Makoto (Street Fighter)
Encyclopedia
is a fictional character from the Street Fighter
video game series. She is a Tosa
n fighter and a Rindōkan karate
expert from Japan
. She first appeared in Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
, and again in Super Street Fighter IV
. She wears a white dougi and a yellow hachimaki
around her neck, intended to demonstrate her speed and trajectory. She is voiced by Makoto Tsumura
in Japanese, and by Jessica D. Stone in English. She speaks in Tosa dialect
, which was accomplished by the development team hiring a professional to supervise the sound development. In 3rd Strike, her father was the former master of the Rindōkan karate dojo. However, after his death, attendance dwindled, and with her brother pursuing a career in business, she is forced to increase the dojo's popularity. Early on, fans speculated that Makoto was Ryu's younger sister due to similar wardrobe.
Since appearing in 3rd Strike, Makoto has received generally positive reception, described as a "fan favorite" by G4TV and a "fan fantasy" by Capcom U.S. VP of Strategic Planning & Business Development Christian Svensson. A bust
of Makoto was created as one of several pieces of merchandise created to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Street Fighter series. She has been included in several lists of Street Fighter characters by quality; IGN
ranked Makoto as the 23rd best character in the series and one of the five most-wanted for inclusion in Super Street Fighter IV; similarly, UGO Networks listed her as one of the top 50 Street Fighter characters. Retronauts praised her as being a "pure street fighter" in comparison to the characters in Street Fighter III and their differences from the characters in Street Fighter II
.
ish, wearing a white dougi and a yellow hachimaki
. The hachimaki is a trademark of Makoto's design, added in 3rd Strike by the development team to demonstrate her speed and trajectory. They used its fluttering as she charged up her Hayate technique as an example. Because there was nothing in the Street Fighter IV engine that allowed them to do that, they had to create this mechanic especially for her. Before the release of 3rd Strike, rumors were circulating among players that Makoto was Ryu's younger sister, due to her similar wardrobe. Makoto's alternate costume in Super Street Fighter IV was the hardest to create out of all the characters' costumes. Her alternate costume consists of a sun hat, denim overalls, and gardening gloves. Makoto's voice is identified by her Tosa dialect
; in order to achieve this, the development team hired a professional in country dialect to supervise the sound recording team. She was the only character in the game to have to be translated into Tosa-ben. MTV
editor Brad Nicholson described her as an "earthy karate master with simple tastes." Her voice was the hardest of all the characters in Super Street Fighter IV to record.
master from the rural Tosa Province
of Japan
introduced in Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike. She later makes an appearance in Super Street Fighter IV
as a playable character. Her father was the previous master of the once prosperous karate dojo
, which has greatly dwindled in attendance ever since the death of Makoto's father. With her brother having chosen not to follow the path of a martial artist by focusing more on the career of a business man, Makoto is left with the sole task of reviving her school's popularity. In her ending, Makoto becomes a young martial arts prodigy after defeating Ryu and numerous other fighters, attracting countless numbers of students interested in learning the art of the Rindoukan school. in Super Street Fighter IV, Fei-Long acts as Makoto's rival.
, Makoto features a unique fighting style, resulting in her having a fan following, according to battle director Taisaku Okada. Battle planner Tamamura stated that she lacked the ability to produce big combos, requiring players to think of how to make each blow land. He added that she was a character who could scare an opponent into not pushing any buttons as Makoto approaches. Okada states that she is one of the three characters categorized as "evil," or "arashi" ("devastating/rush-down"), gameplay-wise; he explains that she is categorized as such because of her ability to defeat her opponent if the match goes her pace for even a moment. Super Street Fighter IV retains much of her mechanics from 3rd Strike. In both games, Makoto has amongst the slowest walking speed, while having amongst the highest running speed. Okada commented that she was an extreme in both regards, making her a difficult character to get used to for even more experienced players. He adds that players with no experience in fighting games who try her before any other character, they may have no problem controlling her. Tsukamoto, operator of the Street Fighter IV
development blog, commented that the inclusion of characters from 3rd Strike gave the development team trouble, specifically mentioning Makoto, who he states was difficult to master, but entertaining to use due to her speed.
