I like the framing of fighting games as a collaborative process. It really is like "choreographing a fight scene on the fly".
Sometimes I know that I could play "cheap" and grind out a win easily against an opponent. Opponent would be frustrated. Anyone watching the fight would be bored to death, but it would be correct from a EV perspective. Number would go up. I choose not to do this. I'll try for risky set-up. I'll play into an opponent's strength. If suboptimal choices make the fight more varied, more cinematic, it can make the overall game experience better, even if it results in more losses.
I like the framing of fighting games as a collaborative process. It really is like "choreographing a fight scene on the fly".
Sometimes I know that I could play "cheap" and grind out a win easily against an opponent. Opponent would be frustrated. Anyone watching the fight would be bored to death, but it would be correct from a EV perspective. Number would go up. I choose not to do this. I'll try for risky set-up. I'll play into an opponent's strength. If suboptimal choices make the fight more varied, more cinematic, it can make the overall game experience better, even if it results in more losses.