I got bullied during my Patapon 1+2 Replay demo and I loved it
Before I entered the appointment, a colleague (let's call him John) asked if he could join and watch. I had no problem with that, and Bandai Namco gave the okay. When I had begun talking to the team about Patapon 1+2 Replay, they immediately noticed that I had said the name wrong and engaged in some playful teasing as they corrected my pronunciation. It was foreshadowing of what was to come during a demo that would show me the comedic joy and tension of a classic series that's built for casual, carefree entertainment.
Recommended Videos
Discovering Patapon
The second John and I sat down, we were greeted by Savannah Ho, the marketing lead for Patapon 1+2 Replay. After a short introduction, Ho gave me a simple elevator pitch to get me up to speed: 'Patapon is a rhythm action game that's perfect for people who love … Rhythm and action! This game has an easy entry level but a high skill ceiling. Especially with the Patapon 1+2 Replay bundle, we've added difficulty levels, which are new to the franchise.' The last piece of her pitch would become especially important as my appointment went on. As someone who was born with two left feet, easy mode sounded appealing.
After talking with Ho, I was instructed to load into the game and was given a series of commands to press that would allow my adorable little eyeball men to perform various actions. These included tasks as simple as moving forward, attacking, and jumping. The catch was that they needed to be pressed alongside the beat, and if I failed to do so, I would need to start said input all over again.
Not only did my little men perform an action when timed correctly, but I was also rewarded with an adorable, catchy bit of music. Ho assured me that the songs used in 1+2 Replay are also the same ones used in the originals. Hitting the combos on the right beat gave me a nice hit of serotonin. The cherry on top is the visual upgrade. It's great to see games built for older handhelds polished up to feel modern once again.
For the first level, I was tasked with hunting down a handful of animals before they escaped from my tribe. I thought I was in for a good time because of the game's cheerful tone and the fact that I was playing on easy mode. But my lack of coordination meant that getting past the intro took me much longer than I'd like to admit, so much so that John started to rib me over it. Ho even started to laugh at his jokes and chimed in at first. That may sound like bullying, but it made my demo of an already upbeat game even more enjoyable. It's hard not to smile and laugh whenever you see your little men perform an action or hunt down a creature — or, in my case, messing up.
Although there weren't real stakes in the first level, it did hurt to know that I let one creature get away and that it took me nearly ten minutes to complete it. Of course, without skipping a beat, John and Ho were right there to make sure I knew how badly I messed up, which made the situation funnier than it should have been.
The stakes only got higher from there. For the second level, Ho informed me that I would be fighting a T-Rex-like creature who would actively fight back. By this point in the demo, I was locked in and ready to prove them wrong — or so I thought. I was feeling the rhythm, and before I knew it, I made it to the T-Rex and was prepared for battle. The second it started, John and Ho began cracking jokes about my lacking skills. It immediately broke my concentration because I started busting up too.
The adorable dinosaur made quick work of my frontline troops, which was a feat. Ho made it a point to say that the ones who died are specially designed to withstand damage; the fact that I got them killed was impressive. Even though I had lost good folks in the battle, my eyeball creatures and I ultimately walked away victorious in a deadly fight full of catchy music.
As I learned during my demo, when I perform certain actions back to back, I begin to build up an ultimate attack. Every time I was getting close to obtaining it, John or Ho would taunt me with one-liners like 'oh look, he's getting closer!' Like clockwork, that would get me laughing and break my combo.
Even though I was the butt of a lot of the jokes while playing Patapon 1+2 Replay, I wouldn't have had it any other way. My playtime perfectly emphasized what Patapon is all about, giving me a crash course in a series that's new to me. It's meant to be carefree and fun, something casual that can be made even more enjoyable while playing with others. That's why Patapon 1+2 Replay is worth checking out. Even if you're someone like me who has no rhythm, that upbeat energy is infectious. And it's only amplified while playing with friends who can bask in that joy with you. It's hard not to smile when playing.
