|
— Maya's intro quote |
Maya Fallegeros is a playable female character who was first introduced in the 1996 arcade game Killer Instinct 2. An Amazon queen who hails from South America's rain forests, in Killer Instinct (2013) she is the last remaining member of a secretive cabal of monster hunters known as the Night Guard. Maya made her second debut as a playable character in the Season Two of Killer Instinct (2013), and was given a fraternal twin in Season Three through the new character Mira. Maya became the first of the original Killer Instinct 2 cast to be reintroduced to the franchise after twenty years, and was made available in KI 2013 on October 15th, 2015.
Biography
Appearance
In Killer Instinct 2, Maya appears as a South American Amazon with blond hair, who wears leopard-skin gloves, greaves, skirt, and a bra, and has several leather strings with pouches on her thighs. She also wears a bejeweled silver circlet on her forehead, and wields two wide-bladed steel daggers.
Maya's appearance received a significant overhaul for Killer Instinct 2013. She no longer wears her leopard-skin clothing and instead dons an Incan-style golden armor set, consisting of a chest piece, shoulder guards, gauntlets, greaves, and boots. She has become noticeably taller, her skin tone is slightly darker than before, and her hair is longer; now worn in tightly woven braids down her back. She also features a twisting burn mark running up her left leg, given to her courtesy of Cinder. Maya's new twin daggers, the golden blades called Temperance and Vengeance, are ancient Egyptian relics that represent light & shadow, and were confiscated from the mad sorcerer Kan-Ra.
Maya's retro costume largely mirrors her KI2 outfit, but with some notable differences: The leather strings around her thighs are replaced by golden snake ornaments (similar to her KI2 early design) which she also wears on her shins, forearms, and chest, and she now features a golden belt and circlet which both have a large emerald gem etched into them. Her hair is much shorter, but it retains the braids of her default appearance, and she wears golden snake-themed earrings. She still keeps Temperance and Vengeance from her default 2013 costume, rather than her original wide-bladed steel daggers.
Personality
|
— Maya's story mode description |
Maya's a formidable Amazon who stalks her opponents like a jungle huntress. She never hesitates to act when confronted with dangers, can be stouthearted up to the point of recklessness, and is known for referring to her foes as her "prey". Because of the ancient and forbidden blades that Maya was forced to take up in self-defense, the twin daggers known as "Temperance & Vengeance", a constant battle between light and darkness has begun to be waged inside of her heart.
Vengeance or Temperance?
Vengeance constantly tries provoking Maya's most ruthless side, urging her to butcher any who stand in her way, while Temperance is always appealing to her greatheartedness; buffering the dark temptation that Vengeance elicits and preventing Maya from losing control of herself. Wielding only one of the magical blades can have an adverse effect on her psyche, especially when she only holds Vengeance, and so Maya tries to have both on hand at all times; to even out the cosmic opposites the daggers embody.
With Temperance and Vengeance each balancing the influence they exert, it is their wielder's own disposition towards good or evil that determines which dagger will gain the upper hand. The twin artifacts are therefore notorious for always revealing the true nature of those who hold them.
Abilities
Maya has the body of a star athlete and boasts the agility of an acrobat. Moving deftly across the battlefield with Temperance and Vengeance at the ready, her dexterity allows her to evade her opponents with ease, only to suddenly close in and tear them to shreds in a whirlwind of steel when the opportunity presents itself. In KI 2013, Maya can also hurl Temperance and Vengeance at her enemies, which will cause the daggers to accumulate mystical power during the course of battle that increases their attack strength and enables them to break through her opponent's defenses. Maya also may link the twin daggers together by their hilts, turning them into a powerful double-bladed weapon called "Enmity" that is twice as dangerous. In addition to this, she is a highly trained hand-to-hand fighter versed in a wide variety of Brazilian fighting techniques, which is seen most noticeably in the power of her kicks and legwork.
