Berserk: 'Remastered' Box Set -- Images and Thoughts

Aion

Aion

Time-Traveller
Here are some scans of the newly released Berserk set. What made me bother was the urge to show how wonderful the artwork on each DVD is -- the best disc art I've ever seen.

Discs 1 & 2
Discs 3 & 4
Discs 5 & 6
Cover

Now, as you can probably see, the six discs are fitted in a standard sized DVD case. I never thought I'd live to see six discs fitted in a case so small but I have. Four of the discs go on the left and right sides of the case and the remaining two go on a piece of plastic that was fitted onto the spine of the case. The discs fit in nicely but it doesn't seem like much of a box set. At least the cover looks vastly superior to the cover of the old budget Berserk set...

My main complaint isn't with the cheap case, though -- it's with the video quality. On the back of the case it's pointed out that the series has been "beautifully remastered from film." This is confusing because there's little to no difference between the video quality on the old Berserk DVDs and the video quality on these 'remastered' DVDs. When I watched both versions of episode 1, the only real difference I saw was that the Japanese Berserk logo didn't flicker during the opening on the 'remastered' DVD. Hardly worth re-buying the series for!

There are minor changes included, such as Japanese text replacing English text during the opening and some subtitle changes, but nothing major enough to warrant re-buying the series if you already own it. To be honest, the only impressive thing about this re-release is the new disc art, which is vastly superior to the old disc artwork. Even the DVD menus and extras are the same as before.

It's 100% worth buying the series for £17.99 (PlayUSA) if you don't already own it because Berserk is up there with the best anime has to offer. But, aside from diehard Berserk fans, for everyone else it'd be a waste of money.
 
Sounds as though I was right not to bother upgrading. Maybe if a blu-ray set rolls around later but until now the original R1s will suffice.

Sexy disc art though.

R
 
I was seriously thinking about getting this... but that's one hell of a crappy box for a six disc set. It makes thinpacks look good.

Odd to think that the picture quality doesn't seem improved. It would be good to see some comparisons if anyone has the time and inclination (and the DVD's obviously, which rules me out) ;)
 
I'd like to put up some comparison snapshots but it's difficult. VLC won't work with the Berserk DVDs and when I use anything other than MPC to play DVDs on my PC the region lock counter goes up...and the MPC snapshot function gives me an error when I try to use it.

The lack of flickering logo on the 'remastered' DVDs suggests that there is some difference if you get up close, but from a reasonable distance it's hard to spot anything. The colours are the same, there are still 'white spots' that appear (the sort of thing you see on old films) and, as expected, these DVDs are still grainy because film grain is present on all DVDs. Only a very picky person will be able to see much difference.
 
I got mine from PlayUSA. Never seen the show before, so i figured that this is the best way of seeing it.

From a remastered perspective; assuming that some work was done to it, it doesn't look as clean as the remastered Evangelion or Dragonball Z.
 
I don't get the logic behind waiting for the UK release if you don't own Berserk already? You'll just end up paying over double what you can get the series for right now.

If it's because you can't play R1 DVDs then pick up a cheap brand name player, look for its model online and find the handset hack. And if it's out of blind loyalty to MVM then that's stupidity.


What annoys me is that MB never bothered to even change the DVD menus. Even MVM gave a different DVD menu when they released Berserk over here. Seeing the same hanging scene when loading up every disc is dull...
 
I have to admit, this is a series I've been eager to see for a long time. I dl the anime and still haven't seen more than the first episode. (Yes, I know, I'm ashamed of myself!)

I do like the disc art you've shown so sometime in the future I'll probabky buy the "remastered" edition. (Been keeping my eye on the original release with was in the artbox but now I'm glad I never bought that one.)
 
Hokum said:
Sold, btw for pc users just buy ANYDVD... its cheap and it cracks region code locking... :)
Click to expand...
I use DVD Region+CSS Free. As well as cracking the region code and synchronising itself with your media player of choice, it can also skip the preliminary logos and legal messages and take you straight to the DVD menu.
 
Zin5ki said:
I use DVD Region+CSS Free. As well as cracking the region code and synchronising itself with your media player of choice, it can also skip the preliminary logos and legal messages and take you straight to the DVD menu.
Click to expand...

You can do that with anydvd too, its updated regularly to keep up to date.
 
I repeat: My brain doesn't understand the people who would rather pay more for less. Just import it, get the handset hack for your crappy old DVD player and watch it.
 
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