, known as the , is a
fictional character
In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life perso ...
in the ''
Soulcalibur
is a weapon-based fighting video game franchise by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
There are seven main installments of video games and various media spin-offs, including music albums and a series of manga books. The first game in the series, '' ...
'' series of
historical fantasy
Historical fantasy is a category of fantasy and genre of historical fiction that incorporates fantastic elements (such as magic) into a more "realistic" narrative. There is much crossover with other subgenres of fantasy; those classed as Arthu ...
fighting games by
Namco
was a Japanese multinational video game and entertainment company, headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo. It held several international branches, including Namco America in Santa Clara, California, Namco Europe in London, Namco Taiwan in Kaohsiung, ...
. Taki is a Japanese demon-hunting
kunoichi
is a Japanese cant term for . In popular culture, it is often used for female shinobi or practitioner of ninjutsu (''ninpo''). The term was largely popularized by novelist Yamada Futaro in his novel ''Ninpō Hakkenden'' (忍法八犬伝) in 1964 ...
and the greatest warrior of the
Fu-Ma ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan. The functions of a ninja included reconnaissance, espionage, infiltration, deception, ambush, bodyguarding and their fighting skills in martial arts, including ninjutsu.Kawakami, pp. 2 ...
clan, who is traveling the world on a quest to destroy the powerful swords known as Soul Edge and Soul Calibur.
Taki has been introduced in the original arcade version of ''
Soul Edge
is a fighting game developed by the Namco team Project Soul and published by Namco as the first installment in the ''Soulcalibur'' series of 3D fighting games. Originally released as an arcade game in December 1995 in video gaming, 1995, an upgra ...
'' in 1995 as one of the main characters along with her friend
Sophitia
, better known simply as Sophitia, is a fictional character in the ''Soulcalibur'' series of video games. Created by Namco's Project Soul division, she first appeared in ''Soul Edge'' and its subsequent sequels, as well as appearing in various merc ...
. Taki has been featured as a
player character in every main entry in the series up until 2012's ''
Soulcalibur V
is a fighting game, fighting video game developed and released by Namco Bandai Games for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2012.
The sixth main installment in Namco's ''Soulcalibur (series), Soulcalibur'' series of fighting games, ''Soulcalibur ...
'', when her place was taken by her own young disciple named
Natsu, but returned in 2018's ''
Soulcalibur VI
''Soulcalibur VI'' is a fighting game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Dimps and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows in 2018. It is the seventh main installment in the ''Soulcalibur' ...
''. She has further appeared in all of ''Soulcalibur'' spin-off games, as well as in some other titles such as ''
Namco × Capcom
(pronounced as "Namco Cross Capcom") is a tactical role-playing (RPG) crossover video game developed by Monolith Soft for the PlayStation 2 and published by Namco in 2005. The gameplay combines tactical RPG and action sequences during battles, ...
'' and ''
Queen's Gate
Queen's Gate is a street in South Kensington, London, England. It runs south from Kensington Gardens' Queen's Gate (the edge of which gardens are here followed by Kensington Road) to Old Brompton Road, intersecting Cromwell Road.
The street ...
''.
She has been voiced in Japanese by
Fujiko Takimoto
is a Japanese voice actress from Osaka Prefecture, Japan. On February 2, 2014, she married fellow voice actor and her '' Mahoromatic'' co-star Hideki Ogihara.
Filmography
Anime
*'' Mahoujin Guru Guru'' (1994) (Nike)
*''Captain Tsubasa J'' (19 ...
until ''
Soulcalibur III
is a fighting game, fighting video game produced by Namco as a sequel to ''Soulcalibur II'' and the fourth installment in the ''Soulcalibur'' series. It was originally released for the PlayStation 2 in 2005. An improved arcade game, arcade versi ...
'', and then by
Sachiko Kojima in later games, while her English voice actors included
Desirée Goyette. In terms of gameplay, Taki is most capable at close quarters fighting where her speed, acrobatic agility and powerful kicks are the most effective.
Taki has achieved a significant popularity among the fans of the series, especially in the West. She has received mostly positive feedback, often having been for noted her iconic status in the ''Soul'' series and regarded as one of the best female ninja characters in video games as well as one of
sex symbols of the fighting genre and gaming in general, sometimes being compared in these aspects to the likes of
Mai Shiranui
(alternatively written しらぬい まい) is a fictional character in the ''Fatal Fury'' and ''The King of Fighters'' series of fighting games by SNK. She has also appeared in other media of these franchises and in a number of other games since ...
and the ninja women from ''
Mortal Kombat''.
Appearances
''Soul'' games
In her backstory, Taki has been raised by the Fu-Ma, a
Sengoku
The was a period in Japanese history of near-constant civil war and social upheaval from 1467 to 1615.
The Sengoku period was initiated by the Ōnin War in 1467 which collapsed the feudal system of Japan under the Ashikaga shogunate. Various ...
-era mystic
ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan. The functions of a ninja included reconnaissance, espionage, infiltration, deception, ambush, bodyguarding and their fighting skills in martial arts, including ninjutsu.Kawakami, pp. 2 ...
clan based in a hidden village in
Ōmi Province
was a province of Japan, which today comprises Shiga Prefecture. It was one of the provinces that made up the Tōsandō circuit. Its nickname is . Under the '' Engishiki'' classification system, Ōmi was ranked as one of the 13 "great countr ...
[ and connected to the Buddhist monk ]Tenkai
was a Japanese Tendai Buddhist monk of the Azuchi-Momoyama and early Edo periods. He achieved the rank of ''Daisōjō'', the highest rank of the priesthood.
His Buddhist name was first , which he changed to Tenkai in 1590. Also known as , he ...
, having had been adopted by them after her parents and brother died from disease. As a prodigy member of the Fu-Ma, specializing in forging anti-demon equipment and in combating harmful yōkai
are a class of supernatural entities and spirits in Japanese folklore. The word is composed of the kanji for "attractive; calamity" and "apparition; mystery; suspicious." are also referred to as , or . Despite often being translated as suc ...
spirits,[''SoulCalibur: New Legends of Project Soul'', page 122.] Taki became a very serious and stern fighter, regarded as most skilled in the entire clan,[''SoulCalibur: New Legends of Project Soul'', page 111.] as well as an accomplished spy and blacksmith
A blacksmith is a metalsmith who creates objects primarily from wrought iron or steel, but sometimes from other metals, by forging the metal, using tools to hammer, bend, and cut (cf. tinsmith). Blacksmiths produce objects such as gates, gr ...
, known for not showing her personal feelings, carrying out her mission cool-headed, and being capable of making ruthless decisions. She eventually tasks herself with destroying both the cursed Soul Edge and the blessed Soul Calibur, and is not going to show mercy to anyone representing an obstacle.
