Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 67 | 20 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 52% | 53 | 32 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 1 reviews sampled · 1 total reviews in window · weighted 0.2 up / 0 down · computed 5h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (26)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
“Taking all the elements of visuals, variety of characters (with more available via DLC), attacks, environments, replayability, single and multiplayer modes, and overall challenge, Rumble Fish 2 is a good 2D fighter to have ready to go.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“This is the kind of package we hope for when a relatively unloved, but largely excellent arcade title is ported for a modern system. There's no slacking here, with all the options and modes a fighting game fan could desire, updated visuals for modern displays, and that all-important rollback netcode for online skirmishes. Superior to its already very enjoyable predecessor, it will be great to see the online fighting game community revive The Rumble Fish 2 in a way that never really happened with its original arcade release. Ideally, both the original game and this sequel should be on a single package - and DLC paywalls be damned - but this is a well-executed port of the best entry in this short-lived series.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“The core arcade fighting, with its persistent clothing damage and blend of vivid 2D and 3D visuals, makes it a compelling curio for fighting game faithfuls. But the package as a whole falls short of expectations, and will either need major updates or a chunky price drop moving forwards.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“To say that The Rumble Fish 2 is a hard sell for the uninitiated is an understatement, but there is fun to be had for seasoned players who are looking to test the limits of what is possible gameplaywise. Those looking for an entry point into the genre, however, should look elsewhere.”
read full review ↗ - 83
“While perhaps not as well-known as its peers, this fighter has technique and variety that will please genre fans”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The crisp anime art style works for the backdrops and character designs, but loses something in translation when the characters are in motion. Despite what grievances I have, The Rumble Fish 2 is a foundationally strong fighter which makes it easy for me to overlook the blemishes to enjoy what lies underneath. This won't grab the casual fighter fan, but the devotees should give it a look.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Rumble Fish 2 is a great game for people like me who enjoy solid fighting games. It won’t stick with most players beyond initial contact though. It feels like it borrows more than it innovates and in a sea of familiar brawlers that is rough. I enjoyed my time, but will likely forget it exists in a month or two. Then one day I will be browsing my game library and think to myself “hey, that was a pretty cool game!””
read full review ↗ - 70
“The Rumble Fish 2 is a fun fighter with a slew of interesting mechanics that give you many options to use on defense or offense. Mixing these mechanics with some compelling characters makes for a solid fighter, although not one that will likely stand against the giants of the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“The Rumble Fish 2 was a very good fighting game back in 2005, but today we expect much more from such games. And while the gameplay is still fun, the content is bare-boned.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Rumble Fish 2 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is a great and affordable port of a stylish and fun fighting game that's easy to learn but hard to master. The quality of life features make this one of the most definitive versions of The Rumble Fish 2, and the crisp visuals and performance ensure no frame is dropped online or offline. The inclusion of rollback netcode, match and control scheme options, and Assist Mode make The Rumble Fish 2 a fun fighting game to jump right into and play on Switch 2.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Looking back at the Rumble Fish 2 (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition) is like going back in time, and it also makes you remember how creative fighting games can be. It's different from other fighters because of its dual-gauge fighting system, expressive character designs, and unique animation style.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“For fighting game fans, The Rumble Fish 2 is worth a try at its budget price. It has a varied roster of characters, multiple single player modes including arcade, time track and survival, and online multiplayer with rollback. It’s an interesting but dated curio that’s not going to take the gaming world by storm, but some will appreciate it nonetheless.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Nintendo Life
Push Square
Cubed3
Nindie Spotlight
NintendoWorldReport
ZTGD
Siliconera
SECTOR.sk
Final Weapon
NoobFeed
GameSpew…and 14 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Update 4.0 DetailsDec 21, 2023
- Update 3.0 Live Now !Apr 26, 2023
- Update 2.0 Now Live !Mar 8, 2023