they set out to do. Nothing more or less.</span>

I'll agree that learning about the character's lives offline helped to flesh them out more during the story. To me, it helped to give them a purpose and reason why they play the game and why they, in the end, decide to help out Tsukasa. As for Sora, I'l agree that he was an ass. But at least he was an entertaining one.

Personally, I found the end very satisfying and touching. Especially the epilogue. It basically said "Tsukasa's story is over, but like any MMORPG, the story of 'The World' goes on." Maybe that's just because I've played through the games and knew what was coming so your mileage may vary.

Maybe .hack//LotTB will be more your speed, since it seems to be more upbeat than SIGN.

[DeadlyMessiah]

[ QUOTE ]
neaux said:
I dont know what you are talking about. Unison was the most disturbing episode of any anime I have ever EVER SEEN.

/images/graemlins/stunned0.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

How so?

[CrazyCelt_home]

[ QUOTE ]
DeadlyMessiah said:
[ QUOTE ]
neaux said:
I dont know what you are talking about. Unison was the most disturbing episode of any anime I have ever EVER SEEN.

/images/graemlins/stunned0.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

How so?

[/ QUOTE ]

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>I think it might have something to do with the gorilla dance... </span> /images/graemlins/knowital.gif

[DeadlyMessiah]

[ QUOTE ]
Mr. Gone said:
I'll add another spoiler space here

One more thing, are Tsukasa and Subaru a lesbian couple now? Just curious, they seem way to chummy to be just friends.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, they are not lesbians, they are just friends. Sailor Uranus and Neptune are lesbians. Tsukasa and Subaru would be just as close to being lesbians as Utena and Anthy. They may have signs that might let them look like it, but they are not.

[The_Mahou]

[ QUOTE ]
CrazyCelt said:
[ QUOTE ]
DeadlyMessiah said:
[ QUOTE ]
neaux said:
I dont know what you are talking about. Unison was the most disturbing episode of any anime I have ever EVER SEEN.

/images/graemlins/stunned0.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

How so?

[/ QUOTE ]

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>I think it might have something to do with the gorilla dance... </span> /images/graemlins/knowital.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

What are you talkiing about?

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>The Gorilla Dance was great! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif</span>

[CrazyCelt_home]

[ QUOTE ]
The_Mahou said:
[ QUOTE ]
CrazyCelt said:
[ QUOTE ]
DeadlyMessiah said:
[ QUOTE ]
neaux said:
I dont know what you are talking about. Unison was the most disturbing episode of any anime I have ever EVER SEEN.

/images/graemlins/stunned0.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

How so?

[/ QUOTE ]

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>I think it might have something to do with the gorilla dance... </span> /images/graemlins/knowital.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

What are you talkiing about?

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>The Gorilla Dance was great! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif</span>

[/ QUOTE ]

I know, I know! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif But that is the single most-likely source of discomfort for some people.

[The_Mahou]

[ QUOTE ]
CrazyCelt said:
[ QUOTE ]
The_Mahou said:
[ QUOTE ]
CrazyCelt said:
[ QUOTE ]
DeadlyMessiah said:
[ QUOTE ]
neaux said:
I dont know what you are talking about. Unison was the most disturbing episode of any anime I have ever EVER SEEN.

/images/graemlins/stunned0.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

How so?

[/ QUOTE ]

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>I think it might have something to do with the gorilla dance... </span> /images/graemlins/knowital.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

What are you talkiing about?

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>The Gorilla Dance was great! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif</span>

[/ QUOTE ]

I know, I know! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif But that is the single most-likely source of discomfort for some people.

[/ QUOTE ]

Okay, I'd admit seeing Silver Knight (Ginkan) dancing in any fashion could be disturbing, if it wasn't so damn funny for me to watch.

[Kikuchiyo]

[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
To your final question, yes.

[/ QUOTE ]Can you back that up with some evidence?

[mikedude]

[ QUOTE ]
DeadlyMessiah said:
Sailor Uranus and Neptune are lesbians.

[/ QUOTE ]

COUSINS! COUSINS I TELL YOU! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[AbeChinchilla]

[ QUOTE ]
Kikuchiyo said:
[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
To your final question, yes.

[/ QUOTE ]Can you back that up with some evidence?

[/ QUOTE ]

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>In the novels, they supposedly go on "dates". Though, even friends (JUST-friends) go on date. But I keep getting the feeling that they are in love, damn it!</span>

[AbeChinchilla]

[ QUOTE ]
The_Mahou said:
Yep! The VAs from Animaze (who did the dubs for the games) were there as their characters, which really made me feel a lot better. I'm so glad PCB brought them in for that episode.

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>And yes, Debra Rogers does voice Mia in Unison like she did in the game. The scene between Tsukasa and Mia at the bar was especially touching. It was also pretty interesting hearing Tsukasa and Elk in the same room, considering Brianne Siddal plays them both.</span>

[/ QUOTE ]

Great news, I'm really, really looking forward to this episode (dubbed) now.

[AbeChinchilla]

SPOILERS!!

[ QUOTE ]
Mr. Gone said:
First and foremost, Sora. This character should have been deleted. What purpose did he serve except to be an asshole? He should have gotten wasted by Crim or BT one good time before this show ended. I realize Player Killers are a part of MMORPGs but snotty little bastards like him piss me off.

[/ QUOTE ]

He the usually-needed back-stabber. And he comes in handy at the end of the series.

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>He is also very important in the .hack//ZERO novel, which takes place AFTER the end of .hack//SIGN, now that Sora is stuck in the World, he is (like Tsukasa) "brain washed" and works as Skeith's partner in crime.</span>

[ QUOTE ]
Mr. Gone said:I mean MMORPGs are about leveling up and learning techniques right?

