Jump to content

Mai Shiranui: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Line 57: Line 57:


== Reception ==
== Reception ==
Mai's [[sex appeal]] has quickly made her a famous and popular character, turning her into a female icon of SNK. According to a retrospective article by [[GamesRadar]], in the early 1990s "gaming magazines were abuzz with commentary on what Mai's bobbing bosom meant for the industry - it was like witnessing (half-naked) women entering the workplace for the first time."<ref>[http://www.gamesradar.com/f/game-babes-a-history/a-200712149195127021/p-3 Game babes: A history (The era: Early '90s)], GamesRadar, December 14, 2007</ref>{{ref|c|[note 3]}} In 2009, SNK Playmore's decision to not add to her in any form in ''[[The King of Fighters XII]]'' has disappointed and even upset many fans.<ref>Stephen Totilo, [http://kotaku.com/5294551/fan+favorite-mai-definitely-not-in-next-king-of-fighters-could-be-dlc Fan-Favorite Mai Definitely Not In Next King of Fighters], Kotaku, 17 June 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.destructoid.com/king-of-fighters-xiii-bringing-back-mai-s-breasts-168876.phtml King of Fighters XIII bringing back Mai's breasts], Destructoid, March 25, 2010</ref><ref>[http://orochinagi.com/2010/03/kof-xiii-news-predictions-mai KOF XIII - No Mai no Buy? | Orochinagi: The King of Fighters]</ref> She is also noted to be popular in the [[cosplay]] community,<ref name=finest /><ref name=pcworld /> including a homage video ''Queen of Fighters 2005'' released by the pornographic actress Misa Nishida<ref name="cosplay">Brian Ashcraft, [http://kotaku.com/gaming/hot-tears-of-shame/the-queen-of-fighters-329527.php The Queen of Fighters], Kotaku, Dec 4, 2007</ref> and a 2012 cosplay by the Taiwanese model [[Yoyo Mung]].<ref>Brian Ashcraft, [http://kotaku.com/5887912/mai-shiranui-brought-to-life/gallery/1?popular=true Mai Shiranui, Brought to Life], Kotaku, February 24, 2012</ref>
Mai's [[sex appeal]] has quickly made her a famous and popular character, turning her into a female icon of SNK. According to a retrospective article by [[GamesRadar]], in the early 1990s "gaming magazines were abuzz with commentary on what Mai's bobbing bosom meant for the industry - it was like witnessing (half-naked) women entering the workplace for the first time."<ref>[http://www.gamesradar.com/f/game-babes-a-history/a-200712149195127021/p-3 Game babes: A history (The era: Early '90s)], GamesRadar, December 14, 2007</ref>{{ref|c|[note 3]}} In 2009, SNK Playmore's decision to not add to her in any form in ''[[The King of Fighters XII]]'' has disappointed and even upset many fans.<ref>Stephen Totilo, [http://kotaku.com/5294551/fan+favorite-mai-definitely-not-in-next-king-of-fighters-could-be-dlc Fan-Favorite Mai Definitely Not In Next King of Fighters], Kotaku, 17 June 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.destructoid.com/king-of-fighters-xiii-bringing-back-mai-s-breasts-168876.phtml King of Fighters XIII bringing back Mai's breasts], Destructoid, March 25, 2010</ref><ref>[http://orochinagi.com/2010/03/kof-xiii-news-predictions-mai KOF XIII - No Mai no Buy? | Orochinagi: The King of Fighters]</ref> She is also noted to be popular in the [[cosplay]] community,<ref name=finest /><ref name=pcworld /> including a homage video ''Queen of Fighters 2005'' released by the pornographic actress Misa Nishida,<ref name="cosplay">Brian Ashcraft, [http://kotaku.com/gaming/hot-tears-of-shame/the-queen-of-fighters-329527.php The Queen of Fighters], Kotaku, Dec 4, 2007</ref> and a 2012 cosplay by the Taiwanese model [[Yoyo Mung]].<ref>Brian Ashcraft, [http://kotaku.com/5887912/mai-shiranui-brought-to-life/gallery/1?popular=true Mai Shiranui, Brought to Life], Kotaku, February 24, 2012</ref>


