This was the way The X-Files was meant to be seen: crystal-clear images, one episode after another, 24 episodes--including the still-masterful pilot--in all. Fox may have been slow in getting to the DVD party, but when it assembled this seven-disc set, it took care to do things right. From the snazzy fold-out holder that houses the DVDs to the well-organized booklet that offers a precise guide to the chapters and DVD extras, this set is a must-have for devotees of the show. And for those who somehow made it through the past seven years without ever watching The X-Files, this set offers a better crash-course than any TV marathon could.

The real beauty of this set lies not in the first six discs, but rather in disc seven, which is chock-full of extras. Technically speaking, most of these extras are not exclusive to the DVD set--the clips featuring series creator Chris Carter talking about 12 of the episodes appeared on the video releases; the 12 Behind-the-Truth clips, featuring comments from assorted production folks, aired during marathons of The X-Files on the cable channel FX. But this is the first time all of these extras--and a few more--have been made available in one place.

Some episodes are discussed both by Carter and in the Behind-the-Truth series; however, the Truth clips include other voices, such as former producers Glen Morgan and James Wong, and cover everything from the series' haunting theme to the forces that drive the main characters.

There's also an 11-minute documentary titled "The Truth about Season One," which includes commentaries from the actors and producers, both past and present.

It even has a game!

Fox doesn't give Carter the final word. In addition to the interviews, the disc contains the original 10- and 20-second television spots that promoted the series during the first year. And then there's the pièce de résistance: two deleted scenes from the pilot, in which a very green Agent Scully is seen with her boyfriend, Ethan. It's clear why neither scene--one of which was set in Scully's bedroom--fit in the context of the episode, or even of the show. But both excerpts are brilliantly acted by a very young Gillian Anderson, who had a commanding screen presence even back then.

Another cool extra goes behind the scenes of a special-effects shot from "Fallen Angel." The shot is accessible via the special features menu when watching the episode itself; however, it would have been nice to have the final scene excerpted alongside the effects clip on the bonus DVD as well--to get the full visual impact of just how the guy moving through the woods in a red suit turned out.

The final extra element on the bonus DVD is the PC game "Roots of Conspiracy," a clever trivia game/puzzle/episode guide that requires Macromedia's Shockwave 8. Players enter their email address and user name (i.e., Agent X), and Deep Throat instructs them to reinvestigate Mulder and Scully's case files. Players can review the existing case files, as well as view images, evidence, autopsy reports and other related data from those cases. The simple game is mildly entertaining, and keeps players on their toes by only allowing them to proceed if they answer the quiz questions correctly.

Does the set have weaknesses? Fox's interface to the DVD-ROM game and the DVD extras (as accessed via a PC) could have been a little smoother--some commands didn't seem to lead where one would expect--but the PC application integrates well with existing X-Files online material. And while the fold-out design of the seven-disc holder is clever, attractive and a major space-saver, the cardboard covering will likely show wear after repeated use.

No matter how you slice it, The X-Files Season One set is well worth the price.