.hack: The Legend Of The Twilight - Manga Review

".hack: The Legend Of The Twilight" tells the story of two players taking on the rare character figures of two characters (from an earlier novel/manga) who took on a quest that affected elements in the outside world. Like a more social networking version of "Tron" with a bit of Zelda mixed in, the story angle points to the fact that more people than not are starting to live out their lives online. This big edition covers the aspect of the full 3 volumes.Volume One follows the aspect of Rena who has been playing in the world for a while bringing her twin brother Shugo in to play this online game which is administrated by the CC Corp. They are given the avatars of very rare characters which down the line have the aility to serve them well. During an early battle, Shugo's character in the game is killed and is brought back to life by Aura who is almost like the Blue Fairy. She gives him a bracelet that makes him powerful although he doesn't know how to use it. Shugo is always looking at other girls despite being overprotective of his sister. They have to fight a couple monsters to up their experience points. They run into a wolf character (Ouva) whom Shugo loves but she turns out to be a hot girl thus he gets embarassed. Ultimately Shugo gets on the radar of one of the administrators which can't bode well since his play aspects are becoming more and more suspect. He wins a race to save his sister which is more of a play than anything with more adventure yet to come.Volume Two has Shugo logging off but then coming back in to up his experience points. They have a straggler along with in the form of Mirielle who is just looking for for rare items to pick up. While they are in a village, this character actually lets some information go which finds its way back into the mind of the corporation. In the meantime, Shugo comes across a rogue AI which is a bug in the system who thinks Shugo is connected to her mother. This character Aura resurrected Shugo in Volume 1. Shugo feels a bit responsible for her and stays online to make sure she is alright. Just as they are about to up to more experience points, they are cornered by a member of the knight brigade who believes that have been operating illegally. Shugo had injured a braggart competitor earlier in Volume One that is now bringing his vengaence to bear. Shugo, Rena and the Rogue AI are left to fend for themselves.Volume Three responds to the quest about the friends not giving up on each other. Balmung, who was previously an administrator within CC Corp, was involved on the first Dot Hack incident some years ago. He has been watching over and protecting this group in essence so they can achieve their goal of finding Aura. Shugo faces off against another system boss who wants him to back down. He stands up to her wanting to see the quest through to the end. The reality is that these rare characters cannot be deleted and no matter what the corporation does, they cannot stop them. The only place that they will be safe however is within the Net Slums where hackers hang out and devise ways around the world.The admins are able to realize that the bracelet that Shugo possesses is indeed not illegal but instead simply an artifact outside The World. Shugo faces off against Balmung who defends the honor of Aura who is ultimately the creator AI of the universe . Shugo has to use the power of his friends to strike a blow to Balsung through cleverness and not brute strength. It is a matter of will. They eventually beat the system but only three of them can pass through since it is an older build. Inside all the data seems to be incomplete. Their off set vagrant AI finds her mother Aura and completes the quest which was simply a test pattern the creator was trying out.The resolution is a happy ending but not necessary true within the world despite its optimism. The epilogue comics speak both to "Kite", Shugo's predecessor, as well as Balmung in terms of their ability to maintain the spirit and element of The World. "Legend Of The Twilight" speaks to the essence of friendship and the reality of what is necessary in order to complete goals without compromising the ideals set forth. That is the key to good manga and also universal storytelling.