God damn if I don't love Street Fighter IV. But like everything I've ever loved it breaks me, leaves me in emotional distress, pretends to love me again just to ask me to the movies, only to not show up and laugh at me with all her friends at school the next day. It legitimately enrages me, and I don't use that term lightly. It takes a lot to enrage me. I'm a lover not a fighter, and if they had a game called Street Lover I'd be rank one in the world. But until then I have to learn what my Dad tried to teach me from the day I turned ten, how to fight.
But sir, I persevere! Through the cries of agony to the hands smashing down upon my fight stick, I light up that ready button after every round. Why? I'm not sure. I think Street Fighter has helped me realize that I'm a submissive. Street Fighter ties me up and whips me, yet I ask for more.
I don't know what it is about the game but I have a burning desire to learn how to play it well. This "not knowing when to quit" attitude leads me in to many angry tirades that I don't really want to be in. Today, as a Balrog took me 8-0, and I slammed my palm down on the buttons of my fight stick, I had a revelation. I needed to combat my anger. Because there is nothing I can do to escape Mistress. She will smack me around until I break down and shut off the console.
So! I says to myself I says, "Daniel, before you put your fist through the wall, what might calm you down?" To which I said "Fuck you", played the Balrog one more time, two ultra combo finishes, 9-0 for him. Mid way through my heavy metal scream, I decided it was time to stop. As I quit back to the XMB, I noticed a downloadable game I hadn't booted up in a while. Flower was there, saying hello. I figured I couldn't get any more angry, so why not have a go.
Immediately upon booting it up, I got a trophy titled "Welcome Back". It's like the game wanted me to feel better. Flower is the virtual representation of my mother. As I began to play once again, it made me cookies of wonderful visuals, smooth game play, and relaxing music. I'd found my anti-rage, and it was Flower. I was in love once again, and this time I wasn't stood up at the theater. Flower was everything that Street Fighter wasn't, and it acted as a perfect calm down game.
From now on, all my Street Fighter sessions will end with a level or two of Flower to mellow out. I cannot stress how much of a mood change I under went after just one level of Flower. That game works miracles, and it allows me to enjoy Street Fighter again... at least for a little while.
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