''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly|EGM]]'' ranked Mai as tenth on the list of the best women of fighting games in 1993<ref>''EGM'' 53 (December 1993), page 66</ref> and awarded her the title of Hottest Game Babe of 1994.<ref name="egmbuyersguide1995">{{cite journal |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1995 |title=Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide |journal= |volume= |issue= |pages= |id= |url= |accessdate=2009-01-09 |quote= }}</ref> Japanese magazine ''Gamest'' named Mai her as one of the best characters in video gaming for five consecutive years in their annual awards, placing her at second place in 1994, tenth in 1995, 21st in 1996, 28st in 1997, and 25th in 1998.<ref>{{cite journal |title=ベストキャラクター賞 |trans_title=Best Character Award |journal=Gamest |issue=107 |year=1994 |month=February |page=32 |author=Staff | language=Japanese | publisher=Shinseisha}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=ベストキャラクター賞 |trans_title=Best Character Award |journal=Gamest |issue=136 |date=30 January 1995|page=50 |author=Staff | language=Japanese | publisher=Shinseisha}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=ベストキャラクター賞 |trans_title=Best Character Award |journal=Gamest |issue=162 |date=30 January 1996|page=48 |author=Staff | language=Japanese | publisher=Shinseisha}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=ベストキャラクター賞 |trans_title=Best Character Award |journal=Gamest |issue=188 |date=30 January 1997|page=54 |author=Staff | language=Japanese | publisher=Shinseisha}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=ベストキャラクター賞 |trans_title=Best Character Award |journal=Gamest |issue=212 |date=30 January 1998|page=102 |author=Staff | language=Japanese | publisher=Shinseisha}}</ref> Mai was featured in many lists of the most sexy female characters in video games, including being ranked as the fourth top "babe in games" by [[GameSpy]] in 2003,<ref name="topten">Bryan Johnson, [http://archive.gamespy.com/top10/may03/gamebabes/index.shtml Top Ten Babes in Games], GameSpy, May 4, 2003</ref> as the sixth "hottest game babe" by [[GameDaily]] in 2008,<ref>[http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/top-25-hottest-game-babes?icid=aimDBDL3_link1-a&page=46 Top 50 Hottest Game Babes on Trial]. GameDaily. Retrieved on 2008-12-29 {{Dead link|date=September 2011}}</ref> as fifth among gaming's "hottest babes" by [[MSN]] in 2009 ("the developers may have created a character that will upset every [[feminism|feminist]] out there, but the guys ain't complaining"),<ref>[http://computing.in.msn.com/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=3212260&page=5 Gaming's Hottest Babes: Mai Shiranui], MSN, September 7, 2009</ref> as the fourth "hottest video game babe ever" by PopCrunch in 2010,<ref>[http://www.popcrunch.com/10-hottest-video-game-babes-ever/ 10 Hottest Video Game Babes Ever], PopCrunch, March 25th, 2010</ref> and as the fourth "hottest video game girl of all time" by [[CraveOnline]] that same year.<ref>Johnny Firecloud, [http://www.craveonline.com/gaming/articles/132296-the-hottest-girls-in-gaming The Hottest Girls in Gaming], CraveOnline, November 16, 2010</ref>
''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' ranked Mai as tenth on the list of the best women of fighting games in 1993,<ref>''EGM'' 53 (December 1993), page 66</ref> and awarded her the title of Hottest Game Babe of 1994.<ref name="egmbuyersguide1995">{{cite journal |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1995 |title=Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide |journal= |volume= |issue= |pages= |id= |url= |accessdate=2009-01-09 |quote= }}</ref> Japanese magazine ''Gamest'' named Mai her as one of the best characters in video gaming for five consecutive years in their annual awards, placing her at second place in 1994, tenth in 1995, 21st in 1996, 28st in 1997, and 25th in 1998.<ref>{{cite journal |title=ベストキャラクター賞 |trans_title=Best Character Award |journal=Gamest |issue=107 |year=1994 |month=February |page=32 |author=Staff | language=Japanese | publisher=Shinseisha}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=ベストキャラクター賞 |trans_title=Best Character Award |journal=Gamest |issue=136 |date=30 January 1995|page=50 |author=Staff | language=Japanese | publisher=Shinseisha}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=ベストキャラクター賞 |trans_title=Best Character Award |journal=Gamest |issue=162 |date=30 January 1996|page=48 |author=Staff | language=Japanese | publisher=Shinseisha}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=ベストキャラクター賞 |trans_title=Best Character Award |journal=Gamest |issue=188 |date=30 January 1997|page=54 |author=Staff | language=Japanese | publisher=Shinseisha}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=ベストキャラクター賞 |trans_title=Best Character Award |journal=Gamest |issue=212 |date=30 January 1998|page=102 |author=Staff | language=Japanese | publisher=Shinseisha}}</ref> Mai was featured in many lists of the most sexy female characters in video games, including being ranked as the fourth top "babe in games" by [[GameSpy]] in 2003,<ref name="topten">Bryan Johnson, [http://archive.gamespy.com/top10/may03/gamebabes/index.shtml Top Ten Babes in Games], GameSpy, May 4, 2003</ref> as the sixth "hottest game babe" by [[GameDaily]] in 2008,<ref>[http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/top-25-hottest-game-babes?icid=aimDBDL3_link1-a&page=46 Top 50 Hottest Game Babes on Trial]. GameDaily. Retrieved on 2008-12-29 {{Dead link|date=September 2011}}</ref> as fifth among gaming's "hottest babes" by [[MSN]] in 2009 ("the developers may have created a character that will upset every [[feminism|feminist]] out there, but the guys ain't complaining"),<ref>[http://computing.in.msn.com/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=3212260&page=5 Gaming's Hottest Babes: Mai Shiranui], MSN, September 7, 2009</ref> as the fourth "hottest video game babe ever" by PopCrunch in 2010,<ref>[http://www.popcrunch.com/10-hottest-video-game-babes-ever/ 10 Hottest Video Game Babes Ever], PopCrunch, March 25th, 2010</ref> and as the fourth "hottest video game girl of all time" by [[CraveOnline]] that same year.<ref>Johnny Firecloud, [http://www.craveonline.com/gaming/articles/132296-the-hottest-girls-in-gaming The Hottest Girls in Gaming], CraveOnline, November 16, 2010</ref>