Taki debuted as one of the eight original characters in ''Soul Edge
is a fighting game developed by the Namco team Project Soul and published by Namco as the first installment in the ''Soulcalibur'' series of 3D fighting games. Originally released as an arcade game in December 1995 in video gaming, 1995, an upgra ...
'' (1995), set in the year 1584. In it, the 22-year-old Taki has dedicated herself to fighting supernatural evil and began travelling Japan to purge with her sealing magic. When her self-made magical blade Rekkimaru has been weakened by the legendary mighty evil sword known as Soul Edge, she decides to travel west to find and destroy it. The prologue of ''Soulcalibur
is a weapon-based fighting video game franchise by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
There are seven main installments of video games and various media spin-offs, including music albums and a series of manga books. The first game in the series, '' ...
'' (1998) tells of how at the end of ''Soul Edge'' she has confronted and defeated the game's main villain and Soul Edge's wielder, Cervantes de Leon
, better known as just Cervantes, is a fictional character in the ''Soulcalibur'' series of fighting games. Created by Namco's Project Soul division, he first appeared in ''Soul Edge'' and its subsequent sequels, later appearing in various mercha ...
, and obtained a fragment of the shattered sword. During that fight, Taki also saved the wounded Greek female warrior Sophitia Alexandra, who became her friend. Taki tried to merge the Soul Edge fragment with Rekkimaru without success, but when she fuses it with her other sword, Mekkimaru, she creates a new evil weapon that she seeks to pit against Soul Edge, hoping both blades would then destroy each other. However, Fu-Ma's former leader, Hachibei, steals Mekkimaru and flees, becoming a fugitive ''nukenin'' (runaway ninja). Taki's old master and adoptive father, Toki orders her to hunt down and kill Hachibei and his daughter Chie, a childhood friend of Taki, and bring back the blade. Taki locates Hachibei, but, learning about Toki's obsession with the blade, she gives a false report to Toki, leading his forces to pursue Chie's lover Li Long
is a fictional character in the ''Soulcalibur'' series of video games. Created by Namco's Project Soul division, he first appeared in ''Soul Edge'', later appearing in both console and arcade versions of ''Soulcalibur III'', as well as on variou ...
as a decoy. When Geki, Toki's right-hand man, discovers her deception, Taki becomes a ''nukenin'' outcast herself, carrying Mekkimaru and evading pursuers. ''Soulcalibur Legends
is an action-adventure game for the Wii console. It is a spin-off of Namco Bandai's successful ''Soulcalibur'' fighting game series and primarily features two of its most popular characters: Ivy and Siegfried.
Gameplay
The game features comp ...
'' (2007), which retells the events that take between ''Soul Edge'' and ''Soulcalibur'', pits Taki, searching for the scattered shards of the Soul Edge, against Geki and his female partner Maki, both of whom eventually transformed into monsters by Soul Edge's power.
Taki returns in the next sequel, ''Soulcalibur II
is a 2002 fighting game developed by Project Soul and published by Namco and the third installment in the ''Soulcalibur'' series of weapon-based fighting games. It is the sequel to ''Soulcalibur'', which was released in July 1998. Originally in ...
'' (2002), set seven years after the events of ''Soul Edge''. After hearing about the destruction of Soul Edge, she works to tame Mekkimaru, but discovers that Toki has obtained more Soul Edge fragments and decides to keep them away from him. In ''Soulcalibur III
is a fighting game, fighting video game produced by Namco as a sequel to ''Soulcalibur II'' and the fourth installment in the ''Soulcalibur'' series. It was originally released for the PlayStation 2 in 2005. An improved arcade game, arcade versi ...
'' (2005), Taki comes back to Japan and learns that Toki's madness resulted in an internal conflict within the Fu-Ma. Contacting Chie's rebellious faction, Taki faces the corrupted Toki as he absorbs the oni
An is a kind of ''yōkai'', demon, orc, ogre, or troll in Japanese folklore. Oni are mostly known for their fierce and evil nature manifested in their propensity for murder and cannibalism. Notwithstanding their evil reputation, oni possess ...
spirits sealed within the Hoko temple. She slays him and Chie becomes the new Fu-Ma leader, but the evil spirits that dwelled within Toki escape and travel west. Knowing they are seeking Soul Edge, and that its power has weakened, Taki begins a new journey to find and finally extinguish the evil sword. In ''Soulcalibur IV
is the sixth installment in the '' Soulcalibur'' series of fighting games, released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2008. It features greatly improved graphics over the previous title, and includes three guest characters from the ''Star Wa ...
'' (2008), witnessing a cataclysm caused by a duel between Siegfried
Siegfried is a German-language male given name, composed from the Germanic elements ''sig'' "victory" and ''frithu'' "protection, peace".
The German name has the Old Norse cognate ''Sigfriðr, Sigfrøðr'', which gives rise to Swedish ''Sigfrid' ...
armed with Soul Calibur and Soul Edge-wielding Nightmare motivates her to destroy both of the Soul swords.[Alex Jenkins]
Soul Calibur 4 Character Spotlight: Taki , The voluptuous ninja works her magic once again
1UP.com, July 28, 2008.
Formerly, it has been announced that Taki would return in the sixth main installment, ''Soulcalibur V
is a fighting game, fighting video game developed and released by Namco Bandai Games for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2012.
The sixth main installment in Namco's ''Soulcalibur (series), Soulcalibur'' series of fighting games, ''Soulcalibur ...
'' (2012)[Michael McWhertor]
Taki's 'Not Dead' and Ivy's All Grown Up in Soulcalibur V
Kotaku, July 25, 2011. set 17 years after the events of the previous game, wherein she was supposed to appear alongside her young, female disciple named Natsu. However, Taki herself did not appear in the game in person. Soon after the events of ''Soulcalibur IV'', she has sealed the demon Arahabaki inside Natsu, an orphan baby adopted by Chie, following Taki's slaying of his previous human host. Because this caused the girl to be ostracized by her peers, Taki took the responsibility to personally raise her so she may grow her confidence in herself. As explained in Natsu's backstory, Taki had traveled west to pursue rumors of Toki's return, promising that she would return in two weeks; she has not returned since, prompting the now-teenage Natsu to travel in search of her mentor. The game does not reveal whether Natsu finds her, but it was said that Taki would "eventually" return. Afterwards, has appeared as a playable character in the now-defunct free-to-play spin-offs '' Soulcalibur: Lost Swords'' (2014), where she looked by default as she did in ''Soulcalibur IV'', and in '' Soulcalibur: Unbreakable Soul'' (2014), where she looked as she did in ''Soulcalibur II''.