[/ QUOTE ]

Who wants to watch a show about fictional players leveling up when you can just go play a MMORPG or RPG on your own?

[ QUOTE ]
Mr. Gone said:They also could have dealt with the characters lives outside The World a little more.

[/ QUOTE ]

Another way to make the show realistic... Normally, players don't tell other players about their own personal lives. So we don't get to see much of the characters in their ordinary lives. This show is about the players in the World. Not outside the World, that's .hack//Liminality.

[ QUOTE ]
Mr. Gone said:And that ending, I'm not talking about the epilogue, I'm talking about the "final battle" or rather lack thereof.

[/ QUOTE ]

We don't see it, but they have been in ordinary battles, leveling up, in the World. This is just their little reference to RPG games in general, with the usual "boss fight"/"final battle" deal. It's not much of a battle, but whatever...

Play the Games!!

[Kikuchiyo]

[ QUOTE ]
AbeChinchilla said:
[ QUOTE ]
Kikuchiyo said:
[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
To your final question, yes.

[/ QUOTE ]Can you back that up with some evidence?

[/ QUOTE ]

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>In the novels, they supposedly go on "dates". Though, even friends (JUST-friends) go on date. But I keep getting the feeling that they are in love, damn it!</span>

[/ QUOTE ]There were .hack//SIGN novels? You mean manga like .hack//LOTTB has? Any word on if they will be released domestically?

[Sapphire]

[ QUOTE ]
Kikuchiyo said:
There were .hack//SIGN novels? You mean manga like .hack//LOTTB has? Any word on if they will be released domestically?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, he means novels. AI Buster being the first (it takes place before SIGN, NOT before The World despite what some online reports say), ZERO is the second (taking place between SIGN and the games.)

As of right now there have been no plans to release them in English. Pity.

Mariela

[gnikdrazil]

I completed watching the .hack//Sign series, but I haven't played the games. I don't have a Playstation 2, but I'm curious about Kite and Blackroses tale. Does anyone know a good website that gives tells the story for all 4 games with big old spoilers?

[AbeChinchilla]

[ QUOTE ]
n1bbler said:
I completed watching the .hack//Sign series, but I haven't played the games. I don't have a Playstation 2, but I'm curious about Kite and Blackroses tale. Does anyone know a good website that gives tells the story for all 4 games with big old spoilers?

[/ QUOTE ]

Buy a PlayStation 2!

[crimsonmanticore]

I'm surprised Bandai wouldn't try to license them(by them, I mean the books)... either them or Tokyopop. I hope somebody gets them. I'd love to know in somewhat easier to understand language how 'The World' came into being.

Also, has anyone had trouble finding the repriced .Hack Part 1 PS2 game? I swear it's disappeared from every store I've gone to. Anyone with info, PLEASE help. I want to at least be able to get the first volume for Easter! ~_^ Also, do they repriced packages come with the Liminality eps? Thanks!

[CrazyCelt_home]

[ QUOTE ]
n1bbler said:
Does anyone know a good website that gives tells the story for all 4 games with big old spoilers?

[/ QUOTE ]

Try this one : Helba's Gate (http://home.austin.rr.com/tsote/dothack/helba_gate.html)

There are a few others, but this one might serve you best.

[Kellory]

[ QUOTE ]
Mr. Gone said:
The whole thing with 85% of the show being the characters sitting around waiting for Tsukasa to show up was just irritating. They could have injected way more story into this thing than that. I mean MMORPGs are about leveling up and learning techniques right? Why couldn't they have focused on that a little more? They also could have dealt with the characters lives outside The World a little more. These aspects of the show were glossed over to focus on "Waiting For Tsukasa" /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif. The episodes that actually dealt with playing an MMORPG, and the characters real lives along with the overall plot were the best(Intermezzo being one of them), most of it was just too damn tedious.

[/ QUOTE ]

While I wasnt exactly happy with the ending, its understandable given the entire multimedia premise of the property.

I will add that waiting around IS a large part of an MMORPG. Depending, of course, on where you are in your career. After 5 years spent playing Everquest with over 350 days played, I can say that a large part of my day involves just sitting around and chatting while I wait for a few close friends to logon. In the begining, and if you are in a raiding guild, then yes its fairly action oriented. But after awhile many settle into a routine with a few close friends and you spend most of your time with them.

Also, its not unheard of to spend days in a given zone or area without seeing another player. Even in EQ where there are fewer players per server (and the game world is much much smaller) its more than possible even at primetime on an old server to never see people depending on your zone. I spent 4 days leveling up a cleric in a half dozen zones. During which time I didnt see more than a half dozen people. Often I'd have the zone to myself. It just depends on where you are. To not see that many PC's in Hack//.Sign is believable, if not exactly exciting.

Anyway, overall I liked the show. The number of MMORPG in jokes made it especially enjoyable. Intermezzo's joke with the kiting was almost as amusing to me as the bad pathing scene in disk 1. The release schedule was a bit offputing, but still I think worth the wait.

[The_Mahou]

[ QUOTE ]
AbeChinchilla said:
[ QUOTE ]
Kikuchiyo said:
[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
To your final question, yes.

[/ QUOTE ]Can you back that up with some evidence?

[/ QUOTE ]

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>In the novels, they supposedly go on "dates". Though, even friends (JUST-friends) go on date. But I keep getting the feeling that they are in love, damn it!</span>

[/ QUOTE ]

I just have the feeling that Tsukasa and Subaru develop the closest possible relationship without romance becoming a factor. Much like Subaru and Crim had. Just like how Crim inspired Subaru to stand on her own two feet and keep her head held high, Subaru passes on that feeling to Tsukasa.