Temperance and Vengeance have telepathically linked Maya to Kan-Ra, the nefarious Babylonian sorcerer who brought the golden daggers with him from ancient Egypt, allowing the two enemies to keep track of each other by sometimes experiencing visions about one another.
Killer Instinct 2
Story
Made queen of the land of Amazonia after her part in banishing the dark lord Gargos. Cast out by her tribe as Gargos returns, Maya must vanquish him to regain her throne.
Extended Story
The return of the tyrannical Gargos to the ancient world is welcomed by few. Among his foremost adversaries are the Amazons of the great jungle, whose recently-crowned Queen, Maya, earned great respect for her part in the original banishment of the demonic warlords. Now that one of them has returned to lay his curse on the world, Maya's tribes folk cast her from the realm. Until the threat is permanently dealt with, she is forbidden to return.
Endings
Maya's original appearance in Killer Instinct 2 (1996)
Kill Tusk
Maya saves her home land from Gargos. Life in the rain forest can proceed as normal. Triumphant, Maya returns home on her own to the jungle realm of Amazonia. The enchantments of the queen keep the tribe well defended, and although lonely, she rules well.
Don't Kill Tusk
Maya's retro appearance in Killer Instinct (2013)
Maya saves her home land from Gargos. Life in the rain forest can proceed as normal. The threat has been destroyed, and Maya has earned a new admirer she quite takes a fancy to. The two are soon married, and with the protection of Maya's goddess, their reign is a long and peaceful one.
Stage
- Main article: Jungle
Moveset
Command Moves
- Mantis: Back, Forward, Fierce Punch [Great Opener]
- Savage Blades: Back, Forward, Medium Punch [Great Opener]
- Flip Kick: Back, Forward, Medium Kick [Great Opener]
- Air Mantis: (In Air) Forward, Back, Fierce Punch [Great Opener]
- Jungle Leap: Back, Forward, Fierce Kick [Great Opener]
- Savage Leap: Back, Forward, Quick Kick [Great Opener]
- Cobra Bite: Back, Forward, Quick Punch
- Air Double: Forward, Back, Any Kick
- Throw: Forward, Fierce Punch
- Reverse Throw: Back, Fierce Punch [In An Opponent's Throw]
- Parry Move: Back, Hold Quick Punch
- Pressure Move: Forward, Fierce Kick
Special Moves
- Combo Breaker: Back, Forward, Any Punch And Any Kick
- Ultra Combo Breaker: Forward, Quarter Forward, Down, Quarter Back, Back, Forward, Fierce Kick [Requires 6 Super Bar Blocks]
Super Moves
- Super Flip Kick: Forward, Quarter Forward, Down, Quarter Back, Back, Forward, Medium Kick [Requires 3 Super Bar Blocks]
- Super Savage Blades: Forward, Quarter Forward, Down, Quarter Back, Back, Forward, Medium Punch [Requires 3 Super Bar Blocks]
- Shadow Move: Forward, Quarter Forward, Down, Quarter Back, Back, Forward, Fierce Punch [Requires 3 Super Bar Blocks]
- Super Jungle Leap: Forward, Quarter Forward, Down, Quarter Back, Back, Forward, Fierce Kick [Requires 6 Super Bar Blocks]
End Specials
- End Special 1: Back, Forward, Quick Punch, Quick Punch
- End Special 2: Back, Forward, Fierce Punch, Fierce Punch
- End Special 3: Back, Forward, Fierce Kick, Fierce Kick
- End Special 4: Back, Forward, Quick Kick, Quick Kick
- End Special 5: Forward, Back, Quick Punch [After First 4 Enders]
Finishing Moves
- Mini-Ultra Combo: Forward, Back, Fierce Punch
- Ultra Combo: Forward, Back, Fierce Kick
- Ultimate Combo: Forward, Quarter Forward, Down, Quarter Back, Back, Forward, Quick Kick
- 0-Combo Ultimate: Back, Quarter Back, Down, Quarter Forward, Forward, Back, Quick Punch
- Ultra Combo: (Hold Back) Front, Fierce Kick
- Ultimate Combo|Ultimate 1: Half Circle Front, Low Punch - Maya hits her opponent with a beam of red light coming from the ruby in her diadem, shrinking them down to the size of an ant
- Ultimate 2: Half Circle Back, Low Kick - An elephant drops on top of Maya's opponent
Killer Instinct (2013)
Maya's new appearance in Killer Instinct (2013)
Maya was the 2nd character to be released for the Season Two of Killer Instinct (2013), and became the first of the original Killer Instinct 2 cast to be reintroduced to the franchise after twenty years.