GamesDaily featured Mai three times in the babe-of-the-week series in the galleries "Outrageous Boobs",<ref>[http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/babe-of-the-week-outrageous-boobs/111/?page=7 Babe of the Week: Outrageous Boobs]. GameDaily. Retrieved on 2008-12-29 {{Dead link|date=September 2011}}</ref> "Asian Beauties"<ref>Workman, Robert (2009-02-06). [http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/babe-of-the-week-asian-beauties/?page=10 Babe of the Week: Asian Beauties]. GameDaily. Retrieved on 2009-02-09 {{Dead link|date=September 2011}}</ref> and the special "Mai Shiranui",<ref>[http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/babe-of-the-week-mai-shiranui/ Babe of the Week: Mai Shiranui]. GameDaily. Retrieved on 2008-12-29 {{Dead link|date=September 2011}}</ref> as well as in the 2007 article "Boobs Through the Years" ("when it comes to 2-D breasts, no character tops Mai Shiranui").<ref>[http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/boobs-through-the-years/127?page=5 Boobs Through the Years]. GameDaily. Retrieved on 2008-12-29 {{Dead link|date=September 2011}}</ref> ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'' included her in their 2010 lists of 50 "hottest women in video games"<ref>[http://www.complex.com/video-games/2010/11/the-50-hottest-women-in-video-games/mai-shiranui The 50 Hottest Women In Video Games | Complex.com]</ref> and ten "hottest video game girls".<ref>[http://www.complex.com/girls/2009/02/the-10-hottest-video-game-girls The 10 Hottest Video Game Girls | Complex]</ref> [[UGO.com]] ranked Mai as the seventh on the list of top "girls of gaming" in 2008 (describing her as "an unapologetic sex symbol" and a [[mascot]] for both the ''King of Fighters'' series and SNK as a whole)<ref>UGO Team, [http://www.ugo.com/games/gaming-girls/?cur=mai-shiranui Top 11 Girls of Gaming], UGO.com, January 15, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-12-28</ref> and as the sixth "hottest videogame hottie" in 2010 (calling her the "Chun-Li of the SNK universe" and stating their preference for her over this [[Capcom]] character).<ref>UGO Team, [http://www.ugo.com/games/video-game-hotties/?cur=mai-shiranui&morepics=33 Video Game Hotties: Who's The Hottest?], UGO.com, October 27, 2011. Retrieved on 2008-12-14</ref> In 2011, UGO also listed her among the 25 finest female characters of fighting games,<ref name=finest>[http://www.ugo.com/games/mai-shiranui Fighting Games' Finest Female Fighters], UGO.com, January 14, 2011</ref> while her breasts were ranked as the fifth best in gaming history by [[GameFront]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamefront.com/the-greatest-boobs-in-video-game-history-gallery/ |title=The Greatest Boobs In Video Game History (Gallery) |publisher=GameFront |date= May 5, 2011 |author=Ross Lincoln}}</ref> and as the number one by Joystick Division.<ref>Rich Shivener, [http://www.joystickdivision.com/2011/08/10_incredible_chests_in_video.php 10 Incredible Chests in Video Games], Joystick Division, August 1, 2011</ref>
GamesDaily featured Mai three times in the babe-of-the-week series in the galleries "Outrageous Boobs",<ref>[http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/babe-of-the-week-outrageous-boobs/111/?page=7 Babe of the Week: Outrageous Boobs]. GameDaily. Retrieved on 2008-12-29 {{Dead link|date=September 2011}}</ref> "Asian Beauties"<ref>Workman, Robert (2009-02-06). [http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/babe-of-the-week-asian-beauties/?page=10 Babe of the Week: Asian Beauties]. GameDaily. Retrieved on 2009-02-09 {{Dead link|date=September 2011}}</ref> and the special "Mai Shiranui",<ref>[http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/babe-of-the-week-mai-shiranui/ Babe of the Week: Mai Shiranui]. GameDaily. Retrieved on 2008-12-29 {{Dead link|date=September 2011}}</ref> as well as in the 2007 article "Boobs Through the Years" ("when it comes to 2-D breasts, no character tops Mai Shiranui").<ref>[http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/boobs-through-the-years/127?page=5 Boobs Through the Years]. GameDaily. Retrieved on 2008-12-29 {{Dead link|date=September 2011}}</ref> ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'' included her in their 2010 lists of 50 "hottest women in video games"<ref>[http://www.complex.com/video-games/2010/11/the-50-hottest-women-in-video-games/mai-shiranui The 50 Hottest Women In Video Games | Complex.com]</ref> and ten "hottest video game girls".<ref>[http://www.complex.com/girls/2009/02/the-10-hottest-video-game-girls The 10 Hottest Video Game Girls | Complex]</ref> [[UGO.com]] ranked Mai as the seventh on the list of top "girls of gaming" in 2008 (describing her as "an unapologetic sex symbol" and a [[mascot]] for both the ''King of Fighters'' series and SNK as a whole)<ref>UGO Team, [http://www.ugo.com/games/gaming-girls/?cur=mai-shiranui Top 11 Girls of Gaming], UGO.com, January 15, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-12-28</ref> and as the sixth "hottest videogame hottie" in 2010 (calling her the "[[Chun-Li]] of the SNK universe" and stating their preference for her over this [[Capcom]] character).<ref>UGO Team, [http://www.ugo.com/games/video-game-hotties/?cur=mai-shiranui&morepics=33 Video Game Hotties: Who's The Hottest?], UGO.com, October 27, 2011. Retrieved on 2008-12-14</ref> In 2011, UGO also listed her among the 25 finest female characters of fighting games,<ref name=finest>[http://www.ugo.com/games/mai-shiranui Fighting Games' Finest Female Fighters], UGO.com, January 14, 2011</ref> while her breasts were ranked as the fifth best in gaming history by [[GameFront]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamefront.com/the-greatest-boobs-in-video-game-history-gallery/ |title=The Greatest Boobs In Video Game History (Gallery) |publisher=GameFront |date= May 5, 2011 |author=Ross Lincoln}}</ref> and as the number one by Joystick Division.<ref>Rich Shivener, [http://www.joystickdivision.com/2011/08/10_incredible_chests_in_video.php 10 Incredible Chests in Video Games], Joystick Division, August 1, 2011</ref>