Besides...<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>If they were lesbians, then Subaru, Tsukasa, and Mimiru would've made a nice threesome. /images/graemlins/noseblee.gif</span>

[The_Mahou]

[ QUOTE ]
Sapphire said:
[ QUOTE ]
Kikuchiyo said:
There were .hack//SIGN novels? You mean manga like .hack//LOTTB has? Any word on if they will be released domestically?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, he means novels. AI Buster being the first (it takes place before SIGN, NOT before The World despite what some online reports say), ZERO is the second (taking place between SIGN and the games.)

As of right now there have been no plans to release them in English. Pity.

Mariela

[/ QUOTE ]

I could've swore I heard something about Tokyopop having at least one of the novels. Or maybe I'm wrong and they were just talking about volume 3 of the Chibi//hack manga. Still, considering that comapnies are now bringing novels over I wouldn't put it past them to liscense the .hack novels in any event.

[Jigen_Daisuke]

Well, I voted "+" ... twice. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[The Pirate Queen]

[ QUOTE ]
The_Mahou said:

I could've swore I heard something about Tokyopop having at least one of the novels. Or maybe I'm wrong and they were just talking about volume 3 of the Chibi//hack manga. Still, considering that comapnies are now bringing novels over I wouldn't put it past them to liscense the .hack novels in any event.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nope, Tokyopop hasn't announced any of the .hack novels yet, but they have announced some other novels, so there's hope.

[Fencedude]

[ QUOTE ]
Kikuchiyo said:
[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
To your final question, yes.

[/ QUOTE ]Can you back that up with some evidence?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ok, imagine that Tsukasa was a boy, what kind of relationship would you expect them to have then?

I rest my case.

[AbeChinchilla]

[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
Ok, imagine that Tsukasa was a boy, what kind of relationship would you expect them to have then?
I rest my case.

[/ QUOTE ]

Muwahahaha, exactly what I was thinking. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[Kikuchiyo]

[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
[ QUOTE ]
Kikuchiyo said:
[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
To your final question, yes.

[/ QUOTE ]Can you back that up with some evidence?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ok, imagine that Tsukasa was a boy, what kind of relationship would you expect them to have then?

I rest my case.

[/ QUOTE ]I understand your point, but that's just one way to look at it.

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> Tsukasa never had anyone who loved him in his life after losing his mother. Now that he has Subaru in the real world, Tsukasa finally has someone to just enjoy life with. And since Subaru is in a wheelchair, they both have missed out on things many people take for granted, and now they just want to be together and have fun. There really is no reason to say they are sexually involved with each other. Even if Tsukasa was a boy, I don't see any obvious reason to say they will be anything other than great friends in the real world.
</span>

Of course, I know you know what I'm talking about since you watched the show, but I am just giving my reasons for why I don't think there was any "evidence" in the show that they would have that kind of relationship.

[AbeChinchilla]

[ QUOTE ]
Kikuchiyo said:
Of course, I know you know what I'm talking about since you watched the show, but I am just giving my reasons for why I don't think there was any "evidence" in the show that they would have that kind of relationship.

[/ QUOTE ]

But...

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>If they weren't going to have a "sexual" relationship, why would Tsukasa bother giving Subaru the whole "What if I'm a girl" thing?</span>

[Sapphire]

[ QUOTE ]
AbeChinchilla said:
But...

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>If they weren't going to have a "sexual" relationship, why would Tsukasa bother giving Subaru the whole "What if I'm a girl" thing?</span>

[/ QUOTE ]

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> Because perhaps Tsukasa, fearing rejection once again, worried that Subaru only wanted one type of relationship and that being a girl would mess it up?</span>

Just an idea.

Mariela

[Kikuchiyo]

[ QUOTE ]
Sapphire said:
[ QUOTE ]
AbeChinchilla said:
But...

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>If they weren't going to have a "sexual" relationship, why would Tsukasa bother giving Subaru the whole "What if I'm a girl" thing?</span>

[/ QUOTE ]

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> Because perhaps Tsukasa, fearing rejection once again, worried that Subaru only wanted one type of relationship and that being a girl would mess it up?</span>

Just an idea.

Mariela

[/ QUOTE ]Thank you, Sapphire. /images/graemlins/happy.gif That is exactly what I believe Tsukasa was thinking, but I forgot to say it in my previous post. I knew it was a point that would be argued. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[Fencedude]

[ QUOTE ]
Kikuchiyo said:
[ QUOTE ]
Sapphire said:
[ QUOTE ]
AbeChinchilla said:
But...

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>If they weren't going to have a "sexual" relationship, why would Tsukasa bother giving Subaru the whole "What if I'm a girl" thing?</span>

[/ QUOTE ]

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> Because perhaps Tsukasa, fearing rejection once again, worried that Subaru only wanted one type of relationship and that being a girl would mess it up?</span>

Just an idea.

Mariela

[/ QUOTE ]Thank you, Sapphire. /images/graemlins/happy.gif That is exactly what I believe Tsukasa was thinking, but I forgot to say it in my previous post. I knew it was a point that would be argued. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I've always found this mass denial over the possibility of Tsukasa and Subaru actually having a physical relationship amusing.

[Jolson]

[/ QUOTE ]I understand your point, but that's just one way to look at it.