Okada commented that Makoto was not intended for beginners, citing her difficulty in dodging projectile attacks. Tamamura added that her lack of range put her at a disadvantage in several situations, requiring players to get close to their opponents in order to show Makoto's potential. When asked who would make a good opponent for Makoto, Okada chose Akuma
, due to both having the potential for the match to be an instant knock-out for either. He states that it would be based on who could break the other's defense first. Capcom's Community Manager Seth Killian described her as "the equivalent of poker's "all in"," explaining that this is because if players fight defensively, they will likely lose. He bases her offensive ability in both her command grab and the "threat of a command grab." He cites the range of this grab, describing her as a "mini-Zangief
," though more dangerous because of her high running speed. However, he notes that her biggest problem is with players and their psychology rather than characters. He adds that a character such as Zangief would give her problems, commenting that since they share similarities in fighting style, both are best used in close combat.
She has a variety of techniques. One of them is the Karakusa, a grab/choke technique, which allows players to get a free attack after it connects. Okada states that figuring out what attack would be most effective to do while the Karakusa is in effect makes her a fun character. He again commented that the Karakusa was an effective way to dominate a match. The efficiency of her Fukiage, an upward punch technique, was changed from 3rd Strike to Super Street Fighter IV; while she would only take a step forward in performing the attack in the EX version of her attack in 3rd Strike, the Normal and Hard versions of the attack in Super Street Fighter IV do this as well. Tamamura states that he believes this will make its use more varied. She has other attacks in 3rd Strike, including the Tsurugi kick, the Oroshi karate chop, the seichusen godanzuki, and the abare tosanami. Super Street Fighter IV champion Justin Wong described her 3rd Strike incarnation as offensive and risky, adding that her Super Street Fighter IV incarnation is less so, featuring similar elements yet not as much so. He comments that her focus is on move recovery; her axe kick is fast and can be performed lower than in 3rd Strike. Similarly, her upward punch is faster, both in use and in recovery. However, her dash punch is slower in Super Street Fighter IV.
Another attack is called the Tanden Renki. While it was originally one of her three Super Arts in 3rd Strike, the developers of Super Street Fighter IV made it her Super while the other two were Ultras. The technique provides an increase in power, yet also prevents players from blocking as Makoto while she is using it. Experienced players could use the parry system found in 3rd Strike in order to overcome this, allowing them to rush towards the opponent and deliver significant damage without taking any themselves. Tamamura stated this technique, if used this way, could effectively be used to win a match. Because Super Street Fighter IV lacks a parrying system, the developers considered allowing Makoto to block while the technique is in effect. However, they also feared that this would make her too powerful. They decided to allow Makoto to block while adjusting the balance. Because no moves had time limits in Street Fighter IV or Super Street Fighter IV, they had to add new rules. They considered making it an ultra-combo, similar to Juri
's feng shui
engine. However, they chose not to, deciding that it would not balance; this resulted in them including both timed ultras and supers.
, Makoto has received mostly positive reception. G4TV described Makoto as a "fan favorite." Capcom U.S.
VP of Strategic Planning & Business Development Christian Svensson commented that Makoto was "sort of the number two in terms of the popularity and "fan fantasy" list." To celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Street Fighter series, Capcom released several items of merchandise, amongst them a bust
of Makoto. Capcom's Community Manager Seth Killian called Makoto one of his "personal favorite characters." IGN
ranked Makoto at number twenty-three in their "Top 25 Street Fighter Characters" article, praising the degree in motion and detail in the character's animation. They also included her in their list of five characters that they went in Super Street Fighter IV
, commenting that it wasn't until Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike that it "found its real star." While stating that she appears to be a "Ryu
wannabe," stating that "in the right hands, she's as powerful as she is stylish, and is quite possible our favourite character from throughout the Street Fighter canon." UGO Networks editor Paul Furfari chose Makoto as one of the top 50 best Street Fighter characters, commenting that in spite of her slow walking speed, she is very fast while running. He adds that she is "one of the few characters that wasn't abandoned after Street Fighter III's less than stellar success at the arcades." Game Developer editor in chief Brandon Sheffield commented that he saw a lot of people saying "Makoto being in the game was a decider for me, a major point whether I was going to buy this."