Her return as a playable character in the main series was first leaked and then officially announced for ''Soulcalibur VI
''Soulcalibur VI'' is a fighting game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Dimps and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows in 2018. It is the seventh main installment in the ''Soulcalibur' ...
'' (2018). The game is not set during or after the events of ''Soulcalibur V'', however, but rather revisits and retells these of the original ''Soulcalibur''.
Other appearances
Taki plays a lead role in the 1999 ''Soulcalibur'' manga series, in which she fights alongside Sophitia, first killing Cervantes and then destroying Nightmare. Taki has also joined the cast of the erotic franchise ''Queen's Blade
is a Japanese series of visual combat books published by Hobby Japan inspired by the licensed works from Firelight Game Company's '' Lost Worlds''. The overall plot of the game revolves around a tournament called the Queen's Blad ...
'', starring (in a cartoonish version of her default appearance from ''Soulcalibur IV'') in her own gamebook, ''Queen's Gate
Queen's Gate is a street in South Kensington, London, England. It runs south from Kensington Gardens' Queen's Gate (the edge of which gardens are here followed by Kensington Road) to Old Brompton Road, intersecting Cromwell Road.
The street ...
Taki'' (神速の封刃 タキ), published in 2011. She is furthermore extensively featured in the collectible card game ''Universal Fighting System
The ''Universal Fighting System'' (''UFS'') is a collectible card game designed by Jasco Games. Games of ''UFS'' represent a fight between two characters in hand-to-hand combat. Characters are drawn from original properties as well as a number of ...
'' and in the series' 20th anniversary ''Soulcalibur'' pachislot
A slot machine (American English), fruit machine (British English) or poker machine (Australian English and New Zealand English) is a gambling machine that creates a game of chance for its customers. Slot machines are also known pejoratively a ...
machine.
Taki appears as a playable character in the 2005 crossover tactical role-playing game ''Namco × Capcom
(pronounced as "Namco Cross Capcom") is a tactical role-playing (RPG) crossover video game developed by Monolith Soft for the PlayStation 2 and published by Namco in 2005. The gameplay combines tactical RPG and action sequences during battles, ...
'', where she represents the ''Soul'' universe along with Mitsurugi (considered her rival in the series). In this game, Taki is paired with Waya Hime (''Bravoman'') and teamed with fighting game icons Jin Kazama
is a fictional character of the ''Tekken'' fighting game series created by Bandai Namco Entertainment. He was introduced as the protagonist in the 1997 game ''Tekken 3'' and has been the central character of the series from that game onwards. T ...
('' Tekken'') and Ryu (''Street Fighter
, commonly abbreviated as ''SF'' or スト (''Suto''), is a Japanese media franchise centered on a series of fighting video and arcade games developed and published by Capcom. The first game in the series was released in 1987, followed by six ...
''). Her default costume from ''Soulcalibur IV'' was made available as free downloadable content
Downloadable content (DLC) is additional content created for an already released video game, distributed through the Internet by the game's publisher. It can either be added for no extra cost or it can be a form of video game monetization, enabli ...
(DLC) for the player character Estelle in action role-playing game '' Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology'' in 2009, as well as for Sackgirl in puzzle platformer ''LittleBigPlanet 3
''LittleBigPlanet 3'' is a puzzle-platform game developed by Sumo Digital for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. It was released worldwide through November and December 2014, and it is the third entry in the main ''LittleBigPlanet'' series, ...
'' in 2016. Taki appears in ''The King of Fighters All Star
''The King of Fighters All Star'' is a beat 'em up role-playing game developed by Netmarble Games and published by SNK. It was first released in Japan on July 26, 2018, for the iOS and Android. The game is a retelling of SNK's ''The King of Fight ...
'' in her ''Soulcalibur VI'' design.
In general merchandise, Namco released a Taki key chain figurine and a standing clock in its 1996 ''Soul Edge'' line, among other items such as window shades and table mats. Yujin released two 4 in (10 cm) immobile figurines of Taki in her primary outfit from ''Soulcalibur II'' as part of its gashapon
, also called , is a trademark of Bandai. Among the variety of vending machine-dispensed capsule toys that originated in the 1960s, it became popular in Japan and elsewhere. "Gashapon" is onomatopoeic from the two sounds "gasha" (or "gacha") fo ...
figure collections 'Namco Girls' Series 1 and 4 (in her alternative costume based on Waya Hime's design), and Wave released a 1/8 scale 7.5 in (19 cm) garage kit figure of Taki from the same game in 2003. In 2006, Namco released a MegaHouse PVC statuette based upon promotional artwork of Taki for the game as part of a ''Soulcalibur III,'' set along with an alternative-color unmasked version with three interchangeable weapons for it to hold. Triad Toys released a 12 in (30 cm) action figure of Taki from ''Soulcalibur IV'' in red and blue versions in 2008. In 2007–2010, Futene Karada and Aya released two resin kits for Taki's appearances in her prime costumes in ''Soulcalibur III'', 7 in (17 cm) (crouching) and 9.4 in (24 cm) (dashing), as well as an alternate version of the latter. A 19.5 inch (50 cm) high statue of Taki based on her appearance in ''Soulcalibur II'' was announced by First 4 Figures in 2017, along with an even larger version made exclusive for pre-orders only.
Design and characteristics
At the height of 170 cm (5'7 feet), Taki has been the tallest female character in the first game until Ivy Valentine
, commonly called , is a fictional character in the ''Soulcalibur'' series of video games. Created by Namco's Project Soul division, she first appeared in the original ''Soulcalibur'' and its subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchan ...
's debut in ''Soulcalibur''.[''Transnational Contexts of Culture, Gender, Class, and Colonialism in Play: Video Games in East Asia'' p. 167.] She has a chest size of 90 cm / E (''Soulcalibur IV'' measurements; her breasts have noticeably grown through the series). Her blood personality type is stated as A and her technique's name is named the . Within the series' lore, her alignment is Neutral / Good; what "lies within her soul" (a character's defining concept) is honor. Taki has been officially described as "one of the most versatile fighters of the ''SOULCALIBUR'' universe" due to "her unarmed & armed skills, demon huntress abilities and blacksmithing abilities." ''Soulcalibur II'' producer Hiroaki Yotoriyama spoke of his team being "proud" of Ivy and Taki as "these characters seem to live ..as if it is real and they are really human." ''Soulcalibur III'' director Katsutoshi Sasaki regarded Taki as his personal favorite character from the series and she was one of the first two returning characters confirmed for it.
As in the case of all ''Soul'' characters, Taki's character creation
Character creation (also character generation or character design) is the process of defining a game character or other character. Typically, a character's individual strengths and weaknesses are represented by a set of statistics. Games with a ...
started with choosing the weapon. During the early development of ''Soul Edge'', Taki was conceived as a Yoshimitsu
is a name used by three different characters who appear in the ''Tekken'' and ''Soulcalibur'' series of fighting games by Namco.
