Break Shot

It always astonishes me how a person can discover almost anything they're passionate about, depicted through the eyes and hearts of fellow artists. Sometimes it becomes incredibly popular, while other times, the art remains obscure, never reaching a wider audience.

Break Shot falls into the latter category. The natural question that arises is whether it rightfully belongs there.
Please note that this review may not be entirely unbiased due to my fondness for underdog stories, which are common in many sports manga and anime.

The story itself is quite straightforward. Our main character is obsessed with billiards, and most chapters focus on showcasing his sharp mind guiding his passionate heart through numerous matches and championships.
In the second half of the manga, some mystery elements are introduced, but their revelation is slower than ideal.

The art style is somewhat (what I consider) classical for the late 80s, and the overall plot and character development fit that mold as well. It doesn't mean character growth is absent, but it's quite gradual and takes time.
A good number of characters feel unique, even though the obvious focus is solely on the main character, both in terms of skill and personality. Perhaps because we're talking about billiards, the characters come across as less brute and more intelligent, which is a plus for me.

Of course, like most sports manga (especially those published by Shonen), Break Shot follows some tropes. However, given its age, I wonder if it might have been among the trend or trope setters instead. One trope it mostly avoids is the development of a love interest. It exists in a way, but it isn't part of the focus.
Despite everything, Break Shot offers considerable enjoyment to the reader. It's thrilling to watch how the main character handles challenges on the pool table—not just him, but also how other characters deploy their tactics, think, deal with mistakes, etc. The mangaka did a good job developing unique tactics for each character.

I believe Break Shot came out too early for today's readers because it's extremely difficult to find the entire manga translated into English. At one point, I had to switch to Indonesian translations just to finish the story (though I didn't understand it all, one can connect enough dots). If you're considering reading this manga, be prepared for this issue. But it will be worth it.

The question I posed at the beginning of this review has found its answer:
From the overall quality of the story and manga itself, Break Shot shouldn't have ended up in obscurity. Yes, it has tropes. Yes, it has a slight dose of surrealism, as do all sports manga published by Shonen (although Break Shot tried to keep that minimal).
However, it must be acknowledged—billiards aren't enjoyable to everyone. If you love billiards, you'll likely enjoy this manga. If you're a fan of sports stories, you might like this manga. And if you appreciate when most characters actually use their brains, you should give this a try.

I haven't completed reading whatever has been translated so far. I just wanted to share my thoughts on this manga from a pool player's perspective.

I believe the reason this manga falls short is that it attempts to transform a methodical, turn-based game or sport into a high-action spectacle. Coupled with the protagonist facing what appear to be superstar opponents right away, it creates an incredibly baseless setting filled with over-the-top _impossible_ *trick shots*.

In reality, you start playing pool with friends. You might then join a league or find a group of competitive players who regularly attend local tournaments. To reach a professional level, you need to leave this stage behind and practice daily to stand a chance against top players. The main character (from the first few chapters) lacks any substantial practice.

What I really hoped for was a manga about pool. But it seems the author only knows highlight reels and trick shots. I've seen sports and board game anime. Pool surprisingly can fit both categories, but I think it's closer to a board game. Even in sports anime where they show imaginary shots, there's a basic understanding of what skills players need to excel at, like speed and physical build. A special shot compensates for someone's physical characteristics; it can't be that everyone has access to every possible shot. Moreover, the game isn't won off the break shot. Even if you're knowledgeable about pool and consider that statement debatable, the manga should *not* make it seem like the break shot is the one and only shot that matters.

I think the author lacked a grounded understanding of the actual sport. Because of that, he's forced to venture into the fantasy realm.