G4TV editor Matt Keil commented that Makoto made the transition from Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike to Super Street Fighter IV particularly well, in spite of Makoto's "previous reliance on Third Strike’s parry system." Retronauts in their podcast
about the Street Fighter series highlighted Makoto when the discussion turned to Street Fighter III, describing her as "pure Street Fighter" in relation to the rest of the new cast introduced in III and the difference in their style to Street Fighter II. Eurogamer
editor Matt Edwards commented that while he was not a big fan of Makoto in 3rd Strike due to her "risky play-style," Capcom has "subtly toned her down while maintaining her strong offence." GameSpot
editor Randolph Ramsey described her as "one of the deadliest characters in Third Strike in the right hands." GamePro
listed her in the mini list of games with androgynous
females, describing her as a "tomboy." GamesRadar
listed Makoto in their article on "gaming's most devastating genital attacks," commenting on her as the character "nobody likes to play as." Hardcore Gamer editor Arlieth commented that he respected Street Fighter III in spite of it "alienating" him, specifically mentioning Makoto as a character from it that he likes. GameZone editor Dakota Grabowski commented that "it’s unfathomable to think that anyone could not fall in love with Ibuki
and Makoto, introduced in Street Fighter III, all over again."
Street Fighter
, commonly abbreviated as SF, is a series of Fighting Games developed in Japan in which the players pit the video games' competitive fighters from around the world, each with his or her own unique fighting style, against one another...
video game series. She is a Tosa
Tosa Province
is the name of a former province of Japan in the area that is today Kōchi Prefecture on Shikoku. Tosa was bordered by Iyo and Awa Provinces. It was sometimes called .-History:The ancient capital was near modern Nankoku...
n fighter and a Rindōkan karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
expert from Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. She first appeared in Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
Street Fighter III
is a fighting game in Capcom's Street Fighter series, originally released as coin-operated arcade game in . Street Fighter III was produced for the CD-ROM-based CP System III hardware, which allowed for more elaborate 2D graphics than the CPS II-based Street Fighter Alpha games , while revamping...
, and again in Super Street Fighter IV
Super Street Fighter IV
is a 2010 fighting game produced by Capcom. It is an updated version of Street Fighter IV and has been said to mark the definitive end of the Street Fighter IV series. Having been deemed as too large an update to be deployed as DLC, the game was made into a standalone title, but given a lower price...
. She wears a white dougi and a yellow hachimaki
Hachimaki
A hachimaki is a stylized headband in Japanese culture, usually made of red or white cloth, worn as a symbol of perseverance or effort by the wearer. These are worn on many occasions, for example, by sports spectators, by women giving birth, students in cram school, office workers, expert...
around her neck, intended to demonstrate her speed and trajectory. She is voiced by Makoto Tsumura
Makoto Tsumura
is a Japanese voice actress from Hokkaidō formerly affiliated with Mausu Promotion.-Television animation:*Astro Boy *Dokkiri Doctor *Idaten Jump *Inukami! *Ghost Stories...
in Japanese, and by Jessica D. Stone in English. She speaks in Tosa dialect
Tosa dialect
The is spoken in the central and eastern regions of modern day Kōchi Prefecture in Japan. This area was once known as the Tosa area and the name of the dialect still reflects this older name. The dialect itself developed from the linguistic influence of immigrants to the Tosa area from other parts...
, which was accomplished by the development team hiring a professional to supervise the sound development. In 3rd Strike, her father was the former master of the Rindōkan karate dojo. However, after his death, attendance dwindled, and with her brother pursuing a career in business, she is forced to increase the dojo's popularity. Early on, fans speculated that Makoto was Ryu's younger sister due to similar wardrobe.
Since appearing in 3rd Strike, Makoto has received generally positive reception, described as a "fan favorite" by G4TV and a "fan fantasy" by Capcom U.S. VP of Strategic Planning & Business Development Christian Svensson. A bust
Bust (sculpture)
A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
of Makoto was created as one of several pieces of merchandise created to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Street Fighter series. She has been included in several lists of Street Fighter characters by quality; IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
ranked Makoto as the 23rd best character in the series and one of the five most-wanted for inclusion in Super Street Fighter IV; similarly, UGO Networks listed her as one of the top 50 Street Fighter characters. Retronauts praised her as being a "pure street fighter" in comparison to the characters in Street Fighter III and their differences from the characters in Street Fighter II
Street Fighter II
is a competitive fighting game originally released for the arcades in . It is the arcade sequel to the original Street Fighter released in and was Capcom's fourteenth title that ran on the CP System arcade hardware...