The first version of Yoshimitsu made his debut in the original ''Tekken (video game), Tekken'' in 1994. The second ...
-like ninja character, armed with a long sword and wearing a loose outfit and large helmet covering her upper face. She underwent several major design changes before the game's release, evolving into an athletic, iron-masked woman clad in a partially armored catsuit. Taki used variations of this outfit throughout the series; by default her primary costumes are colored crimson and sometimes navy blue
Navy blue is a very dark shade of the color blue.
Navy blue got its name from the dark blue (contrasted with naval white) worn by officers in the Royal Navy since 1748 and subsequently adopted by other navies around the world. When this color ...
, and usually she has long hair in a ponytail. Taki's outfits are generally supposed to give emphasis on ease of movement, due to her fighting style's emphasis on high leaping, tumbling and rolling. Her original weapon in ''Soul Edge'' is a kodachi
A , literally translating into "small or short ''tachi'' (sword)", is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (''nihontō'') used by the samurai class of feudal Japan. Kodachi are from the early Kamakura period (1185–1333) and are in the ...
, called , which she made by infusing it with mystical powers. This is her preferred weapon and is one of the few original weapons that have not been replaced in subsequent games. Her secondary weapon, the kodachi , formerly property of the deceased clan of the ninja Yoshimitsu (originally from ''Tekken''), was added for her dual-wielding style in the first ''Soulcalibur'' as the lower blade on her back.
The later games' character design was based around the characters' movement so their look would match it, which in Taki's case included using two swords, moving very fast, and having a specialized kicking moveset. In some of her costumes she different hair styles, and in some has no mask at all. A simple cloth version of the mask has been introduced with Taki's primary costume in ''Soulcalibur'' (the only game in which her breasts are partially exposed). In some of her outfits, since ''Soulcalibur III'', she has an ornate, demon-themed menpō armored half mask covering the face from the nose down to the chin but exposing the mouth; other demonic motifs have appeared on her armor since ''Soulcalibur''. Taki alternate costumes include one in ''Soulcalibur II'' that was modeled after that of Waya Hime from ''Bravoman
is a 1988 beat'em up arcade video game developed and published in Japan by Namco. Described as a "comical action game", the player controls the titular character, a bionic superhero with telescopic limbs, as he must defeat the villainous Dr. Bo ...
''. One of her especially varied attires for ''Soulcalibur: Lost Swords'' has been the limited-offer "SC Woman" that was created by Bayonetta
is a series of action-adventure games created by Hideki Kamiya and developed by PlatinumGames. The franchise was introduced in 2009 with '' Bayonetta''. Two sequels were released, ''Bayonetta 2'' (2014) and ''Bayonetta 3'' (2022), as well as a ...
's character designer Mari Shimazaki, inspired by American comic books superheroines. According to Japanese culture researcher Rachael Hutchinson, "although Taki is sheathed in fabric, it is so tight that the shape of her body is clearly visible, making her the only female character with visible nipples and pubis. Taki is arguably the most sexualized of all the female characters n the seriesin this respect, although her costume is very strong and powerful where the costumes of Sophitia, Xianghua and Seung Mi-na are softer and more fluid." The game's producer Hisaharu Tago said of her appearance in ''Soulcalibur V'', in which Taki is depicted as over 40, "In terms of her outfit, we don't know if she'll be in body tights." Taki retained her skintight clothing with noticeable nipples (a noted trait of the character and of the series) in ''Soulcalibur VI'', which goes back to the series' early timeline.
Setsuka, introduced in ''Soulcalibur III'', has a fighting style mixing these of Taki and Mitsurugi. ''Soulcalibur V''s Natsu fights very similar to her master Taki, including using many of her signature moves Immediately after the release of ''Soulcalibur V'' in Japan, the game's director Daishi Odashima said that he had decided that at 46, Taki would be too old to be an active ninja, and she retired to train the next generation and is now watching over Natsu from the shadows. In Namco
was a Japanese multinational video game and entertainment company, headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo. It held several international branches, including Namco America in Santa Clara, California, Namco Europe in London, Namco Taiwan in Kaohsiung, ...
's own 2016 fighting game '' Tekken 7: Fated Retribution'', female ninja Master Raven is similar to Taki in many aspects, including her fighting technique, outfit and personality.
Gameplay
According to Adam Rosenberg from UGO
Ugo is the Italian form of Hugh, a widely used name of Germanic origin. Its diminutive form is Ugolino.
It is also a Nigerian Igbo first name.
It may refer to:
People
* Vgo (stonemason), medieval stonemason
* Ugo Bassi, a Roman Catholic prie ...
in 2008, "Taki is a close-range fighter, end of story. She's blindingly fast, perhaps one of the most agile fighters in the series. The best way to play Taki then is to string combo
Combo may refer to: Technology
*Combo television unit, a television with either a VCR or a DVD player built into a single unit
* Combo drive, a type of optical drive that can read CDs and DVDs
*A guitar amplifier incorporating one or more loudsp ...
into combo without ever letting up.[Adam Rosenberg]
Top 11 SoulCalibur Fighters , We single out our favorite SoulCalibur Fighters
, UGO.com, July 31, 2008. ''Official UK PlayStation Magazine
An official is someone who holds an office (function or mandate, regardless whether it carries an actual working space with it) in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority, (either their own or that of their ...
'' recommended Taki and Li Long in ''Soul Edge'' as "probably best for the novice they can both offer a great range of kicks and attacks." '' Ultra Game Players'' noted her for speed and a variety of attacks, choosing her and Mitsurugi as the two most well-rounded characters in the game, and her alone as probably the best character, with "an attack for any given situation." She was noted for being very dangerous in unarmed combat (after losing weapons) too, due to her many and powerful kick moves. According to '' Computer and Video Games'' (''CVG'') guide to ''Soul Edge'', "lightning fast combos and close quarter combat" is what a Taki player has to master in the game: "Though she has little in terms of long range attacks, she has multi-height combinations that can be employ in close. A good choice for the competent player to move on to." Similarly, James Price of ''DC-UK
''DC-UK'' was a Dreamcast video game magazine published by Future plc in the United Kingdom. Its first issue was published in August 1999 and it ran until 2001. The magazine was launched by ex-''Edge'' deputy editor Caspar Field, who edited the fir ...