In addition, Mai was featured on several lists of top ten ninja characters in video games, including by [[CrunchGear]] in 2008 (ranked seventh),<ref>Devin Coldewey, [http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/03/31/top-ten-video-game-ninjas/ CrunchArcade: Top Ten Video Game Ninjas], CrunchGear, March 31, 2008</ref> and [[GamePro]] (ranked sixth)<ref name=pcworld>[http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/321647/top_ten_video_game_ninjas/?pp=6 Top Ten video game ninjas], GamePro, August 6, 2010 (hosted on PCWorld)</ref> and Wild Gunmen (ranked ninth) in 2010.<ref>[http://wildgunmen.com/blog/2010/09/15/top-10-video-game-ninjas/ The Top 10 Ninjas In Video Games], Wild Gunmen, September 15, 2010</ref> In 2011, UGO.com also listed her as one of 25 "hot ninja girls" in entertainment<ref>UGO Team, [http://www.ugo.com/girls/hot-ninja-girls?page=2 Ninja Chicks are So Freakin' Hot], UGO.com, January 5, 2011</ref> and [[msnbc.com]] included Mai's classic costume as one of the five most preposterous outfits in games.<ref>Winda Benedetti, [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26164158/?pg=6#games_top5_080812_RidiculousGetups Top 5 most preposterous getups in games], msnbc.com, August 29, 2011</ref>
In addition, Mai was featured on several lists of top ten ninja characters in video games, including by [[CrunchGear]] in 2008 (ranked seventh),<ref>Devin Coldewey, [http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/03/31/top-ten-video-game-ninjas/ CrunchArcade: Top Ten Video Game Ninjas], CrunchGear, March 31, 2008</ref> and [[GamePro]] (ranked sixth)<ref name=pcworld>[http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/321647/top_ten_video_game_ninjas/?pp=6 Top Ten video game ninjas], GamePro, August 6, 2010 (hosted on PCWorld)</ref> and Wild Gunmen (ranked ninth) in 2010.<ref>[http://wildgunmen.com/blog/2010/09/15/top-10-video-game-ninjas/ The Top 10 Ninjas In Video Games], Wild Gunmen, September 15, 2010</ref> In 2011, UGO.com also listed her as one of 25 "hot ninja girls" in entertainment,<ref>UGO Team, [http://www.ugo.com/girls/hot-ninja-girls?page=2 Ninja Chicks are So Freakin' Hot], UGO.com, January 5, 2011</ref> and [[msnbc.com]] included Mai's classic costume as one of the five most preposterous outfits in games.<ref>Winda Benedetti, [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26164158/?pg=6#games_top5_080812_RidiculousGetups Top 5 most preposterous getups in games], msnbc.com, August 29, 2011</ref> In 2012, Nintendo World Report ranked Mai as the third top chesty heroine on [[Nintendo]] systems, calling her "the queen of gaming cleavage".<ref>Zachary Miller, [http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/29319 Fave Five... Chesty Heroines on Nintendo Systems], Nintendo World Report, February 24, 2012</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==

Revision as of 10:46, 21 March 2012

Mai Shiranui
'Fatal Fury, The King of Fighters, SNK vs. Capcom' character
File:Mai-mi2.png
Mai Shiranui in NeoGeo Battle Coliseum
First gameFatal Fury 2 (1992)
Created byUndisclosed

Mai Shiranui (不知火 舞, Shiranui Mai) is a player character in both the Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters series of fighting games by SNK and in related media, also appearing in a large number of other games. Since her first appearance in 1992, Mai has been converted into and recognized as the main sex symbol of SNK, becoming one of the most popular female characters of video gaming in general.