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> Tsukasa never had anyone who loved him in his life after losing his mother. Now that he has Subaru in the real world, Tsukasa finally has someone to just enjoy life with. And since Subaru is in a wheelchair, they both have missed out on things many people take for granted, and now they just want to be together and have fun. There really is no reason to say they are sexually involved with each other. Even if Tsukasa was a boy, I don't see any obvious reason to say they will be anything other than great friends in the real world.
</span>

Of course, I know you know what I'm talking about since you watched the show, but I am just giving my reasons for why I don't think there was any "evidence" in the show that they would have that kind of relationship.

[/ QUOTE ]

No evidence huh? Once again the time has come for me to present a message board with my essay in which I present just such evidence. Enjoy

I am of the opinion that Tsukasa and Subaru's relationship is romantic in its nature. Now I've thought about this long and hard and think I've found some evidence from the show itself. Now .hack//ZERO, the official novel, and the .hack Encyclopedia have been confirmed to have information supporting this perception of their relationship, but they haven't been enough to quiet the controversy. So, I'll present what I have found. The idea that they are just good friends can be flawed in the sense that Tsukasa already has a good, devoted friend in Mimiru. She attempts to get Tsukasa to want to logout, with little success. But it was Subaru's involvement with Tsukasa that ultimately lead to his logging out of the game. And what did she promise him? That they would meet on the outside, essentially the same thing Mimiru promised. This means that Tsukasa and Subaru must have something more than a friendship.

But this isn't enough to prove it. So, you then have to look at how others look at their relationship. The Silver Knight (Ginkan) shows feelings for Subaru very early on in the series, and shows some jealousy for what Tsukasa and Subaru have. He only backs down when Sora tells him that Tsukasa IRL is a girl. Meaning that without that knowledge about Tsukasa, it is very easy to believe that they are lovers. In fact, the only reason that this argument exists is that Tsukasa ultimately is female.

In the scene immediately afterwards, BT has a conversation with Subaru during which she understands just what Tsukasa and Subaru have. She then stops herself from telling Subaru the truth about Tsukasa for the sake of what they have.

The rest of what I have deals with the last few episodes. During this time Tsukasa has the revelation that he is in fact a she. Prior to this he had been in his state of total dispair and had been brought out of it to the extent that he could bring himself to move around. After his talk with Crim it is very likely that he would have gone straight away to meet Subaru, but he was stopped by a memory. He had a vision of his real world self as a girl, and the truth became obvious. You have to understand that up until this point Tsukasa thought he was a guy (from how warped his mind was from Morganna's influence) and, as such, thought of his relationship with Subaru as a guy would. This is what kept him from leaving the cathedral, this is what brought him to tears. The thought that he could never be with Subaru the way he imagined. The thought that he now truly had no reason to want to return to reality.

Tsukasa ultimately brings himself to go meet Subaru at Net Slum to find out what her reaction would be. He goes there knowing that she would reject him, that she wouldn't want to see him IRL. He tells her the truth, and she shows no negative reaction. She still wants to see him. This brings a look of surprise to Tsukasa's face. If she meant that they'd just be friends, and if my theory about Tsukasa's way of thinking is correct, he'd probably have a slightly more negative reaction than the one dipicted.

And now I return to perception. And who better to know Tsukasa's feelings than his "mother" the omnipitent entity of pure evil Morganna. In the final episode she makes one last desperate effort to ruin Tsukasa. She appears to Tsukasa as Subaru and to Subaru as Tsukasa. Before I move forward, the fact that Tsukasa was so accepting of what M/Subaru was saying to him is due to the fact that he had earlier built up a resistance to whatever rejection he'd recieve. Anyway, M/Tsukasa tells Subaru a number of things. Among them he/she tells her that if they met on the outside Subaru would just be dissapointed, even offended. Why would Subaru be dissapointed and offended? Because that was what Morganna saw happening between them, hence she knew just what their relationship was. Morganna could never have imagined that Tsukasa being female IRL wouldn't change their relationship. It is a good bet that Tsukasa's identity IRL was Morganna's "ace in the hole," and here she uses it to the best of her ability.

Well, thats all I think I'll write for now. It may not be worthy of Harold Bloom, but I think I did fairly well. If you've read all this congradulations, respond with what you think. If not, I might post the Cliff Notes version later. And now auf wieder sehen.

[Fencedude]

*claps*

Everything I was thinking, articulated far better than I ever could have done.

[Sapphire]

I'm not denying it. Bleh.

I'm pointing out that the creators seemed to purposely leave this open to interpretation, and that there is just as much evidence one way as to another.

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> Heck in all the character relationship charts in my Japanese .hack books, the arrows between the two tend to have "rabu-rabu?" See the question mark? It's left open.</span>

Mariela *grumble can't a girl point something grumble*

[Kikuchiyo]

About what you said about Morganna, Morganna didn't know anything. All she knew was that Tsukasa was worried that Subaru wouldn't accept him if she knew he was really a girl. Obviously, Subaru did not care either way, so Morganna's attempt to crush Tsukasa's spirit failed. It doesn't say that Morganna could see what was going on between them; it says the opposite. Everyone thought Subaru might reject Tsukasa if he was a girl, but they were all wrong.

I know what you are saying, but all the points you brought up only show that Subaru cares greatly for Tsukasa. That's it. They don't indicate a romantic "girlfriend-girlfriend" relationship.

[Kikuchiyo]

[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
[ QUOTE ]
Kikuchiyo said:
[ QUOTE ]
Sapphire said:
[ QUOTE ]
AbeChinchilla said:
But...

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>If they weren't going to have a "sexual" relationship, why would Tsukasa bother giving Subaru the whole "What if I'm a girl" thing?</span>

[/ QUOTE ]

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> Because perhaps Tsukasa, fearing rejection once again, worried that Subaru only wanted one type of relationship and that being a girl would mess it up?</span>

Just an idea.