'' wrote that in ''Soulcalibur'', the "fast and agile" Taki is capable of "swift and deadly attacks" as well as "of making somersault
A somersault (also ''flip'', ''heli'', and in gymnastics ''salto'') is an acrobatic exercise in which a person's body rotates 360° around a horizontal axis with the feet passing over the head. A somersault can be performed forwards, backwards ...
s over and around her opponents," but at the cost of having a limited range. According to Jesse Schedeen of IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
, the character's fighting style "improved dramatically" between ''Soul Edge'' and ''Soulcalibur'' due to being given dual swords to use at once. Taki has remained the quickest and most mobile character in ''Soulcalibur''; as described by ''GameFan
''GameFan'' (originally known as ''Diehard GameFan'') was a publication started by Tim Lindquist, Greg Off, George Weising. and Dave Halverson in September 1992 that provided coverage of domestic and import video games. It was notable for its ex ...
'', "there is no character quicker and trickier (well, maybe Voldo
is a fictional character in the ''Soulcalibur'' series of video games. Created by Namco's Project Soul division, he first appeared in ''Soul Edge'', and later in all games of the ''Soulcalibur'' series with the exception of ''Soulcalibur Legends' ...
has more tricks), than Taki. While her attacks don't do great damage, her quickness makes it easy to combo almost anything with her."
In ''Soulcalibur II'', Taki was given more distance-closing moves to help compensate for her limited range. Nevertheless, the ''Soulcalibur II'' guide by '' GamePro'' verdicted Taki is an "excellent short range fighter with plenty of height variation in attack," yet still "weak against good long range opponents" and with "poor offensive capabilities outside short range." The game's review by Marlon Ramos of ''Philippine Daily Inquirer
The ''Philippine Daily Inquirer'' (''PDI''), or simply the ''Inquirer'', is an English-language newspaper in the Philippines. Founded in 1985, it is often regarded as the Philippines' newspaper of record. The newspaper is the most awarded br ...
'' "of course" highly recommended Taki for the players who are "after speed". In GameSpot
''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
's guide to ''Soulcalibur II'', Stephen Kleckner wrote that Taki has "a lot of options and variety which allow her to really mix up her attack heights" and very quick moves making her highly capable at close range, but might "essentially become a moving target" if her player "can't rush down someone who is really good at sustaining a range game, such as Kilik." Andrew Alfonso wrote in GameSpy's guide that "what makes Taki so fearsome is her speed. She's still the fastest character in the game, and despite this her damage potential is still very good at times. However, unlike the big power hitters like Cervantes and Astaroth
Astaroth (also Ashtaroth, Astarot and Asteroth), in demonology, was known to be the Great Duke of Hell in the first hierarchy with Beelzebub and Lucifer; he was part of the evil trinity. He is known to be a male figure most likely named afte ...
, she needs to work for her wins." Alfonso added that Taki can be "somewhat hard to learn and execute with" and the key strategy "is to maintain her flow of attack."[Andrew Alfonso (with contributions from Paul Oh and Zakk Jones)]
Soulcalibur II - cube - Walkthrough and Guide - Page 20
GameSpy. Taki and Talim, who are both the most acrobatic and fastest characters in the game, were noted to be particularly dangerous in the original version of the ''HD Online'' edition due to Internet multiplayer lag problems.
Taki has been one of the four characters available in the pre-release demo
Demo, usually short for demonstration, may refer to:
Music and film
*Demo (music), a song typically recorded for reference rather than release
* ''Demo'' (Behind Crimson Eyes), a 2004 recording by the band Behind Crimson Eyes
* ''Demo'' (Deafhea ...
version of ''Soulcalibur IV''. According to Alex Jenkins of 1UP.com
''1Up.com'' was an American entertainment website that focused on video games. Launched in 2003, ''1Up.com'' provided its own original features, news stories, game reviews, and video interviews, and also featured comprehensive PC-focused conten ...
, in this game Taki lost some of her prior advantages but is still an agile and fast character who can cause considerable damage and is meant to be played aggressively, as well as a strong counter-attacker. Her weaknesses include difficulties in playing against ranged-type characters and having many risky special moves. IGN's Schedeen wrote that, due to her "lightning-quick ninja reflexes," Taki is "a vicious combatant that new and old players alike love to control." According to the game's battle director, Taki is to be the fastest character of ''SCVI''. In addition, her expanded magical possibilities are to make getting close to the enemy from a distance easier and her Rekkimaru to be able to hurt even to a blocking enemy.
In the action-adventure game ''Soulcalibur Legends'', Taki is the only character capable of performing a double jump (a video game character's ability to jump a second time in mid-air). In the now-defunct online spin-off ''Lost Swords'', she had been originally announced as one of the only four are available in this game from the start (the others being Siegfried, Mitsurugi and Sophitia) but was actually one of unlockable characters in the released version.
Reception
Popularity and general acclaim
Since her introduction in 1995, Taki has been consistently one of the most popular characters in the ''Soul'' series, especially in the West, but also back home in Japan. For instance, Namco named Taki, Ivy and Nightmare as the three most popular ''Soulcalibur'' characters in North American markets in 2002. She was described as "a favorite of many" by '' Official Xbox Magazine'' (''OXM''), and as one of the series' most beloved characters by Brazil's ''SuperGamePower''. UGO ranked Taki as sixth best ''Soulcalibur'' character in 2008. IGN's Schedeen ranked her as the series' fifth top fighter in 2008, writing "it's hard to imagine a ''Soulcalibur'' game without Taki. It just wouldn't be the same." GameDaily
GameDaily (GD) was a video game journalism website based in the United States.
It was launched in 1995 by entrepreneur Mark Friedler under the name Gigex and focused on free game demo downloads. The site changed its business model from a flat fee ...
's staff called her one of the most elite fighters in the ''Soul'' games,[Babe of the Week: Asian Beauties](_blank)
GameDaily, February 6, 2009. adding that she "has left an impact from the very start" of the series;[Babes of the Week: Soul Calibur Hotties](_blank)
GameDaily, October 5, 2007. according to them, "there are many women worth mentioning in the ''Soul Calibur'' series, but if anyone really knows how to handle Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. The character is the central antagonist of the original trilogy and, as Anakin Skywalker, is one of the main protagonists in the prequel trilogy. ''Star Wars'' creator George ...
, Yoda
Yoda () is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' universe, first appearing in the 1980 film ''The Empire Strikes Back''. He is a small, green humanoid alien who is powerful with the Force and is a leading member of the Jedi Order until it ...
and the Apprentice
''The Apprentice'' is a reality talent game show franchise originally aired in 2004 in the United States.
Created by U.S.-based British producer Mark Burnett, the show depicts contestants from around the country with various professional backg ...
