When comparing .hack//G.U. Last Recode vs Grim Dawn, the Slant community recommends Grim Dawn for most people. In the question“What are the best Action RPG games on Steam?” Grim Dawn is ranked 1st while .hack//G.U. Last Recode is ranked 16th. The most important reason people chose Grim Dawn is:
Basically you choose 1 class and select skills as you level up. At level 10 you can select a second class, which already gives you 5x5=25 character type possibilities. Each character has dozens of skills, plus you have this additional passive skill tree that you unlock through cleansing shrines. Then there is item customization with crafted "modifiers", adding additional unique stats and skills that you can use, all this adds literally to thousands / millions of character possibilities. Do you want to use a double weapon shooting lightning bolts? You can do that. Do you want to summon your creatures and support them with fireballs? You can do that as well, you can push it wherever you want.
Specs
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Pros
Pro xz
Pro Lots of different approaches to combat
The hack-and-slash gameplay of the overworld combat evolves over time, with only a handful of abilities available at the start, with many more opening up organically as the game progresses. Haseo gains access to different weapon types over time, like dual blades, broadswords and scythes. He also learns many abilities that give him a degree of control over his enemies, where the correct timing with button presses allows him to stop an opponent's attack altogether.
In battle, as Haseo and his party deal special attacks, a gauge fills up over time, giving the option for powerful, flashy Awakening attacks that decimate the enemies on the field. These attacks can be used to quickly deal damage in a pinch or finish off a group of foes.
Pro Character interactions are true-to-life
Haseo's initial revenge story gains more layers as he meets the various characters throughout the game and interacts with them both through cutscenes and with the game's MMO-like social tools. There's a mail feature that offers ways for Haseo to interact with party members outside of battle, such as with characters sharing rumors of tidbits they read about online. There are also marriage events where Haseo can marry certain characters after showing enough interest in them. Getting to learn more about the characters this way is an intriguing addition to the game, mirroring the many different ways you might interact with people in real life.
Pro A compelling story played out in an MMORPG setting
The .hack// series is renowned for its plot that pits the player inside of an MMORPG called The World, going after nefarious foes who kill other player avatars, causing terrible side effects for the real people controlling them. Last Recode tells the revenge story of Haseo who hunts these player killers within The World, as well as how he grows along the way from a cold, uncaring warrior into a much more reliable protagonist over time. The added fourth volume also goes a long way to build upon the established plot within the MMO and its characters, concluding the story on a strong note that feels complete.
Pro Complex leveling system with thousands of possible builds
Basically you choose 1 class and select skills as you level up. At level 10 you can select a second class, which already gives you 5x5=25 character type possibilities.
Each character has dozens of skills, plus you have this additional passive skill tree that you unlock through cleansing shrines. Then there is item customization with crafted "modifiers", adding additional unique stats and skills that you can use, all this adds literally to thousands / millions of character possibilities.
Do you want to use a double weapon shooting lightning bolts? You can do that. Do you want to summon your creatures and support them with fireballs? You can do that as well, you can push it wherever you want.
Pro Great homage to old school ARPGs
This game is very dark, and grim. It harkens back to games like Diablo 2 or Titans Quest. While other ARPGs have come out since then, none have hit all the marks of what fans of the genre have been asking for. For those that wish for an updated version of Diablo 2, Grim Dawn is the game for them.
Pro Exploration
Pro Highly modifiable
Relevant in modern gaming because the community can keep products like this fresh and varied, even if the developers eventually decide to slow down their updates (which they have not!). The possibilities are great with modding, while the experiences in Diablo 3 and Path of exile are a lot more static.
Pro Drop-in co-op (online and local)
Co-op is pretty convenient as players can drop in and out of your gaming session at any time. This way there is no wasted time jumping out of ones game in order to find players to play with.
Cons
Con HD textures feel last-gen
The updated textures are a nice upgrade from the PlayStation 2 graphics, but some instances of visible polygons and rough edges overall can be distracting. This HD remaster wouldn't have looked out of place on the PlayStation 3.
Con Combat can get repetitive
With four games in one, the battle gameplay in Last Records doesn't change as the player progresses through each entry. There's some dissonance where the story progresses and grows over time, and yet the battles remain the same. Depending on the player, fights can either remain fun and engaging or they can become a slog throughout the 60+ hour campaign.
Con Only some builds are fun
There is a definite meta, with superefficient vs non-viable builds.
It's easy to mess up a build, and attribute and spec-bar points are non-respeccable (you can use a cheat editor, but devs want you to reroll a new char).
Con Difficult to move when fighting, especially when you are ranged
Con Static pre-rendered levels
This may cut down on replayability a bit as all the levels in the game are pre-rendered, meaning that each playthrough will have the exact same layout, making for something that can get tiring and too familiar. Similar games have gone with randomized levels, which can keep the game fresh. While Grim Dawn is meant to be a throwback to earlier games in the genre, some newer features found in more recent released would have been welcome.
Con Lots of trips to town
The majority of loot in the game can be useless, with odd stat restrictions or repeats of vendor items. This means the user will need to make many trips into town to sell it all off in order to have room for even more loot they will not necessarily need.