Patapon 1+2 Replay launches on July 11 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Iconic ‘60s Singer and Satirist Dies at 97
Iconic '60s Singer and Satirist Dies at 97 originally appeared on Parade. The year is 1967. The black-and-white TV screen reveals an impeccably dressed, bespectacled academic in his late 30s. His fingers fly over the ivory keys of a baby grand piano. The first words out of his mouth are 'when you attend a funeral.' What follows is a familiar narrative about loss making you think of your own relatives weeping for you at your funeral, sung with appropriate pomp and circumstance. Then… something shifts. 'Don't you worry,' the singer knowingly smiles at his audience. 'For if the bomb that drops on you/ gets your friends and neighbors too,/ there'll be nobody left behind to grieve.' The song, 'We Will All Go Together When We Go,' picks up as he merrily continues to sing of the likelihood of impending nuclear destruction. The audience is unabashed with their delight, for the man on the screen is not your average run-of-the-mill entertainer. He is, instead, the legendary satirist Tom Lehrer, 97, who passed away in his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Saturday, according to Variety. Born in Manhattan in 1928 to a Jewish family, math prodigy Lehrer started his higher education at Harvard when he was 15. Known for his razor-sharp wit and darkly funny, politically savvy songs, the Harvard-educated mathematics professor had a surprising entry into entertainment, and an even more unexpectedly short tenure there. In a 1997 interview with Elijah Wald, Lehrer described what led him to write satirical songs in the first place. He had no yearn for fame or even any real love of performance, despite his natural stage presence. Instead, 'I would listen to the radio and think, 'I can write a song as good as that,' and the problem is, they already have people who can write songs 'as good as that' so what do they need one more for? What is necessary is somebody that can write something different.'' Lehrer was certainly different from anyone who came before him, and his unique blend of musical wit would inspire generations of entertainers to come. In the wake of his death, his fans – including the famous ones – flocked to social media to pay their respects. 'My last living musical hero is still my hero but unfortunately no longer living,' Alfred 'Weird Al' Yankovic, 65, posted to Instagram. 'RIP to the great, great Mr. Tom Lehrer.' Fans filled the comments section with 'RIP's and condolences aplenty. 'I'll miss him forever,' wrote one distraught fan. In the early '50s, Lehrer self-released a few albums while still a professor by trade, with teaching posts including Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of California, according to The BBC. 'I don't like people to get the idea that I have to do this for a living,' Lehrer deadpanned to one live audience in discussing his academic roots. 'I could be making, oh, $3,000 a year just teaching.' After the release of his first album, 'the word spread like herpes,' Lehrer quipped to Wald, describing how his self-released record went old school viral, selling a shocking 10,000 copies according to Variety. Before long Lehrer was performing in nightclubs, concert halls, and recording live concerts for television, his next record rising to number 18 on the American charts. In his songs, Lehrer explored socially taboo subjects with his signature light tunes and unabashedly frank lyrics. Along with exploring nuclear conflicts in the aforementioned 'We Will All Go Together When We Go,' Lehrer took on sexuality in 'The Masochism Tango' and 'Smut,' racism in 'National Brotherhood Week,' and addiction in 'The Old Dope Peddler.' He also made time for some lighter subjects, like mocking classic spring ballads in his own ode to the season, 'Poisoning Pigeons in the Park.' He was in the height of his career in the '60s and '70s when, abruptly, Lehrer left the entertainment industry, eschewing fame in favor of a quiet life as a math teacher one quarter of the year, and a 'cheerful layabout' for the rest of the time. "I learned 25 years ago that you didn't have to shovel snow,'' he told Wald in the 1997 interview. "You didn't even have to see snow, and that was a great revelation to me.'' After his retreat from the public eye, Lehrer's popular satire returned to the press in 1980 when they were put together in the musical revue 'Tomfoolery.' Now, despite his passing, Lehrer's songs and his signature wit will live on forever, if the overflowing comments section of Weird Al's Instagram post is any indication. One fan perfectly mimicked Lehrer's signature sense of humor with a reference to his song 'Poisoning Pigeons in the Park' in the comment, 'The pigeons are safe, BUT AT WHAT COST.' Another fan commented with a reference to Lehrer's aforementioned song about bereavement, 'We Will All Go Together When We Go.' 'I thought we'd all go together,' the fan wrote along with a crying emoji. Iconic '60s Singer and Satirist Dies at 97 first appeared on Parade on Jul 28, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The Morris Twins Finally Speak About The Beef With Jokic Brothers
