Street Fighter Alpha/Maki



Maki Genryusai was designed as a Bushin ninja along the same lines as Guy, she plays very much like him in both games, being the fast character in Final Fight 2 and the agile ninja with various running attacks in Capcom vs. SNK 2. Maki is notable for being the only original character from the SNES Final Fight sequels to make return appearances in later games.

Maki is introduced Final Fight 2. She is the quick type of the three main characters alongside Mike Haggar and Carlos Miyamoto, and essentially serves as Guy's replacement in the game. The plot of Final Fight 2 revolves around the kidnapping of Maki's father and sister, Genryusai and Rena, by the newly revived Mad Gear gang led by Retu. With Guy (Rena's fiance and one of Genryusai's student) off training and unable to help, Maki enlists the help of Haggar and Carlos to save them.

Maki is described here as the former leader of a bosozoku gang, who loves to get into street fights. This was changed in the English localization of the game, in which Maki is described as peaceful girl who hates fighting in the manual and no reference is made of her being a biker gang leader in the past.

Unlike the other characters introduced in the Final Fight sequels, Maki did not fade completely into obscurity following her initial appearance. Maki appeared in Capcom vs. SNK 2, with her storyline having her trying to find and defeat Guy in order to become the next Bushin-ryu successor. However, in her ending for this game it's stated she was unable to do so. Her appearance in Capcom vs. SNK 2 led to a later appearance and storyline for the Street Fighter Alpha series. Her Reppukyaku drains vitality like it did in the Final Fight 2. The character was significantly changed design wise in terms of outfit and weaponry and her personality was changed to reflect her biker gang leader roots.

Maki was included in the Game Boy Advance version of Street Fighter Alpha 3, and later in Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX for the PSP, which served to solidify the storylines for the additional characters added to GBA version. The sprite used and her story is akin to those in Capcom vs SNK 2, revolving around her trying to find Guy to find out which of them is the true successor of the Bushin style after the death of her father, Genryusai. In doing so however, she gets in the middle of Guy's affairs with Shadoloo. Regardless, the two fought, but stopped when they sensed M. Bison's evil presence. Taking him on, the battle doesn't go positively for Maki, who becomes stunned by one of Bison's attacks. Guy rescues her, managing to drive Bison off with his power, much to Maki's chargin. However, though, she grudgingly thanks him, and after Guy leaves, she states out loud she might not be ready to take charge, but she will be when Guy and her next meet and she would win.

Maki also made a prominent appearance in a Street Fighter manga starring Sakura titled Sakura Ganbaru by Masahiko Nakahira in which she and Sakura fought each other. In this appearance she's shown more akin to her later character design in terms of the shirt and weapon choice. Maki is a bit of a stark contrast in comparison to her sister, being taller and blonde. Her hair tends to be long and held back in a ponytail, her bangs a lighter color than the rest. She wears a red female ninja garb, but designed more in mind for function than flair, showing only her neck and some of her cleavage. Beneath she wears a semi-transparent vest as shown in Final Fight 2's introduction when she calls Haggar. She sports arm and leg guards with small boots. Her alternate palette in Final Fight 2 changes her outfit color from red to blue.

Maki's character design was updated for Capcom vs. SNK 2 (and subsequently SFA3 MAX)): she now wears red tennis shoes similar to the ones wore by Guy in the Street Fighter Alpha series and wields a tonfa, which was originally a pick-up weapon in Final Fight 2. Her hair is shown to be one complete color now, the leg guards removed, and the shirt part of her attire is now closed. Some of her attacks tend to reveal also she wears black underwear beneath her skirt.