Mariela

[/ QUOTE ]Thank you, Sapphire. /images/graemlins/happy.gif That is exactly what I believe Tsukasa was thinking, but I forgot to say it in my previous post. I knew it was a point that would be argued. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I've always found this mass denial over the possibility of Tsukasa and Subaru actually having a physical relationship amusing.

[/ QUOTE ]I think it's amusing that almost every guy around here REALLY wants to believe they have a lesbian relationship. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I'm not saying that they are NOT romantically involved. What I'm trying to say is that we don't know for certain either way. Nobody does, except for maybe the creators of the show. I don't know how you could interpret that as denial. Haven't you read any of my other posts? I'm just saying that it is open to interpretation.

Funny, every time I talk about the subject of Tsukasa's gender, I get people telling me I am narrow-minded and in denial. All I do is try to talk about the several ways of interpreting it. What is up with that? I don't get it. I'm not in denial about anything.

[bakafoo]

[ QUOTE ]
Kikuchiyo said:I think it's amusing that almost every guy around here REALLY wants to believe they have a lesbian relationship. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

*** goes to a certain link. /images/graemlins/devil.gif /images/graemlins/devil.gif

B..b..but this doujin says so. /images/graemlins/stunned0.gif

Doujins are.. n-never wrong.., are- aren't they?! /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[ QUOTE ]

Funny, every time I talk about the subject of Tsukasa's gender, I get people telling me I am narrow-minded and in denial. All I do is try to talk about the several ways of interpreting it. What is up with that? I don't get it. I'm not in denial about anything.

[/ QUOTE ]

Y'know. It's all about conformity nowadays.. /images/graemlins/wink.gif IIRC, same thing happened with NGE's last episodes and "movies". "Movies", see? They're not real movies. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Kikuchiyo]

Ah, so the doujinshis are this evidence everyone is talking about, but don't want to admit they've seen! Thank you, bakaBANG-BANG! /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

And I know, I never take these discussions personally. I hope everybody else can say the same. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

You know, this is exactly what the creators of .hack//SIGN wanted all the fans to do. These discussions would probably make them very happy to know the show is good enough to talk about like this. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[Kikuchiyo]

Sorry if my other reply seemed rude, Andre Linoge. I understand your points. I'm not saying I'm the only one who is right, I'm just bringing up a different point of view. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[Jolson]

[ QUOTE ]
Kikuchiyo said:
About what you said about Morganna, Morganna didn't know anything. All she knew was that Tsukasa was worried that Subaru wouldn't accept him if she knew he was really a girl. Obviously, Subaru did not care either way, so Morganna's attempt to crush Tsukasa's spirit failed. It doesn't say that Morganna could see what was going on between them; it says the opposite. Everyone thought Subaru might reject Tsukasa if he was a girl, but they were all wrong.

I know what you are saying, but all the points you brought up only show that Subaru cares greatly for Tsukasa. That's it. They don't indicate a romantic "girlfriend-girlfriend" relationship.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd think it a bold statement to say that Morganna knew nothing. However, you do bring up a good point. Whether or not Morganna had knowledge of other players beside Tsukasa. Obviously she knew Tsukasa very well. She clearly had a knowledge of what he was feeling, thus she knew what buttons to push and when to push them. All this made it easy for her to manipulate him. There is one small scene where her knowledge of the characters (Subaru in particular) does seem to extend beyond what is readily visible within the game. In the last episode while Subaru is speaking with M/Tsukasa, he/she makes mention in the conversation of "unexpected accidents" or something to that effect. This statement (which is in both the English and Japanese scripts) gets a small but very clear reaction out of Subaru, who was earlier revealed to be handicapped. In that sense, it is a very good assumption that Morganna was making a direct reference to the circumstances which lead to Subaru's condition.

Now, in regards to how all my points simply "show that Subaru cares greatly for Tsukasa," I believed I was writing more than that. In understand that some of my points could be construed in that fashion, I felt that some worked with entirely different factors of the story. One of my favorite points is also the simplest, that without the knowledge of Tsukasa's real world identity it was very easy to believe that the two were in love simply based on the way they behaved together. In all honesty, how can anyone witness the emotional intensity between the two during that closing scene where they are running towards eachother, Subaru crying out of sheer happiness, and think that there isn't any love shared between them. I would love for someone to tell me how that sequence showed how they were just "good friends."

[ QUOTE ]
Kikuchiyo said:
Sorry if my other reply seemed rude, Andre Linoge. I understand your points. I'm not saying I'm the only one who is right, I'm just bringing up a different point of view. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Nor do I believe that I am the only one who is right. I agree with the idea that the creators of .hack//SIGN left a lot of the story up to interpretation, in a way providing the viewer with the pieces to the puzzle and requiring them to put it together to see the bigger picture. One of the things I appreciate the most about this series is how thoughtful it can be from time to time. In any event I thank you for your criticism.

[Kikuchiyo]

[ QUOTE ]
Andre Linoge said:I'd think it a bold statement to say that Morganna knew nothing.


************************************************** ********

Now, in regards to how all my points simply "show that Subaru cares greatly for Tsukasa," I believed I was writing more than that. In understand that some of my points could be construed in that fashion, I felt that some worked with entirely different factors of the story. One of my favorite points is also the simplest, that without the knowledge of Tsukasa's real world identity it was very easy to believe that the two were in love simply based on the way they behaved together. In all honesty, how can anyone witness the emotional intensity between the two during that closing scene where they are running towards eachother, Subaru crying out of sheer happiness, and think that there isn't any love shared between them. I would love for someone to tell me how that sequence showed how they were just "good friends."