, it's Taki."[The Next Wave of Video Game Babes](_blank)
GameDaily, July 24, 2008. '' X360'' chose her as the most iconic character of ''Soulcalibur II'', while ''Complex
Complex commonly refers to:
* Complexity, the behaviour of a system whose components interact in multiple ways so possible interactions are difficult to describe
** Complex system, a system composed of many components which may interact with each ...
'' placed Taki sixth in their 2013 ranking of the best characters in the series, calling her "an unstoppable force" and stating "We love Taki!" She was voted the series' second (behind Talim) most popular character among the Western audience in an official Facebook
Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Mosk ...
poll by Namco Bandai
is a Japanese multinational video game publisher headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo. Its international branches, Bandai Namco Entertainment America and Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, are respectively headquartered in Irvine, California and ...
in 2015, which was to influence their future plans for the franchise.
Some publications and authors have highly regarded Taki as one of the best female fighting game or even overall video game characters of them all for a variety of reasons. Reviewing ''Soulcalibur'' for the Dreamcast
The is a home video game console released by Sega on November 27, 1998, in Japan; September 9, 1999, in North America; and October 14, 1999, in Europe. It was the first sixth-generation video game console, preceding Sony's PlayStation 2, Nint ...
as the best fighting game he has ever played, Dave Halverson
Dave Halverson is an American video game journalist who has been the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of ''GameFan'' (where he wrote reviews as E. Storm, Skid and Takahara), ''Gamers' Republic'', ''Play'', and currently the new versions of ...
from ''Gamers' Republic'' wrote about being "elated" by its "work of art" character design of Taki, who "exhibits remarkable grace and agility, an almost spirit-like quality." ''SuperGamePower'' chose her one of the 20 "muses of video games" in 2001 and ''GMR'' 2003 feature "The GREAT Women of Gaming" included Taki at fourth place. In 2004, ''play
Play most commonly refers to:
* Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment
* Play (theatre), a work of drama
Play may refer also to:
Computers and technology
* Google Play, a digital content service
* Play Framework, a Java framework
* P ...
'' called included her and her and Ivy among "gaming's greatest females", further calling them "arguably the finest females in all of 3D fighting." In 2007, Rob Wright of Tom's Games chose Taki as one of the 50 greatest female characters in video games, calling her "a skilled and noble warrior with a shining spirit and stunning beauty".[Rob Wright]
The 50 Greatest Female Characters in Video Game History
Tom's Games, 2007-02-20.
Sex appeal praise and criticism
The character has been often noted for her attractiveness, such as in the 2000 article "Console Miss World" by German magazine ''Video Games.'' Grant Howitt of ''FHM
''FHM'' (For Him Magazine) is a British multinational men's lifestyle magazine that was published in several countries. Its master edition contained features such as the ''FHM'' 100 Sexiest Women in the World, which has featured models, actres ...
'' featured her as an example of "wonderful women of videogames", but one that would be hard to date.[Grant Howitt]
Dating Videogame Girls: Part One
, ''FHM'', July 8, 2011. GameDaily highlighted her in many various entries of their "Babes of the Week" gallery series,[Babe of the Week: Babes We're Thankful For](_blank)
GameDaily, November 26, 2008.[Babes of the Week: Brunettes](_blank)
GameDaily, January 23, 2009. including in the 2007 solo special "Babe of the Week: Taki", commenting that she has been "becoming more agile – and big-breasted – with each new entry."[Babe of the Week: Taki , Namco's demon huntress demands your attention](_blank)
GameDaily, October 19, 2007. They further ranked her as 17th "hottest game babe" in 2008, citing "her muscular physique and insanely large chest." Rich Knight of ''Complex'' listed Taki as one of top ten "hottest game girls" in 2009,[The 10 Hottest Video Game Girls](_blank)
Complex.com, March 29, 2009. later matching her against Kitana
Kitana is a fictional character in the ''Mortal Kombat'' fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Debuting in ''Mortal Kombat II'' (1993), she is a royal from the fictional realm of Edenia. Her primary weapon is a pair o ...
from '' Mortal Kombat'' in the "battle of the beauties" in the category "female ninjas". In 2000, UGO listed Taki among the 50 "hottest girls" in video games and noted her as "quick, efficient, and super-deadly."[UGO Team]
Video Game Hotties: Who's The Hottest? , The sexiest compilation of ones and zeroes you've ever seen
, UGO.com, May 8, 2010. In 2011, Bob Muir of Japanator.com described Taki as "easily the hottest one in the cast" of the series and included her on his list of Japanese gaming's top ten "hottest girls" for her "sexy" armor, "voluptuous body, including her generous chest," and "a dark humor to all of her taunts." In the "Miss of Video Games 2012" poll by Polish magazine ''PSX Extreme'', Taki was voted second place in the 'Soul Calibur' category.
Many publications have, often positively, commented especially on her large bust and revealing clothing, in 1999 described in ''CVG'' as "a kinky little all-in-one red outfit and a pair of breasts to match Lara Croft
Lara Croft is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the video game franchise ''Tomb Raider''. She is presented as a highly intelligent and athletic British archaeologist who ventures into ancient tombs and hazardous ruins around th ...
's." As told by G4's Sherilynn Macale, "the girl's practically draped in skin-tight, nipple-proud and crevice-filling material that clings to her agile, dual kodachi wielding frame." Ben Richardson of GamesRadar commented: "Long time ''Soul Calibur'' battler Taki is a fanboy
A fan or fanatic, sometimes also termed an aficionado or enthusiast, is a person who exhibits strong interest or admiration for something or somebody, such as a celebrity, a sport, a sports team, a genre, a politician, a book, a movie, a vid ...
fave" due to how her "ninja suit has seemingly been designed for one thing. And that's making her love pillows resemble torpedoes ..Namco really understands its fanbase." GameSpy in 2003 described her as "the bounciest ninja this side of Mai Shiranui
(alternatively written しらぬい まい) is a fictional character in the ''Fatal Fury'' and ''The King of Fighters'' series of fighting games by SNK. She has also appeared in other media of these franchises and in a number of other games since ...
"[ and later as "clearly modeled as though she is naked, but her clothes are just painted on to make it look like she's wearing a red bodysuit." In 2006, '']NGC Magazine
''NGC Magazine'' (''N64 Magazine'' until October 2001 (issue 59)) was a British magazine specialising in Nintendo video game consoles and software. It was first printed in 1997 and ran until 2006. It was the successor to ''Super Play'', a magaz ...