Mai Shiranui is the granddaughter of Hanzo Shiranui, the now-deceased master of ninjitsu and an art of Shiranui-ryū ninja hand-to-hand combat called koppo-ken. In her mind, Andy Bogard, who studied Shiranui ninjutsu with her grandfather since their early teens, is her fiancé; the relationship between the two is often ambiguous (usually on the part of Andy). Mai has also studied at her grandfather's friend, the judo master Jubei Yamada. She uses a closed fan while fighting and is able to create and control fire ("Shiranui" is the Japanese name for will-o'-the-wisp).

Character design

Prior to the creation of Mai for Fatal Fury 2, the Fatal Fury series would feature a male ninja master using the fighting style that she would use. Later, the SNK staff changed their focus to including an idol character into the series, and they decided to replace him with Mai. Inspiration for Mai's physical appearance and attributes were culled from a variety of sources. According to the official Neo Geo publication Neo Geo Freak, her breasts were modeled after Fumie Hosokawa and her buttocks were modeled after Ai Iijima (both women were famous Japanese gravure idols during the creation of the Fatal Fury series).[2] The characteristic "bounce" effect of Mai's breasts was inspired by tales of kunoichi (female ninja) who supposedly used seduction to catch enemies off guard.[3] Due to censorship, Mai's chest motions were stilled in the international home version of The King of Fighters '94[4] as well as in the UK version of '95 for the Sega Saturn.[5]

Mai's basic look changes only slightly through most of the Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters games. She has long brown hair (however, in some official art she has red) with long bangs framing the sides of her face, tied up in a thick, long ponytail which flows behind her back. Her costume is usually a sleeveless, skimpy red outfit or tunic. The costume is held at her waist by a decorative waistband, often with long, trailing decorative tails, leading down to a loincloth with a thong underneath (or mini-shorts in the US version). Her footwear for Fatal Fury 2, Fatal Fury Special (1993) and The King of Fighters games is a pair of soft-soled tabi. From Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory onwards into Real Bout Fatal Fury (both in 1995), she wears instep guards that leave her heels and the front parts of her feet exposed. In Fatal Fury 3, she also wore a red vest (which was abandoned later on) and a heavier eye shadow. Mai has been subject to much regional censoring and her famous breast bouncing animation was removed in the North American versions of Fatal Fury 2, Fatal Fury Special and The King of Fighters 2002.

In The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact (2004), her alternate costumes portray her with very short, boyish hair and ninja outfits that resemble that of Kasumi from the Dead or Alive series. In KOF: Maximum Impact 2 (2006), one of Mai's second outfit color schemes is exactly Andy Bogard's standard palette, even giving Mai blonde hair. Another of her outfits bears a resemblance to the character Lum Invader from the manga and anime series Urusei Yatsura (long green hair, clothes sporting tiger prints, and her hairpin even makes it look like she had small horns). This costume is also considered to be a cosplay of Cham Cham from SNK's Samurai Showdown series. The Maximum Impact series' producer, Falcoon, stated that designing Mai's alternate design was one of the ones he felt "unforgivable", as he felt unsure of fans' reaction to the change.[6] Shinkiro, an illustrator from The King of Fighters, commented that Mai was the most difficult to draw since he "thought she was going to burst out of her costume", making the series less recommended for children.[7]

In video games

Fatal Fury

Mai stars in Fatal Fury 2 to assist Andy Bogard, with whom she is in love, into facing the new host of The King of Fighters tournament, Wolfgang Krauser. She also plays a supporting role in Fatal Fury 3 and Real Bout Fatal Fury into fighting Geese Howard, the criminal who killed Andy and Terry's father, Jeff Bogard. The following games from the series, Real Bout Fatal Fury Special (1997) and Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers (1998), do not contain a storyline. The 3D fighting game Fatal Fury: Wild Ambition (1999) retells the story of Fatal Fury: King of Fighters, which originally did not feature Mai.

The King of Fighters

The King of Fighters series tournament also feature Mai as a regular character participating in the annual tournaments in the Women Fighters Team. Initially, the team is composed of Mai and King and Yuri Sakazaki from the Art of Fighting series, but it changes constantly. In The King of Fighters '99, the teams were expanded to four members, and so Mai goes to the Fatal Fury Team (composed of Terry, Andy and Joe Higashi). She returns to the Women Fighters Team in The King of Fighters 2000 for the following games, until she leaves competition in The King of Fighters XI (2005) in order to search for Andy who was absent in 2003 (Mai appears in the PS2 version of the game as a hidden character). In The King of Fighters XIII (2010), she returns to the series along with the other two members of the '94 Women's Team.[8][9]