[/ QUOTE ](I had to cut some of your post to show which parts I'm talking about)

You're right, I said that wrong. Morganna obviously knows more than she let on.

About the "good friends" part, I know you brought up many different points. I know they are more than just normal friends. Subaru essentially saved Tsukasa's life by giving him something to live for and something to return to in the real world. I completely agree that their bond is way beyond casual friends. But that doesn't say they are now lovers.

[Jolson]

[ QUOTE ]
Kikuchiyo said:
(I had to cut some of your post to show which parts I'm talking about)

You're right, I said that wrong. Morganna obviously knows more than she let on.

About the "good friends" part, I know you brought up many different points. I know they are more than just normal friends. Subaru essentially saved Tsukasa's life by giving him something to live for and something to return to in the real world. I completely agree that their bond is way beyond casual friends. But that doesn't say they are now lovers.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, in regards to the argument as to whether or not they are lovers, the series provides no hard indisputable evidence to prove that. However, the television series is not the only source from within the entire story of .hack that can provide evidence. .hack has branched off into many different modes of entertainment. From manga to games all the way up to novels. At some point over the past year a novel (which was an official continuation of the story started by SIGN) was released in Japan. This is a point that I have heard far too many times from far too many sources to simply believe it false. Apparently the book contains a section that deals with what became of Tsukasa and Subaru after the end of the series. Within the text the reader finds Subaru making reference to their meetings as "dates" or "tristes" and makes reference to a scene between the two in which Tsukasa rests her head on Subaru's lap while she gently strokes her hair. I have even found either Japanese fanart or actual illustrations from the novel that support the existence of such a scene, among others. As to when this novel will be released in English, it should be noted that Tokyopop (the company that sells the .hack manga) has recently announced their intentions to start selling translated novels.

[The_Mahou]

I'd like to be able to find and pick up the .hack novels one of these days, just to see if the points you're raising about the Tsukasa/Subaru relationship in ZERO are true for myself instead of simple hearsay. Hopefully, I can find the novels somewhere or TokyoPop decides to liscense them someday.

[Kikuchiyo]

[ QUOTE ]
Andre Linoge said:Well, in regards to the argument as to whether or not they are lovers, the series provides no hard indisputable evidence to prove that. However, the television series is not the only source from within the entire story of .hack that can provide evidence. .hack has branched off into many different modes of entertainment. From manga to games all the way up to novels. At some point over the past year a novel (which was an official continuation of the story started by SIGN) was released in Japan. This is a point that I have heard far too many times from far too many sources to simply believe it false. Apparently the book contains a section that deals with what became of Tsukasa and Subaru after the end of the series. Within the text the reader finds Subaru making reference to their meetings as "dates" or "tristes" and makes reference to a scene between the two in which Tsukasa rests her head on Subaru's lap while she gently strokes her hair. I have even found either Japanese fanart or actual illustrations from the novel that support the existence of such a scene, among others. As to when this novel will be released in English, it should be noted that Tokyopop (the company that sells the .hack manga) has recently announced their intentions to start selling translated novels.

[/ QUOTE ]Yeah, that was the point I was trying to make all along. If you just base your opinion on the anime, there is no evidence to prove exactly what kind of relationship Subaru and Tsukasa have in the real world. Like Sapphire said above, the evidence can go either way. One can only make assumptions since there are many ways to interpret it.

When it comes to the novels, I will hold off any opinion on those until I actually read them for myself. But from what everybody says about the novels, it does seem that the creators are sort of teasing, and not actually giving much away, but showing enough to cause speculation. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[Fencedude]

And I again point out that if Tsukasa were a guy we would not be having this conversation.

[Kikuchiyo]

[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
And I again point out that if Tsukasa were a guy we would not be having this conversation.

[/ QUOTE ]If Tsukasa were a guy, .hack//SIGN would have been a different cartoon. Even if he were a guy in the real world, I still don't see any definite reason to say they would have a sexual relationship. I for one think it is very possible to deeply love a person of the opposite sex and not have any sexual desire for that person. But hey, that's just me. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

Anyway, I do know what you mean. Who knows, maybe you're right. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[sbarrett321]

Because many of you seem to have access to backstory knowledge (or at least have had lots of time to pour over any clues there might be), did we ever find out exactly what job Bear has in the anime?

Thanks! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[Kikuchiyo]

[ QUOTE ]
StereoChemistry said:
Because many of you seem to have access to backstory knowledge (or at least have had lots of time to pour over any clues there might be), did we ever find out exactly what job Bear has in the anime?

Thanks! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]I think he is a writer. But I forgot where I read that. /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif

[PatrickD]

[ QUOTE ]
StereoChemistry said:
Because many of you seem to have access to backstory knowledge (or at least have had lots of time to pour over any clues there might be), did we ever find out exactly what job Bear has in the anime?

[/ QUOTE ]

They practically tell you in Unison.

[Jigen_Daisuke]

[ QUOTE ]
StereoChemistry said:
Because many of you seem to have access to backstory knowledge (or at least have had lots of time to pour over any clues there might be), did we ever find out exactly what job Bear has in the anime?

Thanks! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

He's a <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>novelist.</span>

[Nosredna]

I voted positivie for both questions. I liked the games a lot more than the series, but the serious was good too. I can't wait for Legend of Twilight.

[sbarrett321]

[ QUOTE ]
ArseneLupinIII said:
[ QUOTE ]
StereoChemistry said:
Because many of you seem to have access to backstory knowledge (or at least have had lots of time to pour over any clues there might be), did we ever find out exactly what job Bear has in the anime?

