.hack//Link -RIVES- RE: CONNECT

.hack//Link -RIVES- RE: CONNECT is a remake version and game adaptation to the first chapter of the story, also an anime series .hack//Link -RIVES- as the story would be covering from the first to fourth/final season along with OVA Series and Three Movie series which is also now been adapted into the game.

It is available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, which is not just covering all stories of the anime, but also featuring an additional contents, like a new story arcs which were never even adapted into the anime series along with new experience and feels to enjoy for adventures in The World R:X and also a brand-new characters will appear as the story progress, along with brand-new Akira's story and his perspective which now fully re-emerge in RE: CONNECT story.

As the downloadable story mode content will includes a brand-new scenarios, .hack//Link -RIVES- RE: CONNECT 'The Lost Saga' as it is a prequel stories to Davis and set after the Third Network Crisis, but prior to the end service of The World R:2 and released of the new version The World R:X.

It is very recommended to play this game first before in order to understand the major spoilers that were told in .hack//Link -Chrono Link- and it also leads up to the upcoming titles sequel, .hack//Link -RISING GEAR-.

Synopsis
In the year of 2020 A.D. the most worldwide popular companies known as CyberConnect Corporation or known as CC Corp has released the next version of the biggest and massive popular MMORPG, The World R:X which began more trends worldwide, gained most recognition, and reached copies sells over 500.000, which aimed for younger to older audience as well which brought a new wide reach popularity reputation to the company.

The Tasogare Mugen's high school junior student, Tokio Kuryuu become known as Gaming Freak for his love hobbies for Games and the former No.1 Star Players of Blue Flame Devil Basketball and the high school junior student Akira Kuryuu who began to immersed their beginning adventure into The World R:X to fufilled their childhood's promise, something that could get away from real-life problem.

Journey starts as they begin their first experience as Newbie and going through their first trial by accepting The Night of the Glorious Treasure Quest, but sudden things happens with a mysterious PC with a mask known as ENTIES the hackers and PKK, brought the great distortion and terrible horrors in the online game which steers their enjoyment adventures, turn into a bloody hell, resulting people's mind not become coma, but actually died in the real world.

Along their journeys as they met with people along the way, together fighting ENTIES to prevent the massacre against players, while uncover the secret identity of ENTIES and learn unexpected phenomenon that happens between Online Game and Real World due to his existence."And thus, the journey of the boy name Tokio Kuryuu, begins!!"

RIVES

 * See Characters from .hack//Link -RIVES-.

Brand-new characters

 * Noct
 * Kanae
 * Falco
 * Elza
 * Elexa

Returning Legacy Characters

 * B.T.
 * Bear
 * Albeiro
 * Yata
 * Sieg (Female)
 * Saburou

Chrono Link Characters

 * Klarinette/Kumarinette
 * Flugel
 * Cello (Cameo)
 * Metronome (Cameo)
 * Orgel (Cameo)
 * Posaune (Cameo)
 * Trommel (Cameo)
 * Ninjato

Gameplay
RE: CONNECT will allows you to play a two characters Tokio and Akira which they had a different jobs, different playstyles and different perspectives during the main story.

The game system will be used based on the gameplays from The World R:X with an improvements balance and elements for free-roam town server, substories, exploration and combats, also the smartphone, from .hack//Link -Chrono Link- although it excluding the LINK Ability, Jikanet Shop, features, since it would be used a ordinary PC not an hacked or doubleware PC, which those experience will be used based major improvements from .hack//G.U. Last Recode.

There are brand-new features and implementation of the gameplay element system for The World R:X, such as:

Double Skill Trigger Connector
The Double Skill Trigger connecter can be used when you continuously attacking and strike against the enemies, which Tokio can landing the damages and pressing the Triangle Button to excecute the Double Skill Trigger Connector system, it so allows to brings a lands for a perfect hit strike with double time damages as it lead the enemies straggering through by the damages.

However, the skill trigger connector needs for set skills in an higher performance as how the combo styles of the skill needs to be fit for it's Double Skill Trigger uses. Player can upgraded and accessing the new abilities by levelling up it's Weapon Skills, although unlike in .hack//G.U. as how weapon levels and character levels are being standalone, as you need to use skill trigger continuously in order to levelling up Weapon levels, now the Weapon Level can now be gained through Experiences as well which depends on how EXP that you had gained.

Ultimate Rengeki
Ultimate Rengeki is a reworked version of the awakening system which allows party to combining their most powerful special attacks together, which delivering the massive damages against the enemies, and with a Quick-Time Sequence allows you to perfecting it's excecution for the Rengeki attack which completely with more damages that will delivered toward the enemies.

