planet crap

Things have quite been rough on me lately. Today, I lost over 20 matches in Marvel vs. Capcom 3, and people have been telling me to kick you out of my three-man team, mainly because you have such meager health points: you get beaten so easily—especially by Akuma. And by Hulk.

I’ve always had high hopes us. I know that we have things in common.

I, too, am not strong physically. I’m amusingly fragile. And my mind is an insane space for maelstrom, and sometimes, like you, I can’t control it.

The release of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is fast approaching, and everyone in the universe knows that you have been nerfed down to the weakest pit: your health was decreased to 375,000 points, and your TK fireball abilities were weakened.

This is just sad, and frustrating.

I realized that game updates aren’t always nice. Although the 12 new characters and other features are promising, all of them just don’t compensate for the loss that I will experience: you.

I wish Capcom and game producer Ryota Niitsuma will eventually bring back the game glory that you deserve. After all, you were not called “Marvel Girl” for nothing—and I believed in that. I had strong faith in the Phoenix Force.

But the upcoming game mechanics and character updates made a lot of things complicated for the both of us. Maintaining a level 5 hyper meter has now become even more difficult (thanks to the cleverly crafted team aerial exchange combo that can remove a meter). And keeping my head up high in fierce matches is equally complicated. The pressure continues to build up, especially against Wolverine and Albert Wesker players (they’re so mean).

I know you’ve been through a lot of pain and heartache; letting you go breaks my heart equally. Please find comfort knowing that I’ve always enjoyed my ride with you. I will never forget my early days in the game, of when you were my fireball spamming buddy.

I’ve always enjoyed mashing your light attacks everytime you transform into Dark Phoenix, and in a level 3 X-Factor. I will forever love your quick teleports and body attacks. And best of all, I will always remember the warmth of your healing field.

Goodbye, Phoenix. You were, indeed, fire and life incarnate.

Jesse

[SUCKER! I’ll never let go of Phoenix! Haha! This letter was written on October 2011, back when I was obsessed with the idea of being sad about Phoenix’ nerfs in the game. Today, I continue to play her in UMVC3 with Hsien-Ko and her sister in the Low Health Sorority, Chun-Li.]

*Phoenix artwork from Eventhubs.