.
Character design
Makoto is tomboyTomboy
A tomboy is a girl who exhibits characteristics or behaviors considered typical of the gender role of a boy, including the wearing of typically masculine-oriented clothes and engaging in games and activities that are often physical in nature, and which are considered in many cultures to be the...
ish, wearing a white dougi and a yellow hachimaki
Hachimaki
A hachimaki is a stylized headband in Japanese culture, usually made of red or white cloth, worn as a symbol of perseverance or effort by the wearer. These are worn on many occasions, for example, by sports spectators, by women giving birth, students in cram school, office workers, expert...
. The hachimaki is a trademark of Makoto's design, added in 3rd Strike by the development team to demonstrate her speed and trajectory. They used its fluttering as she charged up her Hayate technique as an example. Because there was nothing in the Street Fighter IV engine that allowed them to do that, they had to create this mechanic especially for her. Before the release of 3rd Strike, rumors were circulating among players that Makoto was Ryu's younger sister, due to her similar wardrobe. Makoto's alternate costume in Super Street Fighter IV was the hardest to create out of all the characters' costumes. Her alternate costume consists of a sun hat, denim overalls, and gardening gloves. Makoto's voice is identified by her Tosa dialect
Tosa dialect
The is spoken in the central and eastern regions of modern day Kōchi Prefecture in Japan. This area was once known as the Tosa area and the name of the dialect still reflects this older name. The dialect itself developed from the linguistic influence of immigrants to the Tosa area from other parts...
; in order to achieve this, the development team hired a professional in country dialect to supervise the sound recording team. She was the only character in the game to have to be translated into Tosa-ben. MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
editor Brad Nicholson described her as an "earthy karate master with simple tastes." Her voice was the hardest of all the characters in Super Street Fighter IV to record.
Appearances
Makoto is a young female KarateKarate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
master from the rural Tosa Province
Tosa Province
is the name of a former province of Japan in the area that is today Kōchi Prefecture on Shikoku. Tosa was bordered by Iyo and Awa Provinces. It was sometimes called .-History:The ancient capital was near modern Nankoku...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
introduced in Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike. She later makes an appearance in Super Street Fighter IV
Super Street Fighter IV
is a 2010 fighting game produced by Capcom. It is an updated version of Street Fighter IV and has been said to mark the definitive end of the Street Fighter IV series. Having been deemed as too large an update to be deployed as DLC, the game was made into a standalone title, but given a lower price...
as a playable character. Her father was the previous master of the once prosperous karate dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
, which has greatly dwindled in attendance ever since the death of Makoto's father. With her brother having chosen not to follow the path of a martial artist by focusing more on the career of a business man, Makoto is left with the sole task of reviving her school's popularity. In her ending, Makoto becomes a young martial arts prodigy after defeating Ryu and numerous other fighters, attracting countless numbers of students interested in learning the art of the Rindoukan school. in Super Street Fighter IV, Fei-Long acts as Makoto's rival.
Gameplay
In Street Fighter III: 3rd StrikeStreet Fighter III: 3rd Strike
is a 2D competitive fighting game produced by Capcom originally released for the arcade in . It is the second follow-up to Street Fighter III, following Street Fighter III 2nd Impact. Like its predecessors, it runs on the CP System III hardware. 3rd Strike increased the character roster by adding...