Thanks! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

He's a <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>novelist.</span>

[/ QUOTE ]

That's it? Well, I had figured that out, but the way Crim and him talk later, I thought it was something more specific.

Thanks for the replys everyone. Just didn't want to miss any details if there were any. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[Harls]

[ QUOTE ]
StereoChemistry said:

That's it? Well, I had figured that out, but the way Crim and him talk later, I thought it was something more specific.

[/ QUOTE ]
It is. /images/graemlins/devil.gif

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Bear's the author of Crim's favorite novel. </span>

[UsadaHikaru]

Well the final few episodes left me shocked, crying, and very happiness. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

I now see why they released the first game while the series was still running. It's a very twisted reason but I'm not complaining!

Now I must scurry through Outbreak &amp; Quarantine in time for Twilight!

By the way is there anything after Twilight? I can't dig up any info on another tv series or set of games. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif Please don't let it all be over so soon! /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

Oh and I say the two cuties hooked up romantically and I'm a girl so...nyah! /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[Kikuchiyo]

[ QUOTE ]
Rabi~en~Rose said:
Well the final few episodes left me shocked, crying, and very happiness. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

I now see why they released the first game while the series was still running. It's a very twisted reason but I'm not complaining!

Now I must scurry through Outbreak &amp; Quarantine in time for Twilight!

By the way is there anything after Twilight? I can't dig up any info on another tv series or set of games. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif Please don't let it all be over so soon! /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
I never heard of another series of games or anime after Twilight, unfortunately. /images/graemlins/sad.gif

[ QUOTE ]

Oh and I say the two cuties hooked up romantically and I'm a girl so...nyah! /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[/ QUOTE ] /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[goughs]

[ QUOTE ]
Kikuchiyo said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rabi~en~Rose said:
Well the final few episodes left me shocked, crying, and very happiness. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

I now see why they released the first game while the series was still running. It's a very twisted reason but I'm not complaining!

Now I must scurry through Outbreak &amp; Quarantine in time for Twilight!

By the way is there anything after Twilight? I can't dig up any info on another tv series or set of games. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif Please don't let it all be over so soon! /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
I never heard of another series of games or anime after Twilight, unfortunately. /images/graemlins/sad.gif

[ QUOTE ]

Oh and I say the two cuties hooked up romantically and I'm a girl so...nyah! /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[/ QUOTE ] /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, I believe there is supposed to be some sort of announcement at E3 this year. Hopefully, it is a new game.

Sean

[UsadaHikaru]

[ QUOTE ]
goughs said:
Actually, I believe there is supposed to be some sort of announcement at E3 this year. Hopefully, it is a new game.

Sean

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh good then maybe this years E3 won't be another dud. Come to think of it from Mutation on all the response cards that came with the games asked if you'd play an online version of the games....... /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[CrazyCelt_home]

[ QUOTE ]
Rabi~en~Rose said:
Come to think of it from Mutation on all the response cards that came with the games asked if you'd play an online version of the games....... /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Something to look forward to at lest, eh? /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[crimsonmanticore]

Yeah, rumor has it there is a new game series in development. I think it would be a very good idea, even if I can't find the first Liminality game in stores for some odd reason. Did Bandai recall it so they could reprice it (or them all?)

[crimsonmanticore]

OOH!! That WOULD rock. Only put it for the PC too! ^_^ Although I could just as easily get a Broadband adapter for my PS2 as well. But at lease PLEASE consider the PC if you do it this way! ^_^

[The_Mahou]

An MMORPG in the same vein of "The World" would be ideal. I really don't know anything else they could do with the story after all three series. Maybe animate the novels?

Who knows? /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[crimsonmanticore]

That too would be a very cool idea. Yeah, make a game based solely on the mangas and possibly the books. That would make everything a lot easier to understand.

[AbeChinchilla]

[ QUOTE ]
crimsonmanticore said:
even if I can't find the first Liminality game in stores for some odd reason. Did Bandai recall it so they could reprice it (or them all?)

[/ QUOTE ]

At a price of only $20, I'm sure people already went and raided any stores you've gone too. The discs are the same, the retailers just reprice it once they get the news.

[crimsonmanticore]

Figures... Well, its off to the net I go then... Oh and is it all 4 or just 1-3 or just Part 1?

[AbeChinchilla]

[ QUOTE ]
crimsonmanticore said:
Figures... Well, its off to the net I go then... Oh and is it all 4 or just 1-3 or just Part 1?

[/ QUOTE ]

Part 1 -&gt; $20 (I think this is the cheapest it'll get)
Part 2 -&gt; $30 ($20 soon, perhaps)
Part 3 -&gt; $30 ($20 a few months after part 2, maybe)
Part 4 -&gt; $50 ($30 soon, I'm sure...)

http://www.dothack.com will keep up on the updates. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[crimsonmanticore]

Okay. Thanks! ^_^

[The_Mahou]

All the gaming stores I've been to have at least one copy of each game, so I'm somewhat surprised that it may be hard to find.

Then again, Infection has been out for over a year now.

[sbarrett321]

[ QUOTE ]
Harls said:
[ QUOTE ]
StereoChemistry said:

That's it? Well, I had figured that out, but the way Crim and him talk later, I thought it was something more specific.

[/ QUOTE ]
It is. /images/graemlins/devil.gif

<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Bear's the author of Crim's favorite novel. </span>

[/ QUOTE ]

AH! Thank you, that WAS the other piece to the puzzle. Reading that jogged my memory on that conversation. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[MalrocK]

I finally got around to watching the last volume this past weekend and I thought it was good stuff /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif I voted Positive for both the disc and series. I enjoyed it a lot.

