In reviews for the Saturn version, the barrier mechanics - allowing players to beat opponents against or through walls and use them to launch attacks - were met with universal approval. Most were also enthusiastic about being able to break off an opponent's armor for extra damage, though Crispin Boyer and Sushi-X of "Electronic Gaming Monthly" felt the amount of flesh exposed when a fighter's armor is broken off amounted to cheap lewdness. While some complained of reduced polygon counts and occasional slowdown compared to the arcade version, the conversion to the Saturn as a whole was well-regarded, with critics especially praising its retention of the arcade version's smooth animation, its use of light sourcing, and the Saturn-exclusive features. "GameSpot" concluded, "If you have a Saturn, this is the fighting game to own. If you don't, "Fighting Vipers" gives you a good reason to get one." Scary Larry of "GamePro" said it "is one of our favorites because it's fast, sexy, and easy." And while most critics felt that "Fighting Vipers" clearly falls short of "Virtua Fighter 2", Rich Leadbetter of "Sega Saturn Magazine" said it "is far more of a gratifying experience to the average gamer than VF or its sequel" and a "Next Generation" reviewer concluded, ""VF2" is one of the best games of all time, but "Fighting Vipers" nearly eclipses it."