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
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘The History of Sound' Trailer: Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor Fall in Love Over Folk Music
Two of the indie film world's favorite young actors will share the screen this fall in what many are already clocking as an award season contender to watch. Oliver Hermanus' 'The History of Sound' made waves at Cannes for its sensitive portrayal of a love affair between Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor. The film was acquired by MUBI, which will roll the film out theatrically in September as the Oscar race begins to take shape. More from IndieWire 'Train Dreams' Teaser: Joel Edgerton Stars in a Time-Spanning Denis Johnson Adaptation Don't Let Anything Spoil Summer's Funniest Rom-Com - Even This Interview The film begins in 1917, where budding, preternaturally gifted musician Lionel (Mescal) first meets David (O'Connor) at the Boston Conservatory, where they bond over their shared love of folk music. They reconnect years later when David asks Lionel to join him on an impromptu journey through New England to collect traditional folk songs. That journey paves the way for a romance — set against the music they're preserving — that will change the course of Lionel's life. 'The History of Sound' received positive reviews at Cannes, with IndieWire's Ryan Lattanzio writing that 'The false notes are rare in director Oliver Hermanus' affecting and dustily textured romance 'The History of Sound,' written by Ben Shattuck from his own short story about men in love, together and apart, circa World War I and its aftermath. But for a queer love story starring two of the hottest, of-this-moment leading actors around — Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor— 'The History of Sound' almost perversely denies your expectations of what a gay romance could be.' The film's willingness to defy expectations extends to its approach to sex scenes, opting to tell a softer love story without explicit intimacy. Speaking to IndieWire at Cannes, Mescal said he appreciated that approach and thinks it benefits the story. 'I've done my fair share of sex scenes, I'm like, 'been there, done that,'' Mescal said. 'What feels slightly different about this from [other] romantic relationships onscreen, I would say in the hierarchy of their relationship, physical touch isn't the priority. It's intellectual stimulation, it's friendship. Not that they're not physically attracted to each other; they very much are, but their chemistry is born from this shared love of these folk songs, and it extends from there.' A MUBI release, 'The History of Sound' opens in theaters on Friday, September 12. Watch the trailer below. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan dies at 71: Sources
Terry 'Hulk Hogan' Bollea died on Thursday, sources confirmed to Uncrowned. He was 71 years old. News of Hogan's passing was initially reported by TMZ. Per the outlet, medical personnel were called to Hogan's Florida home for a 'cardiac arrest.' Hogan is survived by his third wife, Sky Daily, and two children, Brooke and Nick. Hogan was married twice prior to Linda Claridge and Jennifer McDaniel. Although Hogan's professional wrestling career began in the late 1970s, his true explosion on the scene didn't come until the mid-1980s, when he helped Vince McMahon turn the then-WWF from primarily a northeast-based wrestling territory into a national brand, and eventually a multi-billion-dollar company. During his initial run with McMahon's promotion, Hogan's popularity surged, making him easily the most famous and recognized wrestler during the period. Hogan's entrance music ('Real American'), signature red-and-yellow gear, his catchphrase 'Whatcha gonna do, when Hulkamania runs wild on you?' and his dubbing of fans as 'Hulkamaniacs' helped make him arguably the most popular babyface of all time. Although Hogan's matches followed a simple formula — offense, near defeat, 'hulking up' before ultimately winning — he remained the biggest draw WWF had at the time. Hogan's most famous match came in 1987, when he wrestled Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III. Hogan and Andre had wrestled several times in the past, but none of the previous matches were met with the anticipation or stakes that their showdown at the Pontiac Silverdome did in that match. In an interview for the 2018 HBO documentary 'Andre the Giant,' Hogan recalled the build-up to the show, saying that he wasn't sure if Andre would follow the plan for the match, allowing Hogan to win and breaking his kayfabe undefeated streak. Hogan's bodyslam of Andre and ensuing victory were defining moments in professional wrestling history. Hogan's run at or near the top of WWE continued into the mid-1990s before he joined WWE's main competitor at the time, Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling. Turner, looking to make a splash and grow his brand beyond the southeast territory, brought in Hogan and several other big-name talents. Hogan's first few years with WCW were largely forgettable before he became a star for another generation. Once the top babyface in the business, Hogan would again transcend professional wrestling in 1996, turning heel for the first time in over a decade and forming the New World Order alongside Scott Hall and Kevin Nash at Bash at the Beach. The NWO storyline quickly became one of the hottest in not just professional wrestling, but pop culture at the time, propelling WCW to an 18-month run of beating McMahon's WWE in television ratings. When McMahon eventually bought WCW and Hogan returned to WWE in 2002, he did so as his NWO 'Hollywood' Hogan character and again captivated audiences at WrestleMania 18, wrestling Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson in an instant classic. Hogan would leave WWE again in 2003, wrestling for numerous promotions, including TNA/Impact, over the next decade. Hogan appeared sporadically on WWE programming — mostly major events such as WrestleMania and anniversary shows — in subsequent years. Influential as a professional wrestler, Hogan utilized his status to cross over into Hollywood on several