[O-chan]

[ QUOTE ]
Malrock said:
I finally got around to watching the last volume this past weekend and I thought it was good stuff /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif I voted Positive for both the disc and series. I enjoyed it a lot.

[/ QUOTE ]

Eventually I plan to go back and buy the remainder of the DVDs (I only bought disc 6 because of the Omake episodes). Once I start working again it's on to the games. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

O-chan

[Nuriko]

I just finished the series and am confused.

1. What happened to Sora at the end of episode 25? He couldn't escape and then they show in the real life that a 4th grader fainted? I thought it was Sora who got sucked into the world to replace Tsukasa. I may be totally off base since I'm confused, lol

2. What is the relationship between Tsukasa, the evil voice (whom I just found out is his mother after reading this entire thread), Aura, and Mach (the cat face character)? If the evil voice is his mom, then the upside down guy is Tsukasa's father? Then wouldn't Aura be Tsukasa, with Aura being just the body, and Tsukasa being the conscience/soul?

3. The ending again, I guess they won the final battle without showing it since they all re-appear in the extra episode "Unison?"

Overall, I love this series. The debate over the relationship between Subara and Tsukasa is very interesting and will definitely provide re-watch value after I read this thread. I love every scenery they used and the music rocks!

[Kikuchiyo]

[ QUOTE ]
Nuriko said:
I just finished the series and am confused.

1. What happened to Sora at the end of episode 25? He couldn't escape and then they show in the real life that a 4th grader fainted? I thought it was Sora who got sucked into the world to replace Tsukasa. I may be totally off base since I'm confused, lol

2. What is the relationship between Tsukasa, the evil voice (whom I just found out is his mother after reading this entire thread), Aura, and Mach (the cat face character)? If the evil voice is his mom, then the upside down guy is Tsukasa's father? Then wouldn't Aura be Tsukasa, with Aura being just the body, and Tsukasa being the conscience/soul?

3. The ending again, I guess they won the final battle without showing it since they all re-appear in the extra episode "Unison?"

Overall, I love this series. The debate over the relationship between Subara and Tsukasa is very interesting and will definitely provide re-watch value after I read this thread. I love every scenery they used and the music rocks!

[/ QUOTE ]Before I start, here is a good site to check out for some info: http://home.austin.rr.com/tsote/dothack/dothack_TV.html I use it when I get confused about the story. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

I'll try my best to answer your questions. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

What happened to Sora: Sora is now stuck in The World, just as Tsukasa was. The 4th grader who fell to the floor is Sora in the real world. When Morganna trapped him in The World, he fell into a coma just as Tsukasa did.

Morganna is not Tsukasa's mother. Tsukasa's mother died before Morganna trapped him in The World, and I don't believe she appears in the series in any way. Morganna took advantage of Tsukasa's sorrow over his mother's death by acting as his protector.

The upside-down guy is the creator of The World, Harold Hoerwick. He is Aura's "father", and has no biological relation to Tsukasa.

Morganna used Tsukasa's despair to keep Aura from awakening. But when Tsukasa breaks free of Morganna's control, he awakens Aura.

Tsukasa had a very strong link with Aura, since his negative thoughts were being used by Morganna to keep her asleep. But when Tsukasa became strong and broke free from Morganna's control, Aura also had those positive feelings and strength, and she also broke free from Morganna's control.

Maha(the cat person) was created by Morganna, and only exists in The World. Maha did all the work for Morganna, like communicating with Tsukasa and controlling the dumb-bell guardian.

As for the ending, I think it is safe to say they won the final battle. I'm sure the games show it in detail, but I haven't played them yet. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

I hope this helps. If someone can find any mistakes in what I wrote, please feel free to correct me. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[absinthe]

Pardon if someone else mentioned this... but does the Broken Man sit on a tongue? It sure looks like one... /images/graemlins/knowital.gif freaky!

[Kikuchiyo]

[ QUOTE ]
absinthe said:
Pardon if someone else mentioned this... but does the Broken Man sit on a tongue? It sure looks like one... /images/graemlins/knowital.gif freaky!

[/ QUOTE ]I don't know what he is sitting on, but it sure look strange. I get the impression I see hands holding him down, so it probably just represents how he cannot leave that area. Or maybe it is a trap Morganna stuck him in to prevent him from contacting players in The World.

[Fyuula]

Hmm, yes, there are hands holding him down. But the overall "chair" that he is sitting on is in the form of a person, you can see her head, hands, and knees.

[Kikuchiyo]

[ QUOTE ]
Fyuula said:
Hmm, yes, there are hands holding him down. But the overall "chair" that he is sitting on is in the form of a person, you can see her head, hands, and knees.

[/ QUOTE ]Oh okay, I didn't notice that. Very strange. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[Nuriko]

Thanks for the clarificaton and the link.

[Shiroi Hane]

[ QUOTE ]
Kikuchiyo said:
Maha(the cat person) was created by Morganna, and only exists in The World. Maha did all the work for Morganna, like communicating with Tsukasa and controlling the dumb-bell guardian.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think it's more accurate to say Maha was created by Harold, but was being controlled/used by Morganna.

[Kikuchiyo]

[ QUOTE ]
Shiroi Hane said:
[ QUOTE ]
Kikuchiyo said:
Maha(the cat person) was created by Morganna, and only exists in The World. Maha did all the work for Morganna, like communicating with Tsukasa and controlling the dumb-bell guardian.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think it's more accurate to say Maha was created by Harold, but was being controlled/used by Morganna.

[/ QUOTE ]That would make sense. Thanks for clarifying it. /images/graemlins/happy.gif