There are three types of the Ultimate Rengeki which can be used during the combat, such as Xros (which had 2 parties), Trinity (which had 3 parties), and Ultimate (which had 5 parties) as each of those three rengeki has very unique abilities and attacks in order to performing and excecuting the Rengeki system, and not just that, it also has a different heal abilities which also very useful toward the party during a combat and even the boss fight.

Five Party Members
Five Party Members is a brand-new features which exclusively added in The World R:X which allows you to add more than just three party for the exploration and combat, also allows you to granting more freedoms like Trading, Live-Talk Conversation, and Teamworks. Not just that, it also has a benefits for the exploration system like Search Party which you can scattering your parties for investigation through the areas, allows you to find a hidden room, treasures, and another unexplored areas.

It also benefitted use for the combat system, with an enemies growing in a big numbers allows you to defeat in easy ways with five-party members, the performance of the combat will be more increased in colossal ways, or maybe in smartest ways to do. Increasing the teamworks level will allows you to further strengthened the performance and Unison Bonds between Tokio with a Party Members.

Mecha Knuckle Grunties
The World R:X will also includes a brand-new powerful challenges during the exploration and combats with adds of Mecha Knuckle Grunties. As you exploring the areas and dungeons, you will unexpectedly or expectedly find a many types of Mecha Knuckle Grunties during areas exploration progress, and it would attacking you in many directions as you entering the combat mode.

The Metal Knuckle Grunties is the strong opponents, as much as like a boss fight which has an strongest metals, dynamics AI, and speed movements during combats that causing the confusion to look for it's weakness. Although there's a way to defeating them, by making an surprise attack or luring them so that party members can attack them behind for the weak spot as longs the tacticals goes very well.

Stealth System Abilities
Several new features which allows you to make more freedoms before the combat, by making surprise attack or just hiding by using Stealth System Abilities allows you to sneak within the enemies territory with a lot more choices in order to making a perfect performance and timing for the surprise attack or just escaping them without their notices in order to prevent any battles or risk being injured.

But it needs to be more careful within the steps because enemies are very sharp when it comes noticing or sensing their enemies around the areas, they can hear your steps and find out where those steps come from. It is best to be careful and take a few distances in order to prevent the enemies noticing you.

There are also a bunch a new strategies to come up before preparing for a combat or to escaping, like luring the enemies from the parties to their traps or just luring it when they almost get noticed, which allows more extended times to sneaking their enemies, but you need to find him again, but party can appear again as you proceed through the ares.

Warp Area Emergency
If some unknown phenomenons occurs or the enemies getting too strong, or even being surrounded, Warp Area Emergency allows Tokio and his party to escape immediately without need for time cost for escaping by pressing and hold R3+L3 which you will return to the teleport chaos point or even in a check point, but it cannot be used during boss fight or some story situation occurs.

It can also healing you and your party within 50% of it's recovery rates and you can be free to return exploring the areas or return to the server town. However, it can only be used in certain situation or in three times in row, so it needs to be more carefully to using those emergency in order to not ruin the experience and challenges during exploration.

Depth-Field & Dungeon Exploration
The exploration can go much deeper as you exploring the big areas and dungeons in so much different whole levels and discovering a whole new areas which never even seen before, in looks for thematical as according to the keyword area. But deeper you explored, more discovery that you can find and the possibilities that allows you to find a new hidden areas, anonymous areas and the lost grounds.

However, the deeper that you had explored brought a chance for the new types and strong monster to appear which you will entering the combat mode against them in the process, but it's actually depend on how level areas you had gone through or much easier or harder levels you had reached. But it also makes more benefitted for the brand-new experience for the exploration and a lot new discovery which only in The World R:X

Real World
Tokio can now exploring the real-world environment, but only in linear paths which makes you unable to go anywehere you want as you pleased. However, it adds more depths toward the areas and real-time discovery, as you can explore and talk around with the people and gaining information, or so you can eavesdropping their conversation at the same time.

There are a few mini-games to enjoy in Nakita's Arcade Shop which includes the exclusive contents like fighting 2D game, racing, and more as it is an old retro or new modern which can be playable only you can use the coins or cards. This real-world experience is benefitted for the story in Real World with Shoko Adashino.

You can also use your smartphone during in the real-world as well, as you can use Tweeter, HelloChat, Rediscord Forums, and Media.

Disappearance of Gord Arc
Few weeks after Chrono Key search, Tokio requested by a mysterious woman named B-Set who were Gord's acquaintance to finding him ever since he were disappeared for a few weeks. Although it unknown if there's any possibility that ENTIES or even Slayer could might kidnapping him, but all this remains unknown if there's any proves for the last time they saw Gord somewhere during their last mission.