Other appearances

Mai is present as a playable character in every game in the SNK vs. Capcom crossover fighting game series since 1999, featured in a role of a rival to Street Fighter's Chun-Li, and appears as a playable character in Namco Bandai's tactical role-playing game Queen's Gate: Spiral Chaos released for the PSP in 2011.[10] She is also a playable character in the fighting games SNK Gals' Fighters (2000) and NeoGeo Battle Coliseum (2005),[11] in the shooting game The King of Fighters Sky Stage (2010),[12][13] in the quiz game Quiz King of Fighters (1995), and in the mobile games SNK Beach Volley～GAL'S ATTACK～ and Neo Geo Tennis Coliseum,[14][15] as well as in many minor mobile games.[note 1]

In The King of Fighters: Kyo, a role-playing game settled right in between KOF'96 and KOF'97, Mai is not a non-playable character who provides Kyo Kusanagi with info and help during his trials. She is also a character in the four games in the dating simulation series Days of Memories (first, fifth, eighth and ninth), and made cameo appearances in character endings in Samurai Shodown,[16][17] Art of Fighting 2, Shinsetsu Samurai Spirits: Bushidou Retsuden (in the Neo Geo CD version only) and The King of Fighters: Battle de Paradise. In the North American release of Art of Fighting it was implied that Eiji Kisaragi has feelings for her[18] but the original Japanese version contains nothing of the sort canon-wise.

Gameplay

According to Sega Saturn Magazine, Mai "is one of the easiest characters to master and also has a huge range of pyrotechnically astounding special moves" in Real Bout Fatal Fury.[19]

In other media

Mai makes her first anime appearance in Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle (1993), where she follows Andy on his travels to find Krauser in Germany, where she is approached and later attacked by Laurence Blood. Andy defeats Blood and rescues Mai.[20] In Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture (1994), Mai is present with Terry, Andy and Joe when the quest to find the Armor of Mars and stop the would-be conqueror Laocorn Gaudeamus is given to them by Sulia, Laocorn's sister; as usual, Mai tags along mostly as an excuse to spend time with Andy.[21] She also has a minor role in the 2005 original net animation The King of Fighters: Another Day.[22]

In the 2009 live-action film The King of Fighters, loosely based on the game series, Mai was played by Maggie Q,[23] bearing little resemblance to the video game character.[24] As in the case of the rest of KOF characters in the film, her appearance, biography, and personality were re-designed from scratch.

In promotion and merchandise

Mai is a featured character[25] in one of the Queen's Gate gamebooks, published by Hobby Japan in 2008 as part of its Queen's Blade erotic system.[26] She also appears as a roulette character in several pachinko game machines.[note 2]

Scores[27] of different figures and dolls were made in her image by Aizu Project,[28] Max Factory,[29] Daiki[30][31] and many other manufacturers. An action figure figure was also made in the Cy Girls series.[32] A third-party company has made a custom Neo Geo joystick controller for PlayStation consoles decorated with Mai-related imagery.[33] Several official Mai T-shirts were also released[27] and she has a number of cards (including a starter deck) in the Universal Fighting System collectible card game.[34]

Reception

Mai's sex appeal has quickly made her a famous and popular character, turning her into a female icon of SNK. According to a retrospective article by GamesRadar, in the early 1990s "gaming magazines were abuzz with commentary on what Mai's bobbing bosom meant for the industry - it was like witnessing (half-naked) women entering the workplace for the first time."[35][note 3] In 2009, SNK Playmore's decision to not add to her in any form in The King of Fighters XII has disappointed and even upset many fans.[36][37][38] She is also noted to be popular in the cosplay community,[39][40] including a homage video Queen of Fighters 2005 released by the pornographic actress Misa Nishida,[41] and a 2012 cosplay by the Taiwanese model Yoyo Mung.[42]

Electronic Gaming Monthly ranked Mai as tenth on the list of the best women of fighting games in 1993,[43] and awarded her the title of Hottest Game Babe of 1994.[44] Japanese magazine Gamest named Mai her as one of the best characters in video gaming for five consecutive years in their annual awards, placing her at second place in 1994, tenth in 1995, 21st in 1996, 28st in 1997, and 25th in 1998.[45][46][47][48][49] Mai was featured in many lists of the most sexy female characters in video games, including being ranked as the fourth top "babe in games" by GameSpy in 2003,[50] as the sixth "hottest game babe" by GameDaily in 2008,[51] as fifth among gaming's "hottest babes" by MSN in 2009 ("the developers may have created a character that will upset every feminist out there, but the guys ain't complaining"),[52] as the fourth "hottest video game babe ever" by PopCrunch in 2010,[53] and as the fourth "hottest video game girl of all time" by CraveOnline that same year.[54]