The Morris Twins Finally Speak About The Beef With Jokic Brothers originally appeared on Fadeaway World. After nearly four years of silence, the Morris twins have finally opened up about their infamous altercation with Nikola Jokic and his brothers, an incident that sparked one of the NBA's most intense off-court storylines in recent memory. Appearing on a recent podcast, Marcus and Markieff Morris provided their unfiltered perspective on the 2021 scuffle that left Markieff sidelined for months and fueled a long-standing beef with the notoriously protective Jokic brothers. For the first time, the twins now break it all down, and they aren't holding back. Markieff Morris explained: "It was social media. It never went anywhere... It's a cheap shot. I did a basketball play. If you see the angle, I put my hand up, like I let it know I'm coming towards you. I fouled you. It's like a hard foul in the game." "If you hit me from behind, I think it's a cheap shot. I turn my back... If you asked me, I would have never ran. Like I'm physically walking. I'm walking away. So I'm not even in the mode of knowing you're about to hit me." "Like it's like a car crash. I'm just sitting regularly in the car, just hit you in the back. You're like, woo. So my thing was, I shoved the, I was going to do it. I don't take nothing back from it." "Like, I gave it out a ton of times. So when you get hit, it ain't like I feel sorry for myself..." The incident, which took place during a regular-season game between the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets, began with Markieff delivering what he described as a hard, intentional foul on Nikola Jokic. The three-time MVP retaliated by shoving Markieff from behind, a move many fans and players deemed a "cheap shot." The altercation left Markieff with whiplash and a neck injury that kept him out for 58 games. In the aftermath, the Jokic brothers, known for their intense loyalty to Nikola, took to social media, threatening the Morris twins and fueling a dramatic narrative that spilled out well beyond the court. For months, the situation remained quiet, with both sides avoiding escalation. But the threat of something more physical always lingered. Now, the Morris twins make it clear: if things had ever gone further, they liked their odds. Despite the bravado, the twins' tone wasn't overly aggressive, more defensive than instigative. The interview seemed to serve as a chance to finally clear the air and assert that they never feared the Jokic brothers, nor did they regret their actions. Time may have cooled tensions, but the scars, both literal and emotional, from that chaotic moment still story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ty Haney Officially Returns to Outdoor Voices
She's back. Confirming a badly kept secret in the apparel industry, Ty Haney has officially returned to Outdoor Voices, the brand she founded in 2013. More from WWD Obagi, Milk Makeup Owner Waldencast Enters Filler Market With New Acquisition Ulta Beauty Acquires Space NK as It Speeds Up International Expansion How Blu Scarpa Plans to Scale With The Help of Fiat Heir Lapo Elkann Actually, Haney has been quietly working with the company for nearly a year, creating product and brainstorming on how to reimagine the brand. But with a capsule collection ready to launch on Aug. 4, it was time for the official reveal. 'I formally started last August,' Haney told WWD. 'It's been so much fun to reactivate, reconnect to the vision, work on product and evolve what was an awesome brand into an awesome brand for today.' The first hints that something was afoot came last week when Outdoor Voices erased its Instagram feed, added the brand's former motto 'Doing Things' to its web page and followed just one person, Haney. That led to widespread speculation that she was returning. Her official role is founder, partner and co-owner and she will lead product, brand and creative, along with community engagement and activations to help refocus the brand identity and engage with new generations, as well as core consumers who already have a connection to the company. Haney said she has repurchased a company stake and is working with a team that includes Katie Siano, president; Tiffany Wilkinson, the former creative director who has rejoined the brand in that role, Jessica Guzman, the new design director, and Mariel O'Brien, general manager and chief operating officer. Last June, Consortium Brand Partners, a fund manager and brand-building company founded by three former Marquee Brands executives, purchased the troubled activewear brand for an undisclosed price. Corsortium, which is led by Cory Baker, Michael DeVirgilio and Jonathan Greller, is one of the new players in the brand management business, joining Authentic Brands Group, WHP Global, Bluestar and the founders' former firm, Marquee. Over the years, Outdoor Voices had faced numerous financial challenges, internal management rifts, excess inventory that had to be sold at off-price channels, cash flow issues, a revolving door of executives and store closures. Last spring the company's 16 remaining stores abruptly closed after Outdoor Voices reportedly stopped paying a number of its vendors and neglected to pay rent on some of the stores for months, according to published reports. Once a direct-to-consumer darling, Outdoor Voices established a strong Millennial following for its colorful leggings and tops and its exercise dress with shorts underneath. It also created a popular social media presence with its hashtag, #DoingThings, where customers would share images of themselves enjoying athletic activities. The company frequently hosted events such as group