They were looking for witnesses if there's a lead about Gord's wheredoubt, but no one could seems to find him, except, Elgo who keeping hidden for something and seems were connected with how he were missing, but much that he couldn't open his mouth due to how frightened he was, But Tokio was very sure if Gord's wheredoubt is somewhere beyond online game.

However, Akira sense unnatural and not normal within Elgo's testimonies and decide to follow him and find out to find the truth behind this strangeness.

Training Arc
Following the disappearance of Gord Arc, now that Tokio has returned to normal and boring day during online, while Akira's now been busy for his returning players for Basketball training causing him feeling alone without his brother at his side. Meanwhile he came down in lane memories, trying to remember the day first time he lost by playing game fight against High School Girl who surprisingly stronger than him.

He had undergone for a rematch with that girl for 10 times and lost at the same times in row, causing the first time to feel a shame of defeat, like the second time that he lost against Slayer. But one day after, he had suddenlt met with a mysterious mascot, Kumarinette, unknowingly if she's an mascot NPC or just PC, asking him to follow her if he's desire to become stronger.

Although Tokio got confused what is his deal, however, if he has any intention to help them, it could be possibly to help him improving his skill and playstyles.

Solo Investigation Arc
The night, at the tragedy of all night circuss, Geist was revealed to be the one who were cooperated with ENTIES and Slayer by the assignment from the CC Corp, although Davis and HanShi didn't aware about his existence and seems to be much surrounded by mystery whoseover, but unable to identify his identity because the company had prevent analyzing his data and this is much make Legion Unity become sheep steps for the death turning.

But since the death Yuna and Seraphora, HanShi has a fear that CC Corp has known too much about them, but the question is that how did they got so much information and their secret organization. and even thought they already purge the traitors during the meeting last month, however, it doesn't seem this might gonna be over soon as long someone could entirely leaked the information.

HanShi assigned Akira in order to find out the leakers and they way how those information being now noticed by CC Corp. Akira however, still don't get what Geist really trying to do, there are some sort mystery that he still don't understand about his intent, but he know that something has much connected to all of this incident.

One another thing that HanShi request Davis to find the ENTIES's true identity and believing if there's possibility that Shoko Adashino and ENTIES are the same person, everything it's just theory, until...

The Mystery of The Records Arc
Following the death of Davis raising so much question regarding the secret project that he had encrypted, based on his hacking through the network file system from CC Corp that would lead him to open the two highly classified file project regarding the reason all this events exist, the first is the project operation files known as RIVES, or known as Road Immediate Virus Extermination System and the second project is a Akashic Records which seems feeling tricky name for the project files, but some part of the second one is still left unencrypted.

In order to combines those pieces of puzzles together by encrypting the vital part of the second project, they need to meet up with Pi for helping to solving the last missing puzzle at the Hidden Forbidden Administration. This is highly aware by the higher up of CC Corp and mend to stop them in order to prevent their plans being exposed, they originally want to sent Geist to stop them.

But instead, they sent ENTIES...

Unison Bond: Shoko
Tokio always thought the real world is boring, cruel and unfair, but Akira felt normal when it comes in the real world, even thought some of their opinions might get same and different at the same time.

Following the Night of the Glorious Treasure Quest Event as Tokio went home from the arcade shop, but suddenly found a girl in glasses name Shoko Adashino whose getting beaten up by her classmate and decide to stop them, but instead getting beaten by boys too, but it ended up saving her life. Although she now being freed from getting bullied at least for temporary time, her state mental and condition is getting worse, feeling she didn't had a friend from her school and feeling insecured along with her shyness that made her didn't make a friend.

And thus this is the first time how Tokio become Shoko's first best friend ever, that's the first fresh start that she could find happiness as their friendship continue.

''Tokio relationship with Shoko will be much more expanded from the anime series, continuously grow through special Unison Bond which you will spend time together with her through days and ordeal, learning more things about their hobby as a gamer together, including her friendship with Akira. The story progressing through Shoko's development and how she improved as her own character as it progress through.''

''And at the second half of her unison bond, you can brought her into the online game The World R:X and become party member. As maximize her Unison Bond before ENTIES Rising Arc, you will earn a several brand-new cutscenes which given shown a depth to her character in much unexpected ways, and learn more about her very deeply.''

Changes and Features
Major Spoilers from Chrono Link!!!

