Region 4 Winners and Losers

    The Region 1 disc was released early in 2003. It was released in both single-disc and limited edition forms, like the first disc, but the limited edition is not as different from the single-disc this time. The big extra in the limited edition is a soundtrack CD (the music) - I am unsure as to whether this soundtrack CD is available separately. The anime disc is the same in both. There's no limited edition version in Region 4.

    The Region 1 and Region 4 content is quite similar — the Region 1 gets a "timeline" that's not on the Region 4 disc, but that's about it. The cover artwork on both has the same characters in the same poses, but completely different backgrounds, for no obvious reason.

    The transfer of the R1 is reported as being as good as the first disc, which would make it top-class. The Region 4's transfer is excellent, save for the occasional scene that looks a little over-bright. I'd put the two as being about equivalent.

    If you want the soundtrack CD (which does sound rather good — the music in these episodes is good stuff) then you might try to find a copy of the limited edition R1. Otherwise I'd say you could get either version — I'm going to collect the R4 discs.