, Makoto features a unique fighting style, resulting in her having a fan following, according to battle director Taisaku Okada. Battle planner Tamamura stated that she lacked the ability to produce big combos, requiring players to think of how to make each blow land. He added that she was a character who could scare an opponent into not pushing any buttons as Makoto approaches. Okada states that she is one of the three characters categorized as "evil," or "arashi" ("devastating/rush-down"), gameplay-wise; he explains that she is categorized as such because of her ability to defeat her opponent if the match goes her pace for even a moment. Super Street Fighter IV retains much of her mechanics from 3rd Strike. In both games, Makoto has amongst the slowest walking speed, while having amongst the highest running speed. Okada commented that she was an extreme in both regards, making her a difficult character to get used to for even more experienced players. He adds that players with no experience in fighting games who try her before any other character, they may have no problem controlling her. Tsukamoto, operator of the Street Fighter IV
Street Fighter IV
is a fighting game produced by Capcom. It is the first numbered Street Fighter game released by Capcom since . The coin-operated arcade game was released in Japan on July 18, 2008, with North American arcades importing the machines by August...
development blog, commented that the inclusion of characters from 3rd Strike gave the development team trouble, specifically mentioning Makoto, who he states was difficult to master, but entertaining to use due to her speed.
Okada commented that Makoto was not intended for beginners, citing her difficulty in dodging projectile attacks. Tamamura added that her lack of range put her at a disadvantage in several situations, requiring players to get close to their opponents in order to show Makoto's potential. When asked who would make a good opponent for Makoto, Okada chose Akuma
Akuma (Street Fighter)
Akuma known in Japan as , is a video game character from the Street Fighter series of fighting games. Akuma made his debut in Super Street Fighter II Turbo as a secret character and hidden boss. In the storyline of the Street Fighter video games, he is the younger brother of Gouken, Ryu and Ken's...
, due to both having the potential for the match to be an instant knock-out for either. He states that it would be based on who could break the other's defense first. Capcom's Community Manager Seth Killian described her as "the equivalent of poker's "all in"," explaining that this is because if players fight defensively, they will likely lose. He bases her offensive ability in both her command grab and the "threat of a command grab." He cites the range of this grab, describing her as a "mini-Zangief
Zangief
is a fictional character in the Street Fighter series of video games. Created by Akira Yasuda for Capcom, Zangief first appeared in Street Fighter II, later appearing in other games, media, and promotions related to the Street Fighter franchise...
," though more dangerous because of her high running speed. However, he notes that her biggest problem is with players and their psychology rather than characters. He adds that a character such as Zangief would give her problems, commenting that since they share similarities in fighting style, both are best used in close combat.
She has a variety of techniques. One of them is the Karakusa, a grab/choke technique, which allows players to get a free attack after it connects. Okada states that figuring out what attack would be most effective to do while the Karakusa is in effect makes her a fun character. He again commented that the Karakusa was an effective way to dominate a match. The efficiency of her Fukiage, an upward punch technique, was changed from 3rd Strike to Super Street Fighter IV; while she would only take a step forward in performing the attack in the EX version of her attack in 3rd Strike, the Normal and Hard versions of the attack in Super Street Fighter IV do this as well. Tamamura states that he believes this will make its use more varied. She has other attacks in 3rd Strike, including the Tsurugi kick, the Oroshi karate chop, the seichusen godanzuki, and the abare tosanami. Super Street Fighter IV champion Justin Wong described her 3rd Strike incarnation as offensive and risky, adding that her Super Street Fighter IV incarnation is less so, featuring similar elements yet not as much so. He comments that her focus is on move recovery; her axe kick is fast and can be performed lower than in 3rd Strike. Similarly, her upward punch is faster, both in use and in recovery. However, her dash punch is slower in Super Street Fighter IV.
Another attack is called the Tanden Renki. While it was originally one of her three Super Arts in 3rd Strike, the developers of Super Street Fighter IV made it her Super while the other two were Ultras. The technique provides an increase in power, yet also prevents players from blocking as Makoto while she is using it. Experienced players could use the parry system found in 3rd Strike in order to overcome this, allowing them to rush towards the opponent and deliver significant damage without taking any themselves. Tamamura stated this technique, if used this way, could effectively be used to win a match. Because Super Street Fighter IV lacks a parrying system, the developers considered allowing Makoto to block while the technique is in effect. However, they also feared that this would make her too powerful. They decided to allow Makoto to block while adjusting the balance. Because no moves had time limits in Street Fighter IV or Super Street Fighter IV, they had to add new rules. They considered making it an ultra-combo, similar to Juri
Juri (Street Fighter)
, is a fictional character in the Street Fighter series. She is a South Korean fighter who first appears in Super Street Fighter IV. She is a member of the organization S.I.N...
