Something that you have to know about me, Pandas, is that I’m a geek, through and through. From books, movies, and TV shows to anime, manga, tabletop top games, and video games, I’m a fan of it all. I love exploring new worlds and immersing myself in adventures. Video games, especially, have been an important part of my life since I was a kid, helping spark my interest in storytelling and the fantasy genre as a whole. For me, they were—and always will be—gateways into someone else’s imagination that help expand my own. So when it comes to discussing games and anything related, I know a little something.
One of the most satisfying things that you can encounter in any video game is the sense of wonder and shock you get when the situation takes an unexpected turn. Say you just defeated a really difficult boss after having seen the GAME OVER screen flash at you a dozen times. You’re euphoric. You punch the air. You’re the best! That’s when your smile fades, as you realize, the boss is getting back up and has another health bar. Cue some epic music, the fight’s far from over.
This is where
the r/2healthbars subreddit comes in. An online community of nearly half a million members, the online community documents bizarre, funny, and odd examples of the so-called ‘2 health bars’ phenomenon. It occurs when you think you’ve defeated a video game boss only for it to start a new phase with another health bar. Scroll down for some of the sub’s best pics, upvote your fave ones, and remember—don’t you dare go hollow, dear Pandas.
Bored Panda reached out to pop culture, entertainment, and lifestyle
expert Mike Sington, from Hollywood, to hear his thoughts about why certain photos and posts go viral online while others get left by the digital wayside. "In my experience, there are three main reasons why a photo goes viral: uniqueness, humor, or cuteness. But even with one, or more than one of those qualities, luck and timing are still required to drive a photo across the internet," he explained to me. Read on for some more great insights from Mike, including how there's only one way to be truly original on social media.
