Berserk: Millennium Falcon Hen Seima Senki no Shō

Berserk Millenium Falcon Arc ~Sei Ma Senki no Shou~ (ベルセルク 千年帝国の鷹[ミレニアム・ファルコン]篇 聖魔戦記の章 aka Berserk Millenium Falcon Arc ~Chapter of the Record of the Holy Demon War~) is the second video game based on the manga Berserk. It was released by Sega-Sammy in Japan for the PlayStation 2 on October 7th, 2004. It's predecessor game Berserk Millenium Falcon Arc ~Soushitsu Hana no Shou~ (ベルセルク 千年帝国の鷹[ミレニアム・ファルコン]篇 喪失花の章 aka Berserk Millenium Falcon Arc ~Chapter of Flower Loss~) was released on Dreamcast by ASCII in 1999.

=Game Timeline= The first game has been translated and released in North America by Eidos Interactive on September 6th, 2000 as Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage for Dreamcast. Sword of the Berserk has never been released in Europe though. Developper Yuke's has not confirmed any overseas release for the PlayStation2 version neither.

=Plot= The game's story covers the whole "Chapter of the Record of the Holy Demon War" (Millenium Falcon Arc) from manga (comic) Volume 22 to 27.

=Special Features=
 * The PlayStation 2 version features both Dolby Pro Logic II & Dobly Digital Pro Logic II soundtrack and removable Japanese subtitles.

=Campaign Limited Edition= Two different releases were made available in Japan, a "BRANDED BOX" campaign collector edition including a Guts action figure by ART OF WAR, and the regular "STANDARD EDITION".

=Game Screenshot= Thanks to a more powerful hardware, the PlayStation2 version is graphically superior to its five years predecessor on Dreamcast. 3D modelling is more precise and polished on this new version allowing CG-like quality character animated faces, which phenomenon is particularly striking on close ups, as well as the use of smoother textures. Also the maps are more vast than in the first episode, allowing a reduced number of loading screens.

=Main Characters=

Heroes trio
Known as the Black Swordsman, Guts is a veteran warrior and former mercenary. He is the hero of the popular medieval-fantasy-gore Berserk series. Guts has the ability to let his fury flow without any control at all, making him a berserker, a potential danger even for his close friends and allies. The berserk or berserker figure is a classic mythological thema appearing in the scandinavian culture. Once in admiration and sincere friendship with Griffith, Guts and him have progressively become rivals by a Trick of Fate, classifying the Berserk series into the greek tragedy genre tradition. Mystical events and deep trauma have plunged the woman warrior Casca into amnesia. Any longer commander of the Midland White Knights order, Guts' wandering with a double meaning in life, protecting Casca, like her Guardian Angel, and seeking Griffith for revenge.

Guts' side
At the beginning of the game, Guts is crossing a snowy valley. The mighty Black Swordsman is sided by two strange traveling companions. The first one is Puck, a playful flying nude elf, and the second one is a she, a mute odd young woman hit by amnesia and dressed like a beggar, named Casca. The small fellowship will be later joined by three kids, Isidoro, Farnese and Serpico met in a undeads and ghouls infected deep forest. Their way will lead them to a town in trouble with a ferocious troll where they'll be helped by a woman sorcerer named Shierke and her elf ally Isabella. Shierke is herself linked to subsidary characters such as her mistress Flora and the ambiguous Skull Knight.

Griffith's side
When travelling and fighting his way in a snowy landscape during the first chapter, Guts will meet his worst ennemy Griffith atop an hillock. Trying to engage him in a duel, Guts will be faced by an old rival, since become Griffith's bodyguard, Zodd the Immortal. Unable to defeat Guts under his human form, Zodd will quickly morph into his Apostle demonic form and pursue the fight. In next chapters Guts will meet and engage others Griffith henchmen, known as the Apostles, including the giant knight Grunbeld member of the New Band of the Hawk.

Hand of God
In the Berserk series, the Hand of God is secretly hovering above mankind's destiny. The five extremities of the secret Hand of God are powerful merciless demons serving Evil and playing with human lives just like a master and his puppet. The demonic Femto is actually Griffith's true nature and an ally of the scary Voïd which latter is the true leader of the Hand of God. The obscure group is completed by three demons, Slan, an evil woman and temptress who tries to seduce men in order to possess their souls and use them, Ubik the brain, and Conrad the Pandora's Box spreader.

Secondary characters
While Morgan is appearing in the manga series (Troll / Isidoro branch), Charles is an original character specially created for the game. His true relation with Guts and real intentions are both obscures.

=Main Entry= Berserk

=External links=
 * Berserk Game Official Site
 * IGN page