Well, we are around a week away until EVO Japan and, while there are a good chunk of fighting games that are going to be played, I’m also really excited to see the reaction to the very first playable demo of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves that will be playable at EVO Japan. Yes, after SNK released a bunch of trailers, like the announcement trailer at EVO last year, the South Town teaser trailer and the game mechanics and official character reveal trailers a month ago, SNK has been silent on the game.

Well, that makes sense as they’re probably going to be showing off more characters until the game’s slated release next year. But this does give us some time to speculate on who is going to be returning to South Town in City of the Wolves. Some characters, such as fan favorites Mai Shiranui, Billy Kane and B. Jenet and even less popular characters like Kain Heinlein and Kevin Rian, have been hinted at in the aforementioned South Town teaser trailer. However, there are still a few characters who still haven’t even been teased by SNK. So, let me give my picks on who SNK should bring back for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.

#1 Blue Mary

While you may think Blue Mary is a shoo-in to be included in City of the Wolves, there is going to be a chance she’s going to not be because her distant cousin, Kevin Rian, is “soft confirmed” to be in the game. However, Blue Mary is too popular of a character and she does play radically different from him so, yeah. SNK should include her. Besides, she makes a cameo in the little known Memories of Stray Wolves OAV that accompanied Garou: Mark of the Wolves!

Like Mai Shiranui, Blue Mary has become one of SNK’s most popular characters ever since her first appearance in Fatal Fury 3. She’s even been ported over to the King of Fighters franchise starting in King of Fighters ’97 because of a fan poll! So, if SNK were smart, they should bring her into City of the Wolves just for instant character familiarity from their most recent fighting game. They can actually save some money and use her character model from the latest KOF game, spruce it up to work with the new City of the Wolves aesthetic and she should work just as well there.

#2 Yamazaki

Speaking of Fatal Fury characters who have been in the King of Fighters games, there’s Yamazaki. Making his first appearance in Fatal Fury 3 as a mid-boss, Yamazaki is a crazy gangster who did kind of disappear after the Real Bout games as he didn’t appear in Mark of the Wolves. However, like Blue Mary, he is another popular character and was also voted in a poll to see which character to be in King of Fighters ’97. So, if you were wondering why Blue Mary, Billy Kane and Yamazaki were in one team way back in ’97, well, it was because of a popularity poll!

Much like with Blue Mary, Yamazaki is also in the most recent King of Fighters game, so there should be some character familiarity if SNK does port him over to City of the Wolves. However, I do wonder how they would explain his absence in Mark of the Wolves. Eh, doesn’t really matter because he’s always been a fun character to play as.

#3 Tung Fu Rue

Terry Bogard’s master, Tung Fu Rue’s last canonical appearance as a playable character in the Fatal Fury series was in Real Bout Fatal Fury 2. But his last playable appearance was in King of Fighters XIV. Tung Fu Rue may look like an old man but he’s basically a Master Roshi clone from Dragon Ball as he can shoot chi blasts from his hands and he can turn into a much more muscular form during battle.

While he’s not one of the more popular characters, there are a couple of reasons why I would like to see him return in City of the Wolves. For one, like with Yamazaki, I would like SNK to give a story explanation to what’s happened to him during the time jump between the Real Bout games and Mark of the Wolves. I also would like to see how they would implement his special ability to get bigger in City of the Wolves because I really hope they would link it to the game’s TOP/SPG gimmick.

#4 Duck King

Remember when I was talking about the poll on which SNK characters should be entered in King of Fighters ’97? Well, the winners were Blue Mary, Yamazaki and Billy Kane. Coming up short on the poll was another Fatal Fury fan favorite, Duck King. Duck King is a happy-go-lucky punk rocker who would use his breakdancing moves to beat down his opponents. Oh, and he also has a pet chick with him at all times. So adorable!

As popular as he is, Duck King has only made a few playable appearances with the latest being way back in King of Fighters XI as part of the New Fatal Fury team. So, I do think it’s time he has a glorious return to the Fatal Fury series with City of the Wolves.

#5 Kim Jae Hoon and Kim Dong Hwan

Yes, we’re putting two characters here for the last entry because, if you include one of Kim Kaphwan’s sons, you have to have the other. While they’re both Taekwondo masters like their father, Kim Jae Hoon and Kim Dong Hwan do feel like different characters. In fact, besides their dueling personalities, they play radically different, with the more serious Kim Jae Hoon playing more like his father with strong strikes while the more flamboyant Kim Dong Hwan generally uses flashy combos.

I do think the brothers should return in City of the Wolves as, one, we do need more representation from Mark of the Wolves, and, two, both Kims do cater to different playstyles, kind of like this game’s version of Ryu and Ken in a way. Same fighting style but totally different applications.

BONUS: Geese Howard

Yes, Geese Howard officially died after being kicked off the roof of his building… again. But, honestly, it’s just hard to imagine a Fatal Fury without Geese Howard. He’s one of SNK’s… no. One of fighting games best villains ever created! Oh, and he has one of the best theme songs ever as well!

Honestly, I’d be fine if he was a hidden character. Use the “dream match” scenario to bring him back for City of the Wolves. I don’t think fans would mind.

Who do you think will return in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves? Let me know in the comments section below!