Welcome to The World, the most advanced online game ever created. In The World, you can be anyone you want to be, act out your adventure fantasies, and through teamwork and determination, you can even become a hero. Fourteen-year-old twins Shuugo and Rena have just won a contest that allows them to play as the legendary avatars 'Kite' and 'Black Rose.' Armed with the power of the Twilight Bracelet, the two must uncover what is causing rogue monsters to infect The World and carry on the legacy of the .hackers.
.hack//Tasogare no Udewa Densetsu was published in English as .hack//Legend of the Twilight by Tokyopop from September 9, 2003, to November 9, 2004, and later as a complete omnibus in December 2009. It was also published in Polish by Japonica Polonica Fantastica in 2005 and in Brazilian Portuguese by Editora JBC from August 2006 to February 2007.
This was, overall, a rather enjoyable read. It managed to be humorous at all the appropriate moments without becoming overly cheesy.
The weakest aspect is likely its plot. It's quite vague and lacks clear objectives. Additionally, it makes frequent references to earlier entries in the .hack franchise, which can lead to some confusion if you haven't watched .hack//SIGN or played the games. The ending felt weak and left me with a slight sense of dissatisfaction. However, there are intriguing mysteries and interesting twists that keep things engaging. Then again, ambiguous and ongoing plots are typical of MMORPGs.
The characters are fantastic. The artwork is stunning, and as expected from .hack, the character designs are unique, memorable, and enjoyable. Each character has an interesting personality, and there's substantial development in the protagonist. Another standout character is Kamui, who really grows on you. It's fun trying to guess what the characters' real-life counterparts are like.
Legend of the Twilight delivers all the enjoyment of MMORPGs in manga form. You can get so engrossed that you feel like you're the one playing The World (and if they ever make a game like this, I'm buying it). While it may be a bit short, I believe the length suits the story well. Every cent I spent on it was worth it.
.hack//Legend of the Twilight, in its manga form, stands out as one of the most remarkable mangas I've come across in ages! Having experienced both the anime and manga versions, I can offer a comparative perspective.
Initially, the manga closely follows the storyline of the anime. However, after Volume 1, it starts to carve its own path, unfolding an incredible narrative. The plot is nothing short of amazing, and while I won't divulge specifics, it's absolutely worth exploring, particularly for fans dedicated to the .hack series.
The character designs and artwork are simply stunning. There are instances where the art takes on a comical tone, especially during those pixelated moments, adding both clarity and humor to the scenes. Character development is another strong point, with key figures demonstrating significant growth throughout the three volumes.
My only complaint is that the manga feels relatively short. Beyond that minor issue, it's truly amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
A lot of people seem to enjoy this manga, but here are my honest thoughts:
Story:
Extremely dull. Not much happens; it's mainly about a group of friends trying to protect a little NPC that looks eerily like Aura. They go to various events and hang around, attempting to solve the mystery (but if you've watched SIGN or played the games, there's not much mystery here). The big revelation about the NPC is quite disappointing, in my view. It's just plain and unengaging. I had to force myself to finish the final volume.
Art:
It's cute, but that's about it. There's nothing particularly distinctive about it. It lacks personality. While it does its job adequately, it doesn't deserve any special praise in my opinion.
Characters:
Most characters are enjoyable to get to know. Each one has a distinct personality, and most readers will likely find someone they like. However, I found Zefie extremely annoying, Shugo rather dull, though the rest were entertaining. Ouka was especially fun when she wasn't hitting on Shugo. The obsession most female characters had with Shugo was also irritating. Even his sister had a crush on him (how original!). I was very disappointed that .hack turned into a harem-like manga. The franchise deserves better.
Conclusion:
If you're a fan of the .hack franchise, you might enjoy this manga as well. But that's not always the case. I enjoyed SIGN, but I found this manga boring and lackluster. The story wasn't as gripping as SIGN, and the main characters (Shugo, Zefie, Rena) felt very shallow. Zefie's selfish attitude drove me crazy. This manga seemed more like a harem romance than an adventure, which is disappointing given how excellent the other .hack properties have been. I can only recommend this to those who enjoy slow-paced slice-of-life manga and/or harem romances.
I truly had a fantastic time reading this manga. Its plot is innovative, filled with numerous twists and turns that keep you thoroughly engaged. The characters are relatable, and there are plenty of humorous moments that bring smiles :) I was particularly impressed by the artwork, especially the costume designs for 'Black Rose' and 'Kite,' which are both vibrant and distinctive.
Admittedly, the plot could be a bit perplexing at times, but it became clearer as the story progressed, culminating in a satisfying ending. This manga is funny, original, and absolutely worth your time!
Although I haven't watched the anime yet, it's definitely on my to-watch list soon :)