GamesDaily featured Mai three times in the babe-of-the-week series in the galleries "Outrageous Boobs",[55] "Asian Beauties"[56] and the special "Mai Shiranui",[57] as well as in the 2007 article "Boobs Through the Years" ("when it comes to 2-D breasts, no character tops Mai Shiranui").[58] Complex included her in their 2010 lists of 50 "hottest women in video games"[59] and ten "hottest video game girls".[60] UGO.com ranked Mai as the seventh on the list of top "girls of gaming" in 2008 (describing her as "an unapologetic sex symbol" and a mascot for both the King of Fighters series and SNK as a whole)[61] and as the sixth "hottest videogame hottie" in 2010 (calling her the "Chun-Li of the SNK universe" and stating their preference for her over this Capcom character).[62] In 2011, UGO also listed her among the 25 finest female characters of fighting games,[39] while her breasts were ranked as the fifth best in gaming history by GameFront,[63] and as the number one by Joystick Division.[64]

In addition, Mai was featured on several lists of top ten ninja characters in video games, including by CrunchGear in 2008 (ranked seventh),[65] and GamePro (ranked sixth)[40] and Wild Gunmen (ranked ninth) in 2010.[66] In 2011, UGO.com also listed her as one of 25 "hot ninja girls" in entertainment,[67] and msnbc.com included Mai's classic costume as one of the five most preposterous outfits in games.[68] In 2012, Nintendo World Report ranked Mai as the third top chesty heroine on Nintendo systems, calling her "the queen of gaming cleavage".[69]

Notes

1.^note 1 Such as The King of Fighters Mahjong, The King of Fighters Volleyball, The King of Millionaire, KOF Gals Mahjong, SNK Beach Volley Gal's Attack, SNK Gal's Open ~Cutey Shot~ and SNK Gals Island Dokidoki Puzzle Shock!.
2.^note 2 Including the pachinko slot machines "Garou Densetsu The Legend of Wild Wolf", "Garou Densetsu Special", "The King of Fighters", "The King of Fighters 2" and "Maximum Impact".
2.^note 3 An example of this could be the review of Fatal Fury 2 by VG&CE ("if Street Fighter's Chun Li turns you on, you're bound to be tittulated by the sight of Mai Shiranui, who jiggles through the battle wearing next-to-nothing from the waist down").[70]