Story
A headstrong warrior with a will of steel, in battle Maya can always be found on the front lines charging in with her daggers, Temperance and Vengeance. When Ultratech raids the hidden temple of the Night Guard and begins to loot the dangerous artifacts that were sealed within, Maya takes up the golden daggers known as Temperance and Vengeance, the ancient blades of the mad sorcerer Kan-Ra, and sets out to destroy the horrors Ultratech again unleashed unto the world.
Extended Story
Temperance & Vengeance:
- Main article: Temperance and Vengeance
Novella
Chapter 6 — Shadows at Dawn:
- Main article: Shadows at Dawn
Shadow Lords
Guard Duty
(1/2) - before fighting Mira
It is Maya's sworn duty to protect the world from the many horrors lurking beneath its shadows. The Night Guard have been busy of late, aiding the Alliance and hunting horrors that attempt to capitalize on the distraction the war has caused. For several months, rumors have surfaced of a new horror plaguing villages across the globe. Locals have been known to call her the "blood-witch". (Mira appears before Maya, and the sisters bitterly confront each other.)
(2/2) - after fighting Mira
Evil has been abolished in this corner of the Earth, and Maya can return to the Citadel knowing she has done her part. The "blood-witch" Mira has been slain. Though Maya's heart weighs heavy, she knows she has put an end to a great evil.
Stage
Maya's remade City of Dawn background stage (KI 2013)
- Main article: City of Dawn
The City of Dawn is a high resolution remake of Maya's Killer Instinct 2 stage, Jungle. When an Ultra Combo is performed in City of Dawn, lightning begins to strike the Mesoamerican pyramids and the dam causing them to explode and leaving them in ruins.
Moveset
Temperance and Vengeance: Maya possesses two daggers; a light-based one known as Temperance and a shadow-based one called Vengeance. She can throw either of these daggers, even in combos. However these daggers, when thrown, will not immediately return to her. If an opponent blocks or gets hit by one of her daggers, it will bounce off of them after which Maya can catch them mid-air. If Maya is too far away or she misses the throw completely, however, then she will have to manually pick the daggers back up from where they landed on the ground. In a mirror match, the daggers will be marked with an icon to show which player they belong to.
Combo Trait - Dagger Linkers: If Maya is close enough in the combo, she can throw a dagger as a linker.
Instinct Mode - Possession Rite: Temperance and Vengeance always return to Maya when she throws them, and both will immediately return to her grasp upon activation of Maya's Instinct Mode, even if they were on the ground.
- Missing Daggers - If Maya is missing a dagger, that button will trigger a kick of the same strength.
- Charging The Blades - Earn magical charges by forcing your opponent to block individual dagger strikes. Use Enmity Strike to spend all available charges.
- Temperance (Charge 1) - Spent when using Enmity Strike. Adds ricochet ability to the projectile.
- Temperance (Charge 2) - Spent when using Enmity Strike. Adds homing ability to the projectile.
- Vengeance (Charge 1) - Spent when using Enmity Strike. Adds durability to the projectile (can pass through and destroy other projectiles).
- Vengeance (Charge 2) - Spent when using Enmity Strike. Projectile becomes invulnerable.
Command Moves
- Mantis Dive-(Down+HP, in air Requires both Daggers) - Maya attempts to tackle her opponent, daggers first, with his aggressive air grab. Can cash out damage if a breakable window occurred Cannot be performed while jumping back.