'' gave her the 'Tightest Outfit' entry in their "Nintendo Book of Records" for her red catsuit from ''Soulcalibur II''. GameDaily praised her "superb fashion sense" positively contrasted with Mileena
Mileena is a character (arts), fictional player character, character in the ''Mortal Kombat'' fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Introduced in ''Mortal Kombat II'' (1993), she is a clone of the Edenian princess Kita ...
from ''Mortal Kombat''.[ '' Official PlayStation Magazine - Australia'' commented, "without complaining," on the "conspicuous enlargement" of Taki's chest in ''Soulcalibur IV.'' Michael McWhertor of Kotaku observed about this game: "Taki's boobs flopped about ridiculously with the slightest breeze it seemed, but that's not necessarily a complaint," and ''GamePro'' similarly noted her "assets bobbed and jiggled after each move" as an attraction for players. Ross Lincoln of ]GameFront
GameFront is a video game website that provides patches, demos, modifications, and other user generated game related content to users. In addition, the site provides editorial content around the modding community and the wider gaming industry. T ...
included Taki on his 2011 list of "greatest boobs in video game history" and Joystiq
''Joystiq'' was a video gaming blog founded in June 2004 as part of the Weblogs, Inc. family of weblogs, now owned by AOL. It was AOL's primary video game blog, with sister blogs dealing with MMORPG gaming in general and the popular MMORPG ''Wor ...
's JC Fletcher called her "everyone's favorite underdressed ninja."
There has been, however, also much critical and sarcastic commentary in the regard of what Pat Garrat from ''Xbox World
''Xbox World'' was a British Xbox and Xbox 360 magazine published by Future plc.
History
''Xbox World 360'' began life as Xbox World, with issue one released in early 2003, over a year after the Xbox's release. Published by Computec Media, the ...
'' described as "blatant sexual references" of a "Japanese ninja with enormous tits. Sorry, there's no other way of saying it." Writing for GameSetWatch
''Game Developer'', known as ''Gamasutra'' until 2021, is a website founded in 1997 that focuses on aspects of video game development. It is owned and operated by Informa and acts as the online sister publication to the print magazine '' Game ...
, Leigh Alexander used "Taki's nipples hat
A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...
have been meticulously articulated since the graphics technology existed to make it possible" as an example of "a strong degree of physical exploitation" of female characters in fighting games. According to Kotaku's McWhertor, Taki's "tighter than skin tight ninja outfit leav sabsolutely nothing to the imagination, making her high kicks the stuff of ''Hustler
Hustler or hustlers may also refer to:
Professions
* Hustler, an American slang word, e.g., for a:
** Con man, a practitioner of confidence tricks
** Drug dealer, seller of illegal drugs
** Male prostitute
** Pimp
** Business man, more gener ...
'' magazine spreads." Destructoid
''Destructoid'' is a website that was founded as a video game-focused blog in March 2006 by Yanier Gonzalez, a Cuban-American cartoonist and author. Enthusiast Gaming acquired the website in 2017, and sold it to Gamurs Group in 2022.
History
...
's Karim Kayka commented on "ridiculously endowed ninja gal Taki, who demonstrates what happens now that consoles can chum out superflucous polygons
In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure that is described by a finite number of straight line segments connected to form a closed ''polygonal chain'' (or ''polygonal circuit''). The bounded plane region, the bounding circuit, or the two to ...
to render realistic nipples under a skintight leotard." Shawn Sines of GameFront used an image of Taki from ''Soulcalibur II'' to illustrate the 2007 critical article about "the video game implementation of modeling female breasts." GamesRadar UK opined that Taki's breasts in ''Soulcalibur IV'' are "simply unfathomable and totally impractical for the fighting physique."[A year in breasts: 2007 was a great year for breasts in games – allow us to jog your mammaries](_blank)
GamesRadar UK, December 28, 2007. GameDaily also repeatedly contrasted Taki's "inexplicably big" breasts and her "swift ninja moves," and asked "how does she fight with those big boobs." Similarly, Grant Howitt of ''FHM'' wondered about "how she kept those enormous breasts supported during fights," and GamesRadar's AJ Glasser commented Ivy's breasts are "a couple of cup sizes larger, but Taki probably has less back pain." ''Complex''s Knight wrote that Taki's knowledge of mastery of ninjutsu
, sometimes used interchangeably with the modern term , is the martial art strategy and tactics of unconventional warfare, guerrilla warfare and espionage purportedly practised by the ninja. ''Ninjutsu'' was a separate discipline in some trad ...
and ninja magic that must be reason how she is able to do all her acrobatic moves with such a chest, adding that "most women with a cup size that big would have back pains and would have to sleep on their side at night" yet Taki "takes it all in stride, moving around the stage of history like the most athletic girl on the volleyball court." UGO commented: "To be honest we don't really care, but there must be some kind of ninja-magic that supports those behemoths." Writing in 2018, Kotaku's Cecilia D'Anastasio recalled how the first sight of ''Soulcalibur II'''s "objectified" Taki "in a skin-tight red suit ith
The Ith () is a ridge in Germany's Central Uplands which is up to 439 m high. It lies about 40 km southwest of Hanover and, at 22 kilometres, is the longest line of crags in North Germany.
Geography
Location
The Ith is immediatel ...
breasts jiggling everywhere," as well of Ivy, had personally troubled her for years, and criticized how ''Soulcalibur VI'' still followed the series' tradition of character design "in a different climate in games." Ian Dean from ''PlayStation Official Magazine – UK
''PlayStation Official Magazine – UK'', generally abbreviated as ''OPM'', was a magazine based in the United Kingdom that covered PlayStation news created in 2006. Although the first issue was distributed in three-month intervals, from Issue ...
'' criticized as "eyesores" the outfits of Taki and Mi-Na in ''Soulcalibur VI'' for "pushing too much underboob and nipple front and centre."
Other reactions
WomenGamers.com opined Taki has been "a strong and independent female character in all of the games" and gave her an overall score of 8.4/10, especially applauding the character for her tough attitude and for marketing efforts towards women "despite the obvious sex-appeal role Taki has taken."[Taki of Soul Calibur 2](_blank)
WomenGamers.com, July 27, 1999. ''Manila Bulletin
The ''Manila Bulletin'' (), (also known as the ''Bulletin'' and previously known as the ''Manila Daily Bulletin'' from 1906 to September 23, 1972, and the ''Bulletin Today'' from November 22, 1972, to March 10, 1986) is the Philippines' largest ...
'' review of ''Soulcalibur II'' advised readers to "not be fooled" by the looks of this "gorgeous ninja in a very tight-fitting outfit that leaves little to the imagination," as "Taki can kick anybody's b*tt and before they know it, it's already game over." ''Famitsu
formerly ''Famicom Tsūshin'', is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Kadokawa Game Linkage (previously known as Gzbrain), a subsidiary of Kadokawa. ''Famitsu'' is published in both weekly and monthly formats as well as in the f ...
'' described her in this game as "a breathtaking sight to see, with more powerful offense and defense than the other girls in the game." According to Hutchinson's research, "when using Taki as her avatar, the player will be able to defeat more male opponents on screen, overturning social expectations of male–female roles."
