Byte Breakers: Is This the Next Big Platform Fighter?

What is Byte Breakers?

Byte Breakers is a brand new, completely free-to-try Platform Fighter available on Steam that features a fresh twist on a popular genre. Developed by Odyssey Interactive (who previously released the sports game Omega Strikers), Byte Breakers takes the platform fighter genre to another level, bringing together a unique combination of elements.

Instead of traditional one-on-one combat, the game brings a battle royale-style team play experience that allows for teams of two to fight for supremacy across a dynamic, shrinking map. The game incorporates a unique energy system and gear/consumables that help add more strategic layers and enhance the overall combat mechanics - it has become a potential rival to Super Smash Bros, a game that is often considered the benchmark for platform fighters. It may have an uphill battle - however, Byte Breakers' fresh and strategic approach gives it the potential to rise to compete among other popular franchises.

How Does Byte Breakers Stand Out?

Split image of Final Fantasy VII Remake, Batman: Arkham Knight, and Devil May Cry 5. Image

While the world of platform fighters has seen several attempts to rival Super Smash Bros, it's been an incredibly tough feat, with very few able to take on the Gaming icon - specifically since it's often associated with those popular franchises - which often feature characters and properties from major movie, television or comics series.

Byte Breakers is different, as it has a distinct feel with its unique style, specifically with those elements from Battle Royale. It attempts to capture the excitement, as well as the strategical nature that has given these genres so much recognition - blending this into a platform fighter - such as Team Assist and a Team Play system. The inclusion of a shrinking map and an ability to collect gear and resources gives a fresh and interesting approach. The gameplay includes an interesting approach that takes this game to a new and unexpected level.

What’s It Like To Play Byte Breakers?

A screenshot of gameplay in Byte Breakers. Image

Byte Breakers features characters from Omega Strikers (which is a fast-paced sports game where players battle in teams), so fans of that game should be immediately familiar with the characters and universe.

Each match involves teams of two (with a larger lobby - making for larger, dynamic matches) - as they navigate a large map - with the ultimate goal of being the last ones remaining. The platform fighter elements are the main driver. This features the familiar attacks, combos and strategies, along with the inclusion of a dynamic energy system that helps increase those attack combinations as players expend this energy to increase their overall impact and power - with more damage and a great level of knockback to opponents. While the game is still undergoing its early development, it offers a new perspective, and a compelling combination of styles that might just change the world for platform fighters - especially with Byte Breakers' fresh perspective, a fun approach to gameplay, and an attempt to compete with smash in the long run.

Does Byte Breakers Feature Gear or Other In-Game Items?

Yes, it does - and this serves as another, very strategic element of Byte Breakers. Those playing will find scattered throughout the map a series of items that can increase a player's power or add a new tactic. This includes items like Gear that gives a player specific advantages or consumables, giving characters new options, ranging from healing abilities, boosting damage or even providing ways to regenerate energy.

These elements - both gear and consumables (items that players collect or purchase with omega energy, an in-game currency - an important part of Byte Breakers as it's required to upgrade items), give players the ability to gain a decisive advantage or even to make up for disadvantages in skill. The team play mechanics, also add a strategic element that allows players to make a stronger team.

Does Byte Breakers Need To Have A Larger Lobby Size?

As the game's still undergoing development, those who are fans of the platform fighter genre and those who have also tried this free-to-play, early build - have noticed how the game is a little awkward in those early stages. Fans have expressed a preference for a larger lobby and the map size - with the current design allowing those who enjoy combat to find themselves in long, unproductive periods - or they're stuck waiting for those events to play out.

While these aspects have generated some feedback - fans who enjoy the overall elements, as well as those that have made suggestions about size of the map, and those events - such as the way the shrinking maps force a team together - fans do agree that the developers have an amazing and even impressive direction, including the game's strategic approach which makes a good use of its mechanics and design, a platform fighter with those elements from battle royale games. Although those fans would also point out - how those who are more familiar with traditional platform fighters may find it to be clunky, making the game less responsive - these are some areas the studio may work to address, along with other issues that fans have discovered during the game's early stages.

What Is The Future for Byte Breakers?

Byte Breakers has been able to receive some high praise for being a platform fighter that aims to compete with Super Smash Bros - it has a lot of potential, however, it needs to make major improvements in order to overcome its biggest issues - particularly those associated with how it can attract a large and devoted audience - those lovers of the genre, those other fighters that would like to take on this challenge - especially when comparing those platform fighter franchises.

As the game continues its development process - there are several critical moments that could make or break it - especially in regard to the way Odyssey Interactive takes those initial reviews, its current state, as it works to polish its combat and other critical aspects (it could end up needing an entirely new direction), and how these changes will impact its overall success - It could, in time, bring a refreshing new look to platform fighters. However, there is no guarantee that those changes are being made at a rate to capture an audience and, ultimately, become a viable game that could take on the likes of Super Smash Brothers - however, it's a possibility - one that needs a good strategy and lots of fan support in order to have the right ingredients to be seen as something that has a potential to compete with the top dogs.