- Axe Kick-(Forward+HK) - Maya leaps into the air with an acrobatic series of somersaults and strikes the opponent with an overhead attack. This move is low invulnerable and recaptures opponents.
- Axe Kick Fakeout-(Forward+HK, hold) - Maya leaps into the air with an acrobatic series of somersaults, then lands without attacking. This move is low invulnerable.
- Dagger Pickup-(3P) - Maya picks up any nearby falen daggers
- Savage Strikes-(Back+HP, requires both daggers) - A swift series of dagger strikes.
- Preying Mantis-(Down+MP, MP) - Maya performs two swipes with her dagger. Chain cannot be performed on whiff.
- Hunter Dash- (Forward, Forward) - Maya rolls forward to retrieve daggers. Can pass under high fireballs. Press Up to cancel into a jump P to follow up with a dagger strike or HK for an Axe Kick with extra distance.
- Back Dash-(Back, Back) - Maya flips backward. Can retrieve daggers.
- Throw Forward-(LP+LK) -Maya grabs and strikes the opponent. Deals additional damage for each held dagger.
- Throw Backward-(Back+LP+LK) - Maya grabs the opponent, turns them around and strikes them. Deals additional damage for each held dagger.
Shadow Attacks
- Shadow Spirit Slicer
- Shadow Tumble Kick
- Shadow Leap Kick
Special Moves
- Tumble Kick
- Leap Kick
- Temperance Strike
- Vengeance Strike
- Enmity Strike
Maya as part of the Ultimates "Pack One", released on February 14th, 2017 (Valentine's Day)
Combo Openers
- Tumble Kick
- Axe Kick
- Temperance Strike
- Vengeance Strike
- Enmity Strike
- Shadow Spirit Slicer
- Shadow Tumble Kick
Combo Linkers
- Tumble Kick
- Leap Kick
- Temperance Strike
- Vengeance Strike
- Shadow Leap Kick
- Shadow Tumble Kick
Combo Enders
- Spirit Strike Ender
- Tumble Kick Ender
- Leap Kick Ender
- 41 Hits
- Maya backflips away from her defeated opponent, and Temperance and Vengeance suddenly fly out of her hands. The twin daggers dash towards her opponent on their own and begin to slash them repeatedly, and then they merge into the "Enmity" blade. Maya leaps high into the air while Enmity slashes her victim, stunning them and causing them to stumble forward. Enmity then separates again into Temperance and Vengeance, and the twin daggers levitate underneath the victim's bowed head; with both their tips pointing upward at their face. Maya drops down onto her opponent's neck and shoulders, causing their head to be smashed straight into Temperance and Vengeance's blades, killing them instantly. The twin daggers then return to Maya's grasp.
Gallery
.png "KI2 Maya Ending 1-B (1).png (163 KB)")
.png "KI2 Maya Ending 2-B (1).png (191 KB)")
.png "Image (13).png (4.06 MB)")
Quotes
|
— Maya activating her Instinct Mode |
|
— Maya's Season Two taunt |
|
— Maya's Season Two taunt |
|
— Maya's Season Three taunt |
|
— Maya's victory quote |
|
— Maya to her vampire sibling Mira during Shadow Lords |
|
— After striking down her (former) sister with Temperance and Vengeance |
Trivia
- During her first reveal for Killer Instinct (2013), Iron Galaxy described Maya as "Incan inspired" and "of Latin origin", and succinctly characterized her as a "warrior, hunter, badass" and a "monster hunter extraordinaire".
- Maya's new music theme for KI 2013, titled "Temperance & Vengeance" after the eponymous twin daggers, is a vocalized remix of her classic Killer Instinct 2 theme called "Jungle". It was composed by Mick Gordon and features the vocals of Ali Edwards.