exercise classes. In 2018, the brand was valued at $100 million, but that dropped to $40 million in 2020. Haney abruptly resigned from the company in February 2020, and Mickey Drexler, an investor and chairman since 2017, stepped down the following July. The two reportedly clashed over management styles, among other issues. Haney was succeeded as chief executive officer on an interim basis by Cliff Moskowitz, the former president of InterLuxe, a New York investment firm. Haney returned to Outdoor Voices in June 2020 when it received funding from NaHC03, the investment management company run Ashley Merrill, founder and CEO of sleepwear brand Lunya. She became the new chairman of Outdoor Voices and Haney took an active role as one of the company's board members. Merrill took on the role of interim CEO last fall, but both she and Haney soon exited. Haney said she was introduced to Consortium by Keith Miller, an early investor in Outdoor Voices, around the time of the purchase. But because she was already busy running her other two successful start-ups — Joggy, a plant-based energetics brand, and Try Your Best, or TYB, a Web 3.0 platform that brings together brands and consumers to build value — it wasn't on her mind to rejoin OV. TYB recently closed an $11 million series A funding round. 'I have two companies that I've been running since I left after Outdoor Voices, and they're both going very well. So I It wasn't really on my mind to consider reengaging with OV,' she said. 'But I got to meet Cory and his partners from March to August, and really get a sense for what they were excited about, and vice versa, and I got comfortable with the idea, and excited and energized about being part of it again. So I've formally joined back.' She believes the niche that Outdoor Voices dominated in the early days still represents an opportunity today, albeit in an updated way. 'You'll see in the product imagery, the collection still is rooted in movement and all materials meant to sweat in, but it's much more bold and fashion-forward and lifestyle-oriented underneath this umbrella of recreation. So a fresh and exciting perspective and really pushing it into a new version of itself.' She admitted that there were some dark days during the first go-round, but she looks at it as a learning experience. 'I look back on my experience with OV, and 90 percent that first chapter was awesome — 10 percent was hard. But I'm grateful for the masterclass in learning.' The biggest lesson she learned was that any successful company needs to have a seasoned chief operating officer. Because no one had that position at OV, there was a 'massive gap from an operating leadership perspective,' she said. So Haney said when creating Joggy and TYB, her first hire for both was a chief operating officer. At Outdoor Voices, that role will be assumed by O'Brien. 'I've been a lot more thoughtful in my businesses since then,' she said. When Consortium bought the company, its plan was to stabilize the business and eventually add categories, open stores and explore international distribution. That's the game plan it is following for its other acquisition, Draper James. Consortium also owns Jonathan Adler, in which it bought a majority interest last January. David Peyser Sportswear is also an investor in Outdoor Voices. 'The consumer doesn't see [Outdoor Voices] as depressed,' DeVirgilio said last fall. 'We have to put time and money into this brand, and we will,' Baker added at the time. 'Our job is to reengage the consumer with good product in an authentic way.' The team is even more positive now that Haney is front and center again. 'We are thrilled to welcome Ty back to the company she founded,' said Baker. 'She is a visionary founder whose creativity and strategic insight are unmatched. With her at the helm, the brand is returning to its roots with renewed purpose and energy. This is a homecoming in every sense — and one that positions OV for an exciting new chapter.' Haney said although the new Outdoor Voices will be online initially, she envisions the company eventually getting back into retail. 'For the foreseeable futures, we'll be owning and creating strength with our own website. But given how important the IRL kind of activations and physical touch points are to a movement brand, I am certain that we'll start to open stores at some point.' The capsule that will launch next week will feature technical apparel and accessories that honor the brand's heritage, but in a modern way. Haney said the brand will also be hosting an activation in New York in September. Haney was born in Long Beach, Calif., and grew up in Boulder, Colo., where she ran track competitively. But the brands she wore to run were always boasting that they could make someone 'harder, better, faster, stronger,' she said in 2018. So she set out to create an activewear brand focused on having fun rather than performing at the highest level. 'As you get older, activity takes on a whole new meaning: it's less about this harder, faster kind of pressure-oriented positioning and all about freeing fitness from performance, and that's what OV is built on.' Haney is now a mother of two and wife to country singer Mark Wystrach, lead singer of Midland. Best of WWD EXCLUSIVE: Maje Names Charlotte Tasset Ferrec CEO Nadja Swarovski Exits Family Company Amid Ongoing Corporate Shakeup Aeffe MD Exits Fashion Group Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
