Cult fighting series The Rumble Fish coming to consoles this winter

No sign of Matt Dillon though

Well, I have to admit I didn’t see this one coming, even with the current resurgence of obscure fighting titles. Publisher 3goo has announced that it is preparing to rerelease obscure arcade fight franchise The Rumble Fish on modern console platforms. Specific platforms were not announced.

The Rumble Fish, which launched in Japanese arcades in 2004, is a 2D fighter developed by Dimps and utilizing the then-popular Atomiswave hardware. The heavily anime-infused storyline tells the tale of a city crushed by capitalism and opportunity, and the warriors that emerge from the rubble to face a shiny, corporate-owned metropolis, each fighter carrying their own agenda either for or against the new world.

The Rumble Fish would receive a home port in the form of a PS2 release. But it would never officially see the light of day outside of Japan, which will make this rerelease the first real opportunity for the series to make a name for itself in the global legacy of fighting games. The niche title would be followed by a 2005 sequel, The Rumble Fish 2, which is also en route this year.

Despite its relative obscurity, The Rumble Fish developed a cult following thanks to its wild premise, interesting and diverse cast of characters, and trademark “S.M.A.” (Smooth Model Animation) visual style. The series found its spotlight in a post-Garou: Mark of the Wolves world, when great-looking, highly technical 2D fighters had one final breath of fury, before the genre receded into fringe interest.

“The Rumble Fish is a very memorable game for us at Dimps,” writes Dimps president Takashi Nishiyama. “It may have a classic feel compared to current fighting games, but it was an ambitious project that employed a variety of visual expressions within the limitations of a system board that is now almost 20 years old. I’m proud of what we accomplished. And now, 3goo is once again shining the spotlight on The Rumble Fish series and I’m excited for the renewed potential for the series to grow.”

The Rumble Fish series is currently in development for undisclosed platforms.