Story
The quality of the main story narratives, including emotional weight has been increased and improved from TV anime stories. With all the stories arc of RIVES in anime, including, original video animation and three-movies receives much more in-depth story plot, continuously increasing through it's superiority for the story quality and drama, along with increased of the weight humor and dark atmosphere.


 * There are changes and improvement toward stories arc, movies and OVA from the anime series, such as:
 * The blood graphic has been increased and can now be able to feel the sense of horror as it progress.
 * The character qualities written and narratives had been increased and given much deeper sense to multi-dimensional character since it's shows the story will be much neither side of light and dark, but gray.
 * Legion Unity lores had sightly expand as their origins can now be explored and how it connected to the continuation organization guild from the Moon Tree and much more, for example, with how Zelkova was used to be a founder of that guild before he entrusted the guilds to HanShi, before the end of The World R:2 service.
 * Geist characterization story is much improved a bit, not as a nemesis, but as an AI who only purpose to fulfilled his master wish, showing how his goal and intention are lead up to Chrono Link story.
 * It further improved and extended in Grand United Festival Arc and The Tragedy in the Circuss All-Night which the dark tone for plot-twist and revelation will be increased in emotional horror sense.
 * The Welcome to the World and The Night of the Glorious Treasure story qualities level has been increased, along with several characters from future story arc appeared as a cameo which hinting they would meet each other. There are also some new changes, such as:
 * The quality expression of the characters improved much, which brought a greater sense toward deep characterization.
 * Additional dialogues, which for example, X7 mentioned about Legion Unity.
 * Tokio and Akira's first walk in The World R:X and explore the mac anu has been extended within story cutscenes and dialogues.
 * Tutorial story might had some significant changes and little bit extended to fith with game experience, also allows to learn more depth lore about The World R:X.
 * ENTIES first entry and slaughtering the players will be emotionally pain increased, and the sense of horror will be able to feel it.
 * ENTIES's POV will somehow connected to the .hack//Link -RISING GEAR- The Calamity of the White Flower
 * Limited Exploration Mission story arc has been improved along with a brand-new dialogues and explore in-depth Ju21 character, includes his backstories which were never even presented in anime story. Also tied-up the story with The Key of the Chrono Arc.
 * Cooperated Mission story arc has been expanded with numerous new battles, Seraphora's increased characterization, and more expand background stories focusing on Kyushu which explains how she join with Raven in order to find his brother and how those it developed her as a character.
 * The death of Seraphora will be inducing, but also very much impactful to Kyushu than in anime.
 * The Prophecy Arc story arc will extending the story with brought a few tied-up to Chrono Link and RISING GEAR, as well as how it shows depth relationship between Yukio and Yuna which it leads up dramatic direction of Yukio's decision to join Schicksal and become Metronnome.
 * The Arena Tournament story arc has been expanded, which now can be according to the arena ranking which you can progress the story as you increase the rank. There are also a new change and updated, such as:
 * ENTIES slaughtering the players, including Kyon and Gemomaki in tournament will be more intensifies and horrific, which also creating horror and despair expression within Tokio's face.
 * As Tokio awakening Yellow Eyes, which also additionally allows him to controlling and manipulating gravitication and time very unintentionally due to trauma he had felt.
 * ENTIES Rising Arc story has quietly improved a bit, but the betrayals will be getting more impactful, and hurt, although there's additional story cutscenes which allows captured light-hearted feelings within the characters before the disaster and betrayal happens. It also shed some deep connection with Chrono Link, for most notable are:
 * As it explains above, you need to maximize the Bond of Unison for Shoko in order to unlocked several additional cutscenes.
 * As spending night at the field areas between Ayaka (Shoko Adashino) and Tokio, as she now unable to hide her appearance as she untie her glasses, and showing her true appearance which revealed to be one of the main characters in Chrono Link, Saika Koshizumi or Saika Amagi.
 * You need to transfering the save clear data from Chrono Link in order to unlocked those scenes. or else it would be a plot hole.
 * The Fall of the Red Dead Guild story arc has been expanded which is the most anticipated storytelling that brought directly tied to Chrono Link and previous .hack main titles. There are several new story cutscenes and new changes with improvements, such as:
 * The story arc will had tied with .hack//Link -RIVES- RE:CONNECT "Lost Saga".
 * The way how Davis explaining the Twilight Knights and the upcoming war, which deliberately connected to Chrono Link, while scenes during explaining the story, will had scenes from previous .hack titles, including the main titles.
 * As the story continues through, which during Tokio along with his friend, rushing to where Kruger and Davis located, while fighting against the CC Corp anti-virus protection system entity, which where Davis continues told about Jyotaro Amagi, Aura, Akashic Records, and Real Digitalization.
 * The last scenes flashback before his dead, was how Davis 's first met with Jun Bansyoya as the one who he admired so much as a programmer along with his childhood friend, Kazumi and the first time met with Kruger.
 * The Unofficial Royal Battle has majorly expanded, with intensive final battle against Geist and ENTIES along with new emotional weight drama which brought a new sight of the climax battle.
 * The post-credit is the same as how it shows Saika Koshizumi transferring into Tokio and Akira's classroom, while the mid-credit shows the conversation between Davis and Daniel which concerning about Durga Fiida Sharma which revealed to be his adoptive child.
 * Akira's story perspectives allows you can play him during through story arc within his own point-of-view which given a deeper sense and reason with how you can freely switch between Tokio and Akira during a main story and shows a different POV during main story arcs.
 * The Way of the True Samurai story arc will also getting improved which shows more perspectives and growth development of his character, and also tutorial of how he can using katana. While exploring a deep multi-dimensional characters development within him.

