#iamsimba

(Pictured with AI|LolitaBot as Sakura Kasugano)

Name: Togaa Lavien

Handle(s): ReSe | IAmSimba

Current City and State: Charlotte, NC

Games You Play: Under Night In Birth: Late EXE.st, Dragonball FighterZ, Tekken 7, Street Fighter V

Match Highlight:

Tell us about yourself. How did you get your start into fighting games?

I am a very passionate fan of the genre, and I am someone that can get emotional overall. I love fighting games because I can put my heart and emotions into something I enjoy in a good way. I started as a casual player growing up. I played a lot of Soul Calibur 2 and a little bit of SF II Champion Edition on the Sega Genesis. I later found a fighting game group here in Charlotte and started playing a lot of SFIV. I then decided to start playing competitively and acquired my own arcade stick, and the rest was history.

In your game of choice, which character(s) do you play and why specifically those characters?

Everyone that knows me in the community pretty much knows that Sakura is my all-time favorite character in all of fighting games. Along with Sakura, I played D’vorah in MK X, and I currently play Yuzuriha in Under Night as well. The big reason why I play those characters is space control. I enjoy watching high level neutral and the ability to limit a character’s options in neutral. Sakura in SF IV was a very frame trap heavy character, and she was very potent. In SF V, she is more footsie orientated and neutral heavy. On top of that, I always go for the aesthetics of a character, in terms of their appearance and design, and these characters instantly caught my eye, and that’s why I enjoy them the most.

 What is your approach to the way you play your game? What do you tend to go for and what do you tend to look for in your opponents?

I always try to make the opponents make decisions that they didn’t want to make, and I want to punish them heavily for doing so. It’s like the hit and not get hit mentality, where you make them play your game, and when they step out of line, you bring down the hammer. For example, whiff punishing is something I take great pride in practicing because it forces the opponent to be more careful when sticking out buttons. Once you establish that, you slowly limit their options and they become more cautious. What are some things that you like the most about being a part of your fighting game scene? What are some things you wish could change?

I believe that the multiple personalities and how they all interact is probably the thing I love the most about the scene. Of course, there is always some good and bad that can come with it, but for the most part, it's what I love the most. The energy is also something I enjoy seeing as well.

If there’s one thing I wish we could change, that would be getting players to open their eyes to other games. Variety is never a bad thing, and with all the fighting games currently out, why not test the waters and learn other games as well? I believe learning other games can also improve your overall fundamentals in other aspects as well.

 What is the match you remember the most and what made it so memorable?

I believe the money match I had with That_Masher is probably the most memorable for a couple of reasons. It was my first money match, and it was also the first time I was directly called for it. At the time, we were both learning the game online, and I was doing rather well against him. He then wanted to do a money match offline at the next possible tournament, and as we were about to start, He started talking trash. I simply stated that I would let my abilities talk for me, and the rest was history. It was a dominant performance, and it was also the 1st time I have ever taunted someone in a match.

 Finally, any advice for any of the newer players looking to join their local scene?

The most important thing I can honestly tell you is to go into the scene playing the game/character that you love and have fun with it. I also believe that asking for advice and questions is also a great way to gain traction within the scene. It shows that you are serious about making strides and people are more than willing to do so.

You can follow IAmSimba:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReSe_IAmSimba