's feng shui
Feng shui
Feng shui ' is a Chinese system of geomancy believed to use the laws of both Heaven and Earth to help one improve life by receiving positive qi. The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu ....
engine. However, they chose not to, deciding that it would not balance; this resulted in them including both timed ultras and supers.
Reception
Since appearing in Street Fighter III: 3rd StrikeStreet Fighter III: 3rd Strike
is a 2D competitive fighting game produced by Capcom originally released for the arcade in . It is the second follow-up to Street Fighter III, following Street Fighter III 2nd Impact. Like its predecessors, it runs on the CP System III hardware. 3rd Strike increased the character roster by adding...
, Makoto has received mostly positive reception. G4TV described Makoto as a "fan favorite." Capcom U.S.
Capcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
VP of Strategic Planning & Business Development Christian Svensson commented that Makoto was "sort of the number two in terms of the popularity and "fan fantasy" list." To celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Street Fighter series, Capcom released several items of merchandise, amongst them a bust
Bust (sculpture)
A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
of Makoto. Capcom's Community Manager Seth Killian called Makoto one of his "personal favorite characters." IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
ranked Makoto at number twenty-three in their "Top 25 Street Fighter Characters" article, praising the degree in motion and detail in the character's animation. They also included her in their list of five characters that they went in Super Street Fighter IV
Super Street Fighter IV
is a 2010 fighting game produced by Capcom. It is an updated version of Street Fighter IV and has been said to mark the definitive end of the Street Fighter IV series. Having been deemed as too large an update to be deployed as DLC, the game was made into a standalone title, but given a lower price...
, commenting that it wasn't until Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike that it "found its real star." While stating that she appears to be a "Ryu
Ryu (Street Fighter)
is a video game player character created by Capcom, the main protagonist of the Street Fighter series. Having premiered in the first Street Fighter in 1987, Ryu appears as the lead character from the game along with his best friend Ken Masters participating in the Street Fighter tournament...
wannabe," stating that "in the right hands, she's as powerful as she is stylish, and is quite possible our favourite character from throughout the Street Fighter canon." UGO Networks editor Paul Furfari chose Makoto as one of the top 50 best Street Fighter characters, commenting that in spite of her slow walking speed, she is very fast while running. He adds that she is "one of the few characters that wasn't abandoned after Street Fighter III's less than stellar success at the arcades." Game Developer editor in chief Brandon Sheffield commented that he saw a lot of people saying "Makoto being in the game was a decider for me, a major point whether I was going to buy this."
G4TV editor Matt Keil commented that Makoto made the transition from Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike to Super Street Fighter IV particularly well, in spite of Makoto's "previous reliance on Third Strike’s parry system." Retronauts in their podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
about the Street Fighter series highlighted Makoto when the discussion turned to Street Fighter III, describing her as "pure Street Fighter" in relation to the rest of the new cast introduced in III and the difference in their style to Street Fighter II. Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
editor Matt Edwards commented that while he was not a big fan of Makoto in 3rd Strike due to her "risky play-style," Capcom has "subtly toned her down while maintaining her strong offence." GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
editor Randolph Ramsey described her as "one of the deadliest characters in Third Strike in the right hands." GamePro
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
listed her in the mini list of games with androgynous
Androgyny
Androgyny is a term derived from the Greek words ανήρ, stem ανδρ- and γυνή , referring to the combination of masculine and feminine characteristics...
females, describing her as a "tomboy." GamesRadar
GamesRadar
GamesRadar is a multi-format video game website featuring regular news, previews, reviews, videos, and guides. It is owned and operated simultaneously in the UK and US by worldwide publisher Future Publishing...
listed Makoto in their article on "gaming's most devastating genital attacks," commenting on her as the character "nobody likes to play as." Hardcore Gamer editor Arlieth commented that he respected Street Fighter III in spite of it "alienating" him, specifically mentioning Makoto as a character from it that he likes. GameZone editor Dakota Grabowski commented that "it’s unfathomable to think that anyone could not fall in love with Ibuki
Ibuki (Street Fighter)
is a video game character from the Street Fighter fighting game series. She along with Elena were the lone female characters in the Street Fighter III series, until 3rd Strike, where they were joined by Makoto and Chun-Li...
and Makoto, introduced in Street Fighter III, all over again."