That is Gatz or Gutts or Guttsu (depending on which scanslation/translation you follow) from Berserk.

BEST MANGA EVER (the anime... well. It DOES follow the storyline but has the worst cliffhanger ending ever and yeah... Only spans like, book 4 - 12 or something of the Manga and the Manga is still going - the releases are getting more jerky these days though but yeah, it's up to like book 36 or something. ABSOLUTE FUCKING CLASSIC)

I seriously recommend you try and find some scanslations online and read it. It just gets so fucking epic later on...

I still shiver in horrified delight when I think about him finding the berserker armour and what it does to him....

I have, in fact, read it. My friend gave me a few DVDs with a scanlation of the manga and the entire series. I read up to book... 28? I can't remember. In the seies I'm near the Eclipse but I remember what happened to my favorite character. It is most excellent. In fact, there's a very good freeware hack and slash rogue-like I play every once in a while. The DC game is actually one I'd like to get at some point (and the PS2 one if I can either figure out how to play it). Never got to the berserker armour though.

Yeah, Berserk is the best manga I have ever read because it feels so real with the characters and has some of the most interesting concepts like how evil is what governs the world. My favorite moment was Gattsu and Casca getting intimate right before the eclipse, evoked such emotion especially considering what happens after someone is reborn. Won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it.

Also the releases are back on the two week schedule. He may take a break again which would suck but shouldn't be too bad.

Have you ever read Vinland Saga? It's similar in style to Berserk. Very good. Unfortunately, nobody's liscensed it in America yet and the place I was reading it went down. And it's about vikings! Speaking of which, do you think Rune is ever going to appear on here? Who owns the rights?

Its on my to read pile with Blade of the Immortal. Will have to read it next for sure. Been spending most of my time reading Vagabond, which is about the life of Musashi from the battle of Sekigahara and will conclude on his duel with Sasaki Kojiro.

You should check out Claymore, which is very much a Berserk lite. Not nearly as good but similar themes.

I've seen one episode of the Claymore anime and liked it. Man, who thought complimenting an avatar would derail a thread like this? ;p

Why aren't there more hack and slash games with female protaganists? (Yes, I know of X Blades)

I don't know if you're a fan of comic books/superheroes, but Wolverine: Origins is an absolutely AWESOME action game. Not only is it ridiculously brutal and fun as hell, but it's also got pretty solid graphics (UT3 engine). Check it out.

Haha, oh man, I forgot about that game. It looks insanely sweet! Again, though, crap computer. UT2k4 engine doesn't play nice on it at all, I'm surprised Source has run as well as it has.

You obviously need to play some roguelikes - Nethack, Angband, Stone Soup, etc. Your imagination will provide all the blood and gore :)

I've played Nethack, Elona, DoomRL, and one called Berserk (based on the manga), plus Dwarf Fortress. I do like them, but sometimes, they're not quite what you're looking for.

Well, it's not hack and slash, but you could try Alien Shooter. Definitely brutal and bloody enough :)

I did like Alien Shooter. Zombie Shooter was interesting.

Whatever happened to Zax: Alien Hunter? It's not on the Reflexive store anymore, and I can't seem to find it available for download anywhere. That is, registered download, not pirated download.

(extremely brutal) Hack & Slash : Cooking mama.

Too brutal, man!

Anybody have any opinions on Drakengard? I've heard some people say it's awesome and some people say it's the worst crap ever made, but I'm not certain which camp I'd fall into.