Maki

Maki made her first apperance in Final Fight 2 ( which was exclusively for SNES). 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 (see Design, below) 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 by Crawfish Entertainment, 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.

Her sprite being reused from Capcom vs. SNK 2 but downscaled to portable resolution. Her story is akin to hers 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 Shadaloo. 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.