Really enjoyed all 12 episodes and even more so after seeing the more recent 24 episode remake. Great story and concept and even liked the 2nd live action movie staring David Hayter (Voice of Solid Snake) I think both the older and the newer ones have there pros and cons regarding certain elements. The older series felt very rushed and did skip alot of the original material which was a shame. However, the character development was just right even thou they missed out key events. The action and gore was great and even thou the newer series advertised itself as the 'new face of ultra violence'i prefer this series.Really a shame they did not continue this and make more episodes and would have benefited restructuring and adding to the original 12 to reflect the manga.

The newer series does provide more material to the point i had to read the novels. Unfortunately the fight scenes, character development, explanations and pretty much everything dragged on and could have been done in half the time. Example:- when a certain Dr is hit and is slowly dying and speaking to our hero's the enemy who is just standing around and has time to recharge his weapon, which he states himself. Also character's self explanations into their abilities did ruin the fight scenes in a big way, I can accept that this is required sometimes and if viewers have not seen the original this needs to be done but honestly killed the action and fights for the entire series.