Mature

Mature (マチュア) is a character from The King of Fighters series. She first appeared in The King of Fighters '94 as one of Rugal Bernstein's secretaries, then appeared as a member of the Yagami Team in The King of Fighters '96. Her official nickname is "The Speedy Cruel Beauty" (疾走（しっそ��）する残酷（ざんこく）な美貌（びぼう）).^[1]

Development

The designers at the time created both Mature and Vice with the image of a "ruthless woman" and a "cruel woman" respectively. Their origin story was mostly based on the notion of Rugal employing secretaries prior to The King of Fighters '96. Both women were unavailable during location testing and were likely finished near the end of the game's production schedule.^[2][3]

Mature's original outfit consists of a long skirt with a slit aside. The director for KOF XII notes that the costume played a role in highlighting her "legs" which is her charm point along with emphasizing the unique movement of her fighting style.^[4] However, in KOF XII, the costume was changed to a pants suit close to the secretary theme. The director was aware that people might be disappointed in the costume as it concealed Mature's legs, but he points out that the quality of the 2D dot graphics allows them to add more detail to the wrinkles and fabric's of her clothing whenever she executes an attack.^[4]

Personality

In contrast to Vice, Mature is ruthless, but she likes to toy with her victim a little bit, often using her charms. She seemed to have liked Rugal while they were together. Though Iori killed both of them and continued to be hostile to them as phantoms, she and Vice seem genuinely concerned for Iori's well being and respect his wishes, despite clearly being an enemy of theirs. Their indifference toward Goenitz implied that they are uninterested in the affairs of the Hakkeshu and in connection, Orochi as well.

Powers

• Slashing Hands - Her hands can slash and pierce as if they were knives.
• Cutting Attacks - Mature can infuse her hand strikes with cutting energy.
• Cutting Projectile - Mature can create a projectile made of cutting energy.
• Snake Arms - Mature can stretch her arms in front of her within a long range and with high speed (But it is not as fast as Vice's Snake Arms).
• Negative Energy - Mature can slam a foe out of pure hatred, producing a pillar of dim light with a large skull inside, this attribute sometimes manifests itself in a burst of deep crimson as well.
• Knife Nails - Mature has pink, sharp, acrylic nails, most likely used to cut and slash.
• Hakkeshu: Light - The powers of light grant Mature fast reflexes and movements, along with enhanced speed.
• Solid Illusion Image - Mature can make a copy of herself to assist in slashing for a short period of time.
• Lipstick Trail - Mature can leave a trace of on her lipstick when moving fast, as evidenced in her KOF XIV Climax DM.

Fighting Style

Her fighting style focuses on speed and using her cutting powers. She has some acrobatic maneuvers as well.

Voice Actors

• Hiroko Tsuji - The King of Fighters '96~XIII
• Keiko Tsutsui - The King of Fighters XIV~present
• Yū Shimamura - The King of Fighters: World~present
• Yuki Sakura - King of Fighters movie (Japanese voice)

Live Action Actors

• Monique Ganderton - The King of Fighters movie

Music

• Arashi no Saxophone 2 - The King of Fighters '96, '98 and 2002
• Tranquilizer - The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match
• Arashi no Saxophone 5 - The King of Fighters XIII
• Arashi no Saxophone -KOF XI- - The King of Fighters XIII (when the music is set to "Type B", console version only, shared with Iori Yagami and Vice)
• Saxophone Under the Moon - The King of Fighters XIV

Appearances

Trivia

• Mature, Elisabeth Blanctorche, Kula Diamond, Isla, Vice, Foxy, Ángel and Dolores are the only female members of Team Rivals.

• In Neo-Geo Freak 1998, the characters in KOF '98 have their own interviews. Here are Mature's response to the questions.^[5]
  • What is your aspiration in this competition? - "Aspiration is a careless thing."
  • Who would you like to fight the most? - "Anyone who wants to try is welcome. I'll slice them thin."
  • Who would you like to team up with? / Who would you not like to team up with? - "I want to team with … Yes, Rugal Bernstein? Huh, I'm kidding. The person who I don't want to be with … Chizuru Kagura. She's a little … I hate her. (laughs)
  • What is "KOF" for you? - "The body that stopped the movement is an object, the blood that comes down on it is a painting tool painting the object. Yes … decorations?"
  • Finally, please give a word to your fans. - "You're not thrilled from now on? It's obvious that it's over you in terms of having fun. So a little excessive map … I'm going to be entertaining enough."