References

  1. ^ "Famitsu interview with Ami Koshimizu (Japanese)". Famitsu website. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
  2. ^ KOFキャラクターズ―KOF’94~’97 全45キャラ設定資料完全収録 (in Japanese). Neo Geo Freak. 1998. ISBN 978-4874654064.
  3. ^ SNK Playmore (2000). ALL ABOUT SNK対戦格闘ゲーム〈1991‐2000〉. SNK Playmore. ISBN 978-4885546778. Template:Jp icon
  4. ^ "Successive characters: Mai". King of Fighters 10th anniversary. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  5. ^ Computer & Video Games 188 (July 1997), p. 76
  6. ^ "アナザーコスチュームのこと・・・（一回目）". Falcoon's official blog. Retrieved 2009-01-21. Template:Jp icon
  7. ^ "Interview with Eiji". King of Fighters 10th anniversary. Retrieved 2009-01-24. [dead link‍]
  8. ^ "アッシュ編がついに完結！ 舞にユリ、キングも参戦する『KOF XIII』は夏稼働 - 電撃オンライン" (in Japanese). Dengki Online. 2010-03-25. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  9. ^ Michael Grimm, King of Fighters XIII coming to consoles, and don’t worry, Mai Shiranui is back, GamesRadar, July 6, 2011
  10. ^ "Official website for Queen's Gate: Spiral Chaos" (in Japanese). Bandai Namco Games. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  11. ^ Famitsu. "ネオジオキャラが大暴れ!　『ネオジオ テニス コロシアム』". Famitsu (in Japanese). Retrieved February 7, 2008. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  12. ^ Ciolek, Todd (November 4, 2009). "The X Button Strange Days". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  13. ^ Brian Ashcraft, Mai Shiranui Playable In SNK Shooting Game, Kotaku, Nov 2, 2009
  14. ^ SNK Playmore. "スポーツ：SNK WORLD-i". SNK Playmore (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 28, 2007. Retrieved February 27, 2008. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  15. ^ SNK Playmore. "NEOGEO TENNIS COLISEUM". SNK Playmore (in Japanese). Retrieved February 7, 2008. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  16. ^ Ending for Samurai Shodown-Haohmaru(Neo Geo), The Video Game Museum
  17. ^ Ending for Samurai Shodown-Gen An(Neo Geo), The Video Game Museum
  18. ^ Ending for Art of Fighting 2-Eiji Kisaragi(Neo Geo), The Video Game Museum
  19. ^ Official Sega Saturn Magazine 13 (page 19)
  20. ^ Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle. Viz Video. 1999. {{cite AV media}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |format= requires |url= (help)
  21. ^ Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture. Viz Video. 1999. {{cite AV media}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |format= requires |url= (help)
  22. ^ SNK Playmore (2006-04-27). KOF Maximum Impact 2 (PlayStation 2). SNK Playmore. Level/area: The King of Fighters: Another Day.
  23. ^ Ashcraft, Brian (July 11, 2009). "King of Fighters Movie Promotional Images". Kotaku. Retrieved August 16, 2009.
  24. ^ SMEH – Casting Maggie Q as Mai Shiranui « Revo-Emag | It's funny for geeks
  25. ^ クイーンズゲイト公式ホームページ Template:Jp icon
  26. ^ Brian Ashcraft, Mai Shiranui Ravaged, Kotaku, Oct 31, 2008
  27. ^ a b Databases › Search - MyFigureCollection.net
  28. ^ Aizu Project Mai Shiranui 1/7 Scale Figure, National Console Support, Inc
  29. ^ 西村キヌコレクション 不知火 舞 CAPCOM VS. SNK2, MAX FACTORY Template:Jp icon
  30. ^ Michael McWhertor, Daiki's Spin on Mai Shiranui's T & A, Kotaku, November 28, 2007
  31. ^ ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズ　不知火 舞 PVC：SNKプレイモア ゲーム情報総合サイト　NEOGEO WORLD, SNK Playmore Template:Jp icon
  32. ^ Mai Shiranui 12-inch action figure - by bbi - RTM Spotlight
  33. ^ NEOGEO STICK 3 -扇-version Template:Jp icon
  34. ^ Mai - Universal Fighting Wiki
  35. ^ Game babes: A history (The era: Early '90s), GamesRadar, December 14, 2007
  36. ^ Stephen Totilo, Fan-Favorite Mai Definitely Not In Next King of Fighters, Kotaku, 17 June 2009
  37. ^ King of Fighters XIII bringing back Mai's breasts, Destructoid, March 25, 2010
  38. ^ KOF XIII - No Mai no Buy? | Orochinagi: The King of Fighters
  39. ^ a b Fighting Games' Finest Female Fighters, UGO.com, January 14, 2011
  40. ^ a b Top Ten video game ninjas, GamePro, August 6, 2010 (hosted on PCWorld)
  41. ^ Brian Ashcraft, The Queen of Fighters, Kotaku, Dec 4, 2007
  42. ^ Brian Ashcraft, Mai Shiranui, Brought to Life, Kotaku, February 24, 2012
  43. ^ EGM 53 (December 1993), page 66
  44. ^ "Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide". 1995. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  45. ^ Staff (1994). "ベストキャラクター賞". Gamest (in Japanese) (107). Shinseisha: 32. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  46. ^ Staff (30 January 1995). "ベストキャラクター賞". Gamest (in Japanese) (136). Shinseisha: 50. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  47. ^ Staff (30 January 1996). "ベストキャラクター賞". Gamest (in Japanese) (162). Shinseisha: 48. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  48. ^ Staff (30 January 1997). "ベストキャラクター賞". Gamest (in Japanese) (188). Shinseisha: 54. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  49. ^ Staff (30 January 1998). "ベストキャラクター賞". Gamest (in Japanese) (212). Shinseisha: 102. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  50. ^ Bryan Johnson, Top Ten Babes in Games, GameSpy, May 4, 2003
  51. ^ Top 50 Hottest Game Babes on Trial. GameDaily. Retrieved on 2008-12-29 [dead link‍]
  52. ^ Gaming's Hottest Babes: Mai Shiranui, MSN, September 7, 2009
  53. ^ 10 Hottest Video Game Babes Ever, PopCrunch, March 25th, 2010
  54. ^ Johnny Firecloud, The Hottest Girls in Gaming, CraveOnline, November 16, 2010
  55. ^ Babe of the Week: Outrageous Boobs. GameDaily. Retrieved on 2008-12-29 [dead link‍]
  56. ^ Workman, Robert (2009-02-06). Babe of the Week: Asian Beauties. GameDaily. Retrieved on 2009-02-09 [dead link‍]
  57. ^ Babe of the Week: Mai Shiranui. GameDaily. Retrieved on 2008-12-29 [dead link‍]
  58. ^ Boobs Through the Years. GameDaily. Retrieved on 2008-12-29 [dead link‍]
  59. ^ The 50 Hottest Women In Video Games | Complex.com
  60. ^ The 10 Hottest Video Game Girls | Complex
  61. ^ UGO Team, Top 11 Girls of Gaming, UGO.com, January 15, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-12-28
  62. ^ UGO Team, Video Game Hotties: Who's The Hottest?, UGO.com, October 27, 2011. Retrieved on 2008-12-14
  63. ^ Ross Lincoln (May 5, 2011). "The Greatest Boobs In Video Game History (Gallery)". GameFront.
  64. ^ Rich Shivener, 10 Incredible Chests in Video Games, Joystick Division, August 1, 2011
  65. ^ Devin Coldewey, CrunchArcade: Top Ten Video Game Ninjas, CrunchGear, March 31, 2008
  66. ^ The Top 10 Ninjas In Video Games, Wild Gunmen, September 15, 2010
  67. ^ UGO Team, Ninja Chicks are So Freakin' Hot, UGO.com, January 5, 2011
  68. ^ Winda Benedetti, Top 5 most preposterous getups in games, msnbc.com, August 29, 2011
  69. ^ Zachary Miller, Fave Five... Chesty Heroines on Nintendo Systems, Nintendo World Report, February 24, 2012
  70. ^ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, March 1993 (page 39)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mai_Shiranui&oldid=483089626"