- The Killer Instinct Novella mentions that Maya's native language is Portuguese, verifying that she and her fraternal twin Mira are of a Pardo Brazilian background. Mira's backstory also reveals that both sisters have the motto of their family, "Sangue do Meu Sangue" (Portuguese for "Blood of My Blood"), tattooed somewhere on their bodies.
- In a twist of irony, Mira was given the same body measurements for Killer Instinct (2013) that Maya originally had in Killer Instinct 2. Another twist is that, even though Maya takes more after the Fallegeros' African ancestry than Mira does, she is the only one with the natural blond hair and blue eyes of the family's European stock.
The moment of truth...
...revealing the light of justice
- Maya's victory animation in KI 2013 shows her on the verge of slaying her opponent in cold blood, but she restrains herself. This is an in-game reference to her story, which mentions that the magical blades, Temperance and Vengeance, are battling for control of her mind; with Vengeance inciting Maya to bloodlust and Temperance urging her to show moderation. Maya's ability to resist Vengeance's dark temptation reveals that Temperance has the greatest sway over her.
- This is illustrated by the final screenshot of Maya's victory pose; which prominently shows Temperance, its inner light shining brilliantly, and Vengeance having receded into the background. This causes the daggers to uncover that Maya is a righteous and just soul.
- Temperance and Vengeance, the twin ceremonial daggers from the age of ancient Egypt's religion, are "weighing the heart" of whoever holds them; thereby exposing their wielder's true character to the world. This implies that these artifacts are connected to the ancient Egyptian goddess Ma'at.
- The large burn mark visible on Maya's left leg was caused by Cinder, during the same Ultratech raid on the City of Dawn which forced her to take up Temperance and Vengeance.
- On April 9th 2017, former KI designer Kevin Bayliss posted his original 1995 concept artwork of Maya on his Twitter account (which he took down the same day). It showed a design largely identical to Maya's final appearance in Killer Instinct 2, except that her attire was made of snakeskin rather than the pelt of a leopard. She also wielded a snake-themed staff or scepter instead of steel daggers, and her early concept names were "Amber" and "Cobra".
- Interestingly, Maya's retro costumes in KI 2013 all feature snake-themed golden ornaments on her thighs, shins, forearms and chest, in what seems to be a throwback or tribute to Bayliss' original concept artwork.
- In KI 2013, Maya will sometimes yell "Cobra!" when performing special command moves with the Vengeance dagger.
- Maya's name pronunciation was anglicized to (MAY-ya) in KI2. This was changed in Killer Instinct (2013) where her name is pronounced as (MAH-ya). However, if the player choose Chris Sutherland (Classic) as the announcer her name will still be anglicized like in KI2.
External Links
- Maya's character page at the official Killer Instinct Website
- Maya's gameplay profile at Infil's The Complete Killer Instinct Guide
Media
- Maya's trailer - Maya's official reveal for Killer Instinct (2013)
- Maya's Ultimate - First reveal of Maya's new Ultimate Combo for KI 2013
- Pink Diamond (Maya) vs. BH Thompxson (Jago) - Video compilation of pro gamer matchups with Maya (KI 2013)
| Killer Instinct 2/Gold Characters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playable | Jago ·Black Orchid ·TJ Combo ·Glacius ·Sabrewulf ·Spinal ·Fulgore ·Maya ·Kim Wu ·Tusk | |||
| Boss | Gargos | |||
| Killer Instinct (2013) Characters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | Jago ·Sabrewulf ·Glacius ·Thunder ·Sadira ·Orchid ·Spinal ·Fulgore ·Shadow Jago | |||
| Season 2 | TJ Combo ·Maya ·Kan-Ra ·Riptor ·Omen ·Aganos ·Hisako ·Cinder ·ARIA | |||
| Season 3 | Kim Wu ·Tusk ·Arbiter ·Rash ·Mira ·Gargos ·General RAAM ·Eyedol | |||
| Season 3+ | Kilgore ·Shin Hisako ·Eagle | |||
