If you don't know about Visco's Breakers, you're probably not aware that the company's programmers have a very "Capcomic" inspiration,  if you know what I mean. Style of characters, moves, backgrounds... Anyway... Fighter's History compared to it looked like the innovation of the year. So is this soft pumping another great game good enough to compete with Street Fighter Zero 2? At the time these games were released, the MVS was already six years old, and the CPS-II three. These hardwares were both well-known by the programmers working on them, even more concerning Capcom's, who now operates superbly on this system (Marvel Super Heroes, Darkstalkers) which wasn't very different from the CPS. Concerning Visco, they previously developed two titles for the MVS: the average Andro Dunos  in 1992, and the pathetic Goal Goal Goal in 1995. Back then, nobody expected any miracle for the first VS fighting game of the firm.

One point that will not do much debate, as Street Fighter Zero 2 is incredibly beautiful. Breakers packs sprites a little more massive and also nice backgrounds, featuring many visual effects - as for the 'Ultimate Ko's' for example - or greatly designed intermediary screens. However, if the sprites are well done, some stages lack finesse and especially relief. It's so flat! Street Fighter Zero 2 is way above  his rival graphically. Sets and characters are finely drawn, and show a great attention to details. Despite one or two stages that are average, the whole is homogeneous and honors its support.

Breakers    79                                   96   Street Fighter Z2

If the game from Capcom is a bit faster, quality of the animation in both titles is pretty close in excellence. Visco guys did a great job and if graphically, Breakers is dropped against its competitor, it's not the case for the animation. The action is smooth, fast and very well decomposed. SFZ2 keeps the advantage thanks to its more lively backgrounds and a faster paced game. This is not necessarily "better", but as the speed adjustment is included, it's just perfect.

Breakers    93                                   95   Street Fighter Z2

Rivals are tie on the sound quality , as both systems are close  in audio performance. Street Fighter Zero 2 melodies are good, catchy and well orchestrated. However, it's much less inspired than the old Street Fighter II themes, and the less we can say is that these are far less memorable. Breakers' ones are rhythmic but we remember better the intermediate samples than the characters' compositions, which are sounding a bit like elevator musics, not to say something else. The sound effects feature good impact sensations for each of the competitors. Voices are sounding better in Breakers, but there's one thing: some characters are absolutely ridiculous... see who I think about? Pielle... the french. If this is how the japanese see french people at Visco's, then we are pathetic wimps drugged with doliprane. Capcom is more traditional, no big surprises.

Breakers    75                                   86   Street Fighter Z2

The first thing that strikes in Street Fighter Zero 2, like in Street Fighter Zero, it's the renewal of the roster. Indeed, for the first time since the Street Fighter II series, Capcom took the risk of significantly renovate its range of characters. Seven in total (Ken, Ryu, Sagat, Zangief, Dhalsim, Chun Li and Vega) besides Akuma that was not playable, survived Super Street Fighter II X, on a total of eighteen selectable warriors. Newcomers are more or less charismatic and interesting to play, but there is no denying that this is a good effort from the company. At Visco's, we don't like working too much, then Breakers packs only eight playable fighters. If all are fun to play and learn, it's quite small for a 1996 game. If single player and versus are taking in both softs, Breakers doesn't offer as much life as Street Fighter Zero 2.

Breakers    76                                   90   Street Fighter Z2

If Capcom was able to renew the genre admirably, à la SNK's Fatal Fury (Real Bout Special & Real Bout), Visco turns surprising in this domain. Clearly and against all odds, the gameplay is the highlight of Breakers. Without featuring very high technical qualities, the game is a pure delight to play. The geometry is perfect, getting started with any character is easy. Street Fighter Zero 2 keeps the simplicity and depth that made the strength of the first album. The game features great controls and simple approach, as Breakers does. Fun is great as well as  the room for improvement, and without reaching the technicity of a Kof, SFZ2 gameplay is still taking and rather complete.  The six-buttons system is preserved for Capcom's title, while Breakers use a standard four-buttons. The difficulty is quite well set in each game for the single mode. Playing two, it's hours of fun in perspective, with combos and furies galore! With that said, as mentioned above, the limited Breakers' roster have it conceding this round, with a less deep gameplay than its rival.

Breakers    90                                   92   Street Fighter Z2

The score is clear: Breakers is trounced by Street Fighter Zero 2. Technically, Capcom's game is above, there's no doubt; only Visco's baby gameplay is making it a formidable rival. A fine try in the genre is this Breakers, which, without equaling the tenors of versus fighting, has a personality and fun that will appeal many.