• Mature shares her birthday with King and Shingo Yabuki.

• Mature is the only Hakkesshu who has a specific hatred towards a particular clan among the Three Sacred Treasures, their natural enemies as Hakkesshu. Conversely, while she hates Chizuru Kagura, she is rather patronizing and concerned for Iori, though the latest depictions of Mature and Vice towards Iori as of XIII are starting to be more unfriendly.

• Mature and Vice are the only characters of the series who live in the afterlife, but can physically materialize in the world at any time, due to their status of Hakkesshu.
  • In the Samurai Shodown series, Basara is the only character with this condition, due to his status of Yūrei.

References

The King of Fighters characters Kyo Kusanagi • Benimaru Nikaido • Goro Daimon • Terry Bogard • Andy Bogard • Joe Higashi • Ryo Sakazaki • Robert Garcia • Takuma Sakazaki • Ralf Jones • Clark Still • Heidern • Athena Asamiya • Sie Kensou • Chin Gentsai • King • Mai Shiranui • Yuri Sakazaki • Kim Kaphwan • Chang Koehan • Choi Bounge • Heavy-D! • Lucky Glauber • Brian Battler • Rugal Bernstein Iori Yagami • Billy Kane • Eiji Kisaragi • Saisyu Kusanagi • Omega Rugal Leona Heidern • Mature • Vice • Kasumi Todoh • Geese Howard • Wolfgang Krauser • Mr. Big • Chizuru Kagura • Goenitz Shingo Yabuki • Yashiro Nanakase • Shermie • Chris • Blue Mary • Ryuji Yamazaki • Orochi Iori • Orochi Leona • Orochi Yashiro • Orochi Shermie • Orochi Chris • Orochi K' • Maxima • Whip • Bao • Li Xiangfei • Jhun Hoon • Kyo-1 • Kyo-2 • Krizalid Vanessa • Seth • Syo Kirishima • Alfred • Fiolina Germi • Gai Tendo Ramón • Lin • Hinako Shijo • Kula Diamond • Clone Zero • Foxy • Candy Diamond • Another K' • Another Iori • Another Benimaru • Another Robert • Cosplayer Kyoko • Kang Bae Dal • Smart Chang • Cool Choi • Kaoru Watabe • Baitang • Duck King • Lilly Kane • Kim Jae Hoon • Kim Dong Hwan • Unknown • King Lion • Kim Sue-il • Kaede • Duke Edwards • Rocky • Athena • Neo & Geo • G-Mantle May Lee Jinju • K9999 • Ángel • Zero • Ron • Glugan • Igniz • Misty • Nests Moe Habana Kusanagi Reiji Oogami • Jun Kagami • Miu Kurosaki • Sinobu Amou Ash Crimson • Duo Lon • Shen Woo • Tizoc • Gato • Malin • Maki Kagura • Adelheid Bernstein • Mukai Alba Meira • Soiree Meira • Lien Neville • Mignon Beart • Chae Lim • Duke • Rock Howard Oswald • Elisabeth Blanctorche • Momoko • B. Jenet • Shion • Magaki • Silber • Sho Hayate • Jyazu • Hotaru Futaba • Itokatsu • Tung Fu Rue Luise Meyrink • Nagase • Jivatma • Ninon Beart • Hyena • Hanzo Hattori • Kyo Kusanagi Classic • Wild Wolf • Mr. Karate II • Armor Ralf • Richard Meyer Xiao Lon • Makoto Mizoguchi Nightmare Geese Nameless Raiden Hwa Jai • Saiki • Evil Ash • Mr. Karate Shun'ei • Meitenkun • Gang-il • Luong • Xanadu • Sylvie Paula Paula • Kukri • Mian • Nelson • Zarina • Bandeiras Hattori • King of Dinosaurs • Hein • Nakoruru • Mamahaha • Mui Mui • Love Heart • Alice Garnet Nakata • Antonov • Verse • Najd (Aila) Isla (Amanda) • Dolores • Krohnen McDougall • Re Verse • Otoma Raga • Haohmaru • Darli Dagger • Unnamed "Special" DLC Character