Berserk has been overall well received by critics. Carlo Ross of THEM Anime Reviews said that, at first, he could not get into the "dreary, depressing tone" of Berserk, but added that as the series progresses, the viewer can meet the cast "as more than just the standard fantasy archetypes", praising the characters for their realistic portraying. He said that Berserks violence was like "a classic Kurosawa film", and that just like his films, Berserks lesson is that "beneath all that metal armor, these soldiers are people." Ross concluded: "If you want fantasy that really makes you think, then don't let the name fool you. Berserk is not about turning your brain off. Not one bit." Brittany Vincent, writing for Anime News Network (ANN), said that Berserk "excels in setting up this tone that defines the story, even if it happens to end abruptly without any real conclusion." Vincent wrote that the adaptation is not perfect and that it has "its share of low-quality animation at times", but that it is "an excellent stab at bringing the story to life." She also noted the omission of characters, like the elf Puck, omission that makes the series a "much more serious and foreboding affair", also stating that the anime has several moments that "speed up time or slow it down considerably." Sandra Scholes of Active Anime wrote: "Berserk is a hard – hitting hack and slash demonically possessed horror fantasy of relentless proportions. There’s a good chance no one has seen this type of anime before or will again. This should be in everyone’s collection."