Contents

 * The tournament can now be open in Omega Lumina Cloth as you can fight against a new and never-seen opponent as you raise your rank to the top. But not just that, the features like Royal Battle, 1 in 8 battle and more will be added to the arena as well.
 * Brand-new Quest events which were never even presented in Anime story will be added to the game, also adds new challenges and difficulties to that quest event.
 * Additional new Secret Lost Ground dungeon can be obtained after beating the game, such as:
 * Hidden Forbidden Memoria
 * Hidden Forbidden White Room
 * Hidden Forbidden Outer Sea
 * Hidden Forbidden Bulwark
 * Additional super bosses added to the game, such as:
 * Naobi
 * The Seven Deadly Sins
 * The Three Legion Unity Leader Data Boss
 * Ultimate ENTIES
 * Brand-new secret ending cutscenes added to the game, such as:
 * Final Phase of the Project
 * Davis's True Intention
 * 07032021

Downloadable Content Bonuses

 * Downloadable Story Mode Content
 * .hack//Link -RIVES- RE:CONNECT "The Lost Saga"
 * Bonuses DLC

.hack//Link -RIVES- RE: CONNECT Premium Edition BOX

 * Contents
 * .hack//Link -RIVES- RE: CONNECT (Base Game)
 * .hack//Link -RIVES- RE: CONNECT "Lost Saga" (DLC Story Mode)
 * Premium Edition Bonus
 * Music CD "RE: CONNECT Original Sountracks (Disc 1 & 2) + Archive Soundtracks + Best Songs of Link -RIVES- Anime"
 * Anime OAD ".hack//Link -RIVES- Davis Unknown Legacy" & ".hack//Link -RIVES- Legion Unity".
 * CD Drama ".hack//Link -RIVES- Secret Meetings".
 * Premium Booklet
 * .hack//Link -RIVES- RE: CONNECT Archives
 * Character information, design proposal, weapon design, and color variation from RE: CONNECT and The Lost Saga.
 * World view setting, Terminology, and Illustration of The World R:X.
 * Platform introduction and The World R:X Setting information detail.
 * Interview and Message Letter from Hiroshi Matsuyama, VAs, Kazunari Ito, Hiroto Niizoto, Megane Kikuya, and Seiichiro Hasokawa.
 * Original Story Novelization "The Origin of the Akira Kuryuu"
 * Focus on the backstories of Akira Kuryuu where he was created, and how he had suffered due to the Fire at CC Corp, until he met Tokio and being adopted into Kuryuu's Family.
 * There's some story connection that shed secret lights between .hack//G.U. Terminal Disc and .hack//Link -Chrono Link-.
 * It is tied up to .hack//Link -RISING GEAR- story.
 * Bonus Illustration
 * Poster key visuals of .hack//Link -RIVES- RE: CONNECT and .hack//Link -RIVES- RE: CONNECT "Lost Saga" drawn by Seiichiro Hasokawa.
 * Illustration key card for Tokio Kuryuu and Akira Kuryuu drawn by Megane Kikuya.

Sequel/Continuation
"See .hack//Link -Chrono Link-""See .hack//Link -RISING GEAR-"

Trivia

 * It is the first game that were being adapted from the anime series in .hack series titles, marking the first "game adaptation" to the .hack anime series.
 * It is also the first game in .hack series, where now you can play the two characters, Tokio Kuryuu and Akira Kuryuu.
 * According to the team developers, the secret ending of the game version of RIVES will be ultimately plot twist and majorly cliffhanger as it took the scene from RISING GEAR which shown white girl and Tokio laying on the ground with his face being messed up, which will be send for audience being more curious about his fate as those secret ending lead up to the third and final chapter.