Plot/Story
First Major Arc: A tortuous and maddening past created a frightening warrior, but the chance meeting with a gregarious knight created a chivalric everyman's hero. He learns to love and be loved. Yet fate has naught but cruel paths paved. An unexpected betrayal erases the hero into a ruthless avenger, bent on destruction and vengence.

Second Major Arc: Cue the idiotic fairy, the horny swordswoman, the mysterious strategist, the kid with potential, a clueless damsel in distress and a loli-witch and you have yourselves a messed up party of random pointless questing and such.

Characters

The characters were well constructed and played significant parts in mutual development as the story progressed in the First Major Arc. They were consistent with their ideologies and the paths they've chosen were moreso realistic and mortal.

The characters (from hereon referred to the "party") of the Second Major Arc consists of stereotyped Adventure-genre folks, each equipped with an enchanted weaponry of their 'element", able to unlock more power as they "believe" in their weapons more and more. Oh, and did I mention that once the weapon is given to a certain person, the "enchantments" of each weapon "familiarizes" with the person holding it, refusing to let others use it? How cool and exciting is that!
Last but not least don't forget to put in awkward character deviancies to help create fun and totally original drama between the party. Who cares about staying true to their personalities when you can sell 21 million copies of garbage on paper!

Drawing Style

The drawing seems old, because it* was *old. Beginning in 1988, it was obvious the palettes chosen and styles of characters created. Enter the late 90's where fanboys outnumbered true fantasy-genre fans by about as much as the Persians to the Spartans (sorry, couldn't resist), now it's all about the brain-rotting fan-service, the slapstick of side characters, and a very disturbing romantic development between a gigantic loner with a "dark past" and a vertically challenged Sabrina. And lo and behold, this witch ain't even a teen yet. (or is she? cue dramatic music)

Nothing to complain about from a strict art point of view. The effort put into each frame is comparable to Miyazaki's saga about a princess who loved nature. The art also moved with the times accordingly, but not as much as to break the flow.

Enjoyment

The story was captivating and breathtaking. It gives no pause and it hits you wave after wave, each larger than the prior and builds almost limitless momentum.
Then it hits you with a big WTF, nekkid elf?

Now it all becomes clear, and the path chosen by the author revealed. Goodbye dark-seinen fantasy, hello action/adventure - shounen.

Overall

If you did not catch on yet, I hate what Berserk has become. I hate lines like "No humans can harm me!" or "Time to fight seriously!" or "I'll get you next time!" or "Get yer penis outta my arse!"

No matter how many boobs are exposed, or brains being chewed like gum, this manga has completely lost its "mature" and 'seinen" qualities to its desire to appeal to a greater market, known as pre-pubescent boys.

If I wanted an action/adventure shounen with side-busting comic relief with a hint of romantic comedy, there is plenty of "Id" to go around pukes. I don't need all this sex and violence. I don't need this otherwise ass-kicking half-man half-beast monstrosity of a protagonist and I don't need this beautifully detailed and intricate art.

To call this the "Star-Wars" of manga is like calling K-Fed the father of rap & hip-hop. (Unless you were referring to S-W I, II, & III.)

This manga is the epitome of what WAS and what * COULD HAVE BEEN IF NOT FOR...*