The outside slipcase has a little normal shelf wear, but has done it's job of protecting the inner slip sleeves. Indivdual boxes are like new and so are the cassettes, overall quality is very good considering this vhs set is over 20 years old. Pre-viewed all 3 and had to tweak the tracking just a little bit for static sound on my vcr. Tapes are the full screen pan scan versions that are perfect for older model 'square' TV sets as they will fill your screen. This special edition contains new scenes and enhanced special effects making it superior to the original theatrical version. At the begining of each tape is about a 10 minute featurette on the new effects and added scenes with Lucas, producers technicians. Episode 4: A New Hope is an elaborate, imaginative update of 'Flash Gordon' which incredibily became one of the most popular films of all time. It's a hip homage to B-movie ethics and heroism in the space age, as a callow youth (Hamill) becomes an interplanetary hero with the help of some human and robot friends, R2-D2 and C-3PO who steal the show. With 4 minutes of extra footage over the original version. Episode 5: the Empire Strikes Back manages to top the original in fleshing out it's characters and upgrading the special effects. Story threads include a blossoming romance between Han Solo (Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fischer), the cosmic education of Luke Skywalker (by the mystical Yoda), an uneasy alliance with opportunistic Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), and a startling revelation from Darth Vader. This contains an extra 3 minutes of footage over the original version. Episode 6: Return of the Jedi is a sheer delight, following the destiny of Luke Skywalker as his comrades reunite to combat a powerful Death Star. Han and Leia reaffirm their love and team with C-3PO, R2-D2, Chewbacca, Calrissian, and a bunch of furry Ewoks to aid in the anihilation of the Dark Side. With an additional 4 minutes of footage not seen in the original. The new Disney 'Star Wars: the Force Awakens' follows the events of this trilogy 30 years later. So brush up on the story before seeing the new ones.