Taki has been repeatedly listed as one of gaming's top ninja characters, such as by Kotaku in 2013. According to IGN's Schedeen, "Everyone loves a good ninja, and Taki just so happens to be one of the best." She was ranked as fifth best ninja hero in video games by Virgin Media
Virgin Media is a British telecommunications company which provides telephone, television and internet services in the United Kingdom. Its headquarters are at Green Park in Reading, England. It is owned by Virgin Media O2, a 50:50 joint ventu ...
in 2008. In 2010, ''Game Informer
''Game Informer'' (''GI'', most often stylized ''gameinformer'' from the 2010s onward) is an American monthly video game magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of video games and associated consoles. It debuted in August 1991 w ...
'' chose Taki as one of the 20 Namco characters they would like to see in a rumored crossover fighting game ''Namco Vs Capcom'', her Capcom side equivalent being Strider Hiryu
is a fictional character jointly owned by Capcom and Moto Kikaku. Although primarily known as a game character, Hiryu (''飛竜'', "Flying Dragon") debuted in 1988 as the protagonist of a Japan-exclusive manga titled ''Strider Hiryu,'' publishe ...
as "most fighting game characters can't quite keep up with Taki's rapid (and annoying) leaps." That same year, ''GamePro'' ranked her as the second best video game ninja character, comparing her with the similarly proportioned Mai for "her formidable pair of assets" and calling her "arguably the toughest and most skillful ninja" of them all. ''PSX Extreme'' compared her to Momiji
''Acer palmatum'', commonly known as Japanese maple, palmate maple, or smooth Japanese maple (Japanese: ''irohamomiji'', , or ''momiji'', (栴), is a species of woody plant native to Japan, Korea, China, eastern Mongolia, and southeast Russia. ...
and ''Gamers'' noted Kaede (''Onimusha
is a series of video games developed and published by Capcom. It makes use of the historic figures that shaped Japan's history, retelling their stories with supernatural elements. Most of the games are of the action-adventure genre, a combinat ...
'') to look "like Taki's twin sister." UGO included her on a 2010 list of top 25 "hot ninja girls" in all media[Ninja Chicks are So Freakin' Hot](_blank)
, UGO.com, January 5, 2011. and Gelo Gonzales of ''FHM'' included Taki on his 2012 list of nine "sexiest ninja babes" in games.[Gelo Gonzales]
9 Sexiest Ninja Babes in Games
''FHM'', March 29, 2012. In 2012, Rich Knight of ''Complex'' ranked her as the fifth swiftest video game ninja, adding that, due to her large bust size, "the only female on this list is also probably the most incredible ninja on here." In 2013, ''PLAY
Play most commonly refers to:
* Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment
* Play (theatre), a work of drama
Play may refer also to:
Computers and technology
* Google Play, a digital content service
* Play Framework, a Java framework
* P ...
'' similarly ranked Taki as the fifth top ninja in video games, described as "superagile fighting machine" and noted as the only female on their list, adding that she "wins the Most Outrageous Ninja Outfit award for garbing herself in nothing but a pink skintight bodysuit." Márcio Alexsandro of Brazil's GameHall placed her at fifth spot of his 2014 list of top ten kunoichi
is a Japanese cant term for . In popular culture, it is often used for female shinobi or practitioner of ninjutsu (''ninpo''). The term was largely popularized by novelist Yamada Futaro in his novel ''Ninpō Hakkenden'' (忍法八犬伝) in 1964 ...
(female ninja) characters in games.
Many fans and media outlets strongly criticized Taki's controversial replacement by her pupil Natsu in ''Soulcalibur V''. In 2011, ''GamePro'' have stated it as one of the reasons why they were "worried" about the game. Reviewing the game, Daniel Bischoff of Game Revolution wrote "It's a cop-out to say that Taki is too old to fit in ''Soul Calibur Vs timeline, and then flaunt Ivy and all of her overly abundant assets at the age of 50+. Why remove the characters at all if you're going to replace them with cardboard stand-ins?" Daniel Maniago of G4tv.com
G4 (also known as G4TV) was an American pay television and digital network owned by Comcast Spectacor that primarily focused on video games.
The network was originally owned by G4 Media, a joint venture between the NBCUniversal Cable division ...
listed her among the characters that are "noticeably absent", Nick Dinicola of PopMatters
''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...
listed her as first among the missing "fan favorite fighters", and Kotaku's Evan Narcisse described the replacement of Taki, Talim and Kilik as the developer's "most baffling decision". Following the game's release, the staff of IGN named Taki "the most obvious choice for the first DLC character" because her omission was "ridiculous". In an accompanying poll asking readers which character they would they choose to be added (including new characters from outside the series, such as Darth Maul
Darth Maul, also known simply as Maul, is a Character (arts), character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He first appeared as the secondary antagonist of the 1999 film ''Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace'' (portrayed by Ray Park and vo ...
), Taki placed third out of seven candidates. A review by Italy's ''The Games Machine
''The Games Machine'' is a video game magazine that was published from 1987 until 1990 in the United Kingdom by Newsfield, which also published ''CRASH'', '' Zzap!64'', '' Amtix!'' and other magazines.
History
The magazine ran head to head wi ...
'' called the game's roster "scandalous" and demanded to "bring back Taki!". Nevertheless, some other commentators approved of Taki's replacement; for instance, the preview by Taylor Cocke of ''OXM'' stated that "you'll be happy to know that newcomer Natsu is taking up aki'smantle and then some."[Taylor Cocke]
SoulCalibur V preview
Official Xbox Magazine, August 23, 2011.
See also
* List of ''Soulcalibur'' characters
*Ninja in popular culture
In the history of Japan, ninja (also known as shinobi) operated as spies, assassins, or thieves; they formed their own caste outside the usual feudal social categories such as lords, samurai, and serfs. Ninja often appear as stock characters in ...
Notes
References
{{Soul characters
Adoptee characters in video games
Fantasy video game characters
Female characters in anime and manga
Female characters in video games
Fictional people of Sengoku-period Japan
Fictional artists in video games
Fictional demon hunters
Fictional exorcists
Fictional female martial artists
Fictional female ninja
Fictional hunters in video games
Fictional Japanese people in video games
Fictional kenjutsuka
Fictional knife-fighters
Fictional martial arts trainers
Fictional Ninjutsu practitioners
Fictional secret agents and spies in video games
Fictional smiths
Fictional swordfighters in video games
Fictional taijutsuka
Namco protagonists
Ninja characters in video games
Orphan characters in video games
Role-playing video game characters
Soulcalibur series characters
Video game characters introduced in 1995
Video game characters who use magic
Video game characters with fire or heat abilities
Woman soldier and warrior characters in video games