When Mai Shiranui sends out an invitation, even in Street Fighter VI, you’d better answer. Mai Shiranui’s in-game render was revealed today from Capcom in a preview trailer. Like all previews of each fighter, the World Tour default avatar gets first dibs on seeing who the character is. Apparently, Mai’s mastered the art of hiding in small plants.
Mai’s original stage, from her Fatal Fury 2 debut, is shown with her dispatching several other ninjas. In the original game, Mai has a move where she uses her Flying Ninja Squirrel move off of a pillar on the stage. In later games, this move was changed to a charge attack as well as her being able to do it without the need of the pilar. Looks like it might be back, also. Some of her other moves, from previous games in the King of Fighters and Real Bout series, can be seen here, too, such as the Ryuu Enbu anti-air. The raft seems to have stopped, which could just be age.
Her original theme is also present in remix form. After her brush with maybe a training session, Mai welcomes the avatar to the Shiranui clan. As to who will join her in this, perhaps we will see if Sokaku, Andy Bogard(Fatal Fury), or Hokumontaru(Mark of the Wolves), will show face in her World Tour story since they all have connections to the clan. As assumed, Chun-Li will possibly have some sort of story interaction with Mai since the two are considered rivals by both SNK and Capcom.
The model so far seems like a hybrid of her Fatal Fury 3 look and her current King of Fighters look. Yes, this is safe for good little boys and girls. Metro City seems to be a good stop for Mai this round. Mai herself is no stranger to crossovers, also. She’s been in both Dead Or Alive 5 and 6 as a guest character, also.
Mai Shiranui Is Good Girl Enough
The “good girl” line does feel like a snub to Nintendo and Namco’s decision not to include Mai in Smash Bros Ultimate. Masahiro Sakurai made the announcement that Mai Shiranui would not be included in Smash Bros Ultimate during the Terry Bogard update. Sakurai mentioned that the audience was a factor in not including Mai.
The SNK Capcom Connection
Mai will be joining the Season 2 DLC roster alongside M. Bison, fellow SNK Fatal Fury pal Terry Bogard, and Elena – who will end it in Spring 2025. Mai will be showing up in Early 2025. With Capcom revealing her this early, the gameplay is not too far behind. It’s assumed that Mai Shiranui will be coming around before the launch of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves and Capcom Fighting Collection 2.
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 will be bringing back both Capcom Vs SNK titles. Chun-Li and Ken Masters will be joining City of The Wolves as per the TGS 2024 announcement, also. With Terry Bogard’s kit and reception being fairly positive, Capcom might be able to knock it out of the park with Mai’s kit yet again.
