The Rumble Fish 2 dated for Dec. 8

Atomiswave fighter The Rumble Fish 2 will release digitally for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC Steam on Dec. 8, marking a return for the 2005 3goo/Dimps fighting game that also had a PlayStation 2 release in Japan.

I have limited experience with the game, so the current-day re-release has come as a welcome surprise – doubly so on the heels of Breakers Revenge getting the same treatment.

The Rumble Fish 2 is known for its fluid “Smooth Model Animation,” which allows the characters’ limbs to animation independently. This sort of leads to what we refer to as the “puppet/marionette animation” the game has, but the 2D sprites still look beautiful and the gameplay still holds up.

I’ve previously been able to get a set of The Rumble Fish 2 in with The Toa of Bass, but it was something that wasn’t recorded. Still, my experience with the game left me wanting more and instilling a desire to actually learn how the game works.

The extent of experience with The Rumble Fish 2 has been on this cabinet playable at Galloping Ghost Arcade.

That’s where the new practice mode will come in with the re-released version of the game, along with 16:9 presentation, online fights using rollback netcode and a gallery mode filled with the game’s assets.
The game is also slated to receive a collector’s edition, with details only being released for a Japan release at this time. However, it is noted in a press release that worldwide details for the edition will be announced at a later date.

The big hook for this edition is an exclusive port of the original arcade release of The Rumble Fish. Other items include a box with art drawn by character designer YuknariZ, a strategy guide book for The Rumble Fish 2, game DLC for three characters, command cards for The Rumble Fish 2, and an OST CD and art book for The Rumble Fish.

Hopefully these projects do well so companies see fit to re-release a number of other fighting games that have been locked to obscure arcade releases. I’m sure I’ll check out The Rumble Fish 2 when it launches in December, and we’ll see if the title is given the care other recent retro releases such as Capcom Fighting Collection and TMNT: Cowabunga Collection have received.