occasions. Hogan's first, non-wrestling role came in 1982's 'Rocky III,' where he played Thunderlips, a professional wrestler that Sylvester Stallone's character fights during a charity event. Hogan's most famous roles came in the 1993 film 'Mr. Nanny' and the 1994 television series 'Thunder in Paradise.' Hogan and his family also appeared on a reality television series, 'Hogan Knows Best,' in the mid-2000s. Myriad scandals plagued Hogan over the years. In 1985, Hogan was involved in an incident with actor Richard Belzer after Hogan placed Belzer in a chokehold at the star's request. Belzer passed out and suffered a head injury and sued Hogan. Nearly a decade later, Hogan offered testimony in the federal steroid trafficking trial against McMahon. Most notably, in 2012, a clip from a sex tape involving Hogan and Heather Clem was published online by Gawker. Hogan sued Gawker, and after yearslong litigation, eventually reached a $31 million settlement. Then, in July 2015, footage from the same sex tape was leaked to Radar Online and the National Enquirer, where Hogan was filmed using racial slurs and claiming he was 'a little racist.' The incident caused WWE to cut ties with Hogan for several years before eventually reconciling. Then, in July 2015, footage from the same sex tape was leaked to Radar Online and the National Enquirer where Hogan was filmed using racial slurs and claiming he was 'a little racist.' The incident caused WWE to cut ties with Hogan for several years before eventually reconciling. One of Hogan's most recent appearances, at Raw's Netflix debut in January, was met with an overwhelmingly negative reaction from WWE fans. In recent years, Hogan expanded his platform into a memorabilia shop in Florida as well as a beer company, Real American Beer, and was in the process of launching a freestyle wrestling company, Real American Freestyle, alongside his former WCW colleague, Bischoff. Hogan took a central role in the 2024 presidential election, delivering a speech at the Republican National Convention last August and introducing former President Donald Trump on the final night. Despite criticisms about his wrestling style and his transgressions, Hogan remained a major draw and influential figure for the industry. During his six-decade career in professional wrestling, Hogan won countless titles and was inducted into multiple Halls of Fame.
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ozzy Osbourne's Funeral Arrangements Revealed—Including the Artist Who's Expected to Perform & ‘Carry on the Mantle'
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. When someone like Ozzy Osbourne passes away, there's always a lot of interest in the details of the funeral and the tributes being paid. Osbourne, who died on July 22, 2025, is being remembered for his legendary singing career, which included his time as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, during which time he was known as the Prince of Darkness. Today's Top Deals This Brightening Eye Stick Has Even Converted Non-Believers—Grab It on Sale From Amazon for $10 'Skeptical' Shoppers Say This Snail Mucin Face Mask Vanishes Wrinkles After 2 Weeks—& It's Now Under $2 I Found a Discounted Baggu Crescent Bag Lookalike on Amazon & It's $24 Cheaper Than the Original Numerous stories about Osbourne's life have come to light in the days since his death. There was that time he bit the head off a bat. And a dove. And who can forget his time in that MTV reality show alongside his second wife Sharon and his youngest kids. But there's also a lot of interest in his funeral, when it will take place and who will be present. Related: Who are Ozzy Osbourne's kids? When is Ozzy Osbourne's funeral? Osbourne is expected to have a small private funeral, though that might not be all. A source told The Sun: 'There are conversations about a celebration of his life in Birmingham, the city that meant so much to him.' Indeed, after the news of Osbourne's death was announced, flowers were left and vigils held at Birmingham's Black Sabbath Bridge and Bench, as well as at a mural honoring the band. No date has yet been announced. 'Artists like Yungblud, who was seen by Ozzy as a musician who could carry on the mantle of what he started all those years ago, is expected to have a role in it,' the source added. Dominic Richard Harrison, known professionally as Yungblud, is an English singer, songwriter and actor. He has released an EP, titled Yungblud, followed by his first full-length album, titled 21st Century Liability. He performed 'Changes' at Black Sabbath's last concert. 'There are hundreds of big names who will want to pay their respects and celebrate his life and legacy, as well as thousands of fans who would line the streets to say goodbye,' the source also told the outlet. Just a couple of weeks ago, Osbourne performed in the Back To The Beginning concert, which was seen at the time as a way to say goodbye. Before the charity show, Osbourne himself said, 'It's my final encore — my chance to say thank you to my fans.' The concert raised £140million for different charities including Birmingham's Acorns Children's Hospice, Birmingham Children's Hospital, and Cure Parkinson's. A fan who was at the concert, Jake Brookes, told the outlet: 'He got to say goodbye and we got to say goodbye back,' adding. 'There was not a dry eye at Villa Park. And for him to do it at home meant the world to him, meant the world to fans, and it was a mutual thank you and respect.' Meanwhile, Trevor Johnson, Chief Executive of Acorns, said the concert 'showed what he was about.' He explained. 'It showed the impact that he's had right across the world from here in the West Midlands and I think it was a fitting end to an extraordinary life.' A book of condolences is being opened at Villa Park, but the reaction from fans and people who knew him alike shows why a tribute is a very good idea. I Am Ozzy by Ozzy Osbourne On Sale 13% off Buy Now On Amazon $23.28 Best of StyleCaster The 26 Best Romantic Comedies to Watch if You Want to Know What Love Feels Like These 'Bachelor' Secrets & Rules Prove What Happens Behind the Scenes Is So Much Juicier BTS's 7 Members Were Discovered in the Most Unconventional Ways
