Puff-puff (Dragon Quest)

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A puff-puff occurring in Dragon Quest VIII, where a woman uses Slimes to simulate the act

Puff-puff (ぱふぱふ, pafupafu) is an onomatopoeia that conveys a woman's breasts being rubbed in someone's face. It was first created by Akira Toriyama, creator of Dragon Ball and lead artist of Dragon Quest, having it featured in both. In Dragon Quest, it appears in multiple games as a service a character may receive. It has been featured in a non-sexual way in Dragon Quest as well, such as two Slimes being used to simulate the act or swapping the performer for a man, which has been criticized for lacking consent by critics. It has been routinely censored in the Dragon Quest series in English until Dragon Quest XI. Multiple video games in other series include the puff-puff scene or make references to it, including 3D Dot Game Heroes, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Final Fantasy XIV, and Dragon Ball Xenoverse.

History[edit]

Puff-puff is an onomatopoeia for a woman rubbing her breasts in someone's face, depicted through only dialogue in some games.[1][2] The name was coined by Dragon Ball creator and Dragon Quest artist Akira Toriyama, having been originally featured in the Dragon Ball manga.[3][4][5][6] It was featured in the first Dragon Quest game, a service offered by a woman in the town of Kol in exchange for money.[1] In addition to being a service offered by certain characters, some characters are able to use it as a special technique, such as Jessica Albert from Dragon Quest VIII.[7] It was also featured in the mobile game Dragon Quest Walk as a technique.[8]

The "puff-puff" scene has been depicted in the Dragon Quest series in various ways, including multiple instances of a woman tricking the protagonist.[9] Most puff-puff sessions in the series do not involve women's breasts; in both Dragon Quest II and Dragon Quest III, a woman offers a "puff-puff," only for it to turn out to be a man performing it, with the puff-puff in III being a shoulder massage.[10][6] In Dragon Quest VIII, a woman performs a "puff-puff" massage using two Slimes, while Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies depicts the character's face being rubbed between two sheep's rear ends. Dragon Quest XI features multiple such scenes, including a bungee jumping, a makeup session, and a session where it was performed by a man.[6] The mobile game Dragon Quest Walk features a recreation of the puff-puff scene from the first Dragon Quest.[11] It has also been featured outside Dragon Quest video games, such as a Line sticker and a Puff-Puff Room offered as a reward in a Dragon Quest III-themed escape room.[12][13]

Censorship[edit]

The scene has been censored in the localization of multiple Dragon Quest games as well as its appearance in Dragon Ball.[6][14] Dragon Quest III replaces it with a fortune teller, while Dragon Quest IV and Dragon Quest VI changes it to the non-sexual 'Pufpuf' therapy' and a makeup session respectively.[15][6] The "Puff-Puff" technique was instead changed to be called "Pattycake."[16] When asked by GamesRadar+ about the absence of "puff-puff" scenes from the Dragon Quest series at times, Dragon Quest VI producer Noriyoshi Fujimoto expressed disappointment that these scenes could affect the games' age rating, thus causing them change the scenes to be more subtle in English.[17] The English version of Dragon Quest XI did not have the puff-puff scenes censored.[5]

Impact[edit]

The scene has been a running joke in the Dragon Quest series.[18] Inside Games writer Sushishi commented that, since being able to chat with the player's partner characters was not a feature yet by Dragon Quest III, the "puff-puff" scene was a valuable character interaction experience.[19] IGN writer Jared Petty was critical of the depiction of a "puff-puff" scene in Dragon Quest XI where it turns out that a man performed the "puff-puff," arguing that it was not funny that has issues with the consent of the scene.[4] A writer for The Independent was also critical of its use, feeling that the "puff-puff" scenes in the game were forced in for "cheap, innocuous laughs," criticizing the scene discussed by Jared Petty for having issues with consent.[3] Author Daniel Andreyev discussed the various depictions of the act in the series, specifically how it has evolved over time and manifested in Dragon Quest XI. He argued that its use contributes to a feeling of nostalgia, particularly to that of 1980s Japanese pop culture.[20] The YouTuber Momo Momose, being a fan of the Dragon Quest series, celebrated its 35th anniversary, reproduced a "puff-puff" scene from Dragon Quest while wearing a red bunny suit, including a fade to black.[21] Digitally Downloaded writer Matt Sainsbury questioned whether puff-puff being featured in English Dragon Quest games was worth criticism of the scenes that he felt would be inevitable, though he still appreciated their presence in Dragon Quest XI, feeling that it contributed to reminding the player that it was a "light and breezy JRPG."[22][23]

It has been referenced in multiple video games, including 3D Dot Game Heroes and Yakuza: Like a Dragon.[24][25] In Like a Dragon, the game calls it "nigi-nigi," coming from the verb "nigiru" meaning to grasp or grip.[26] It is also called "honk-honk in the sequel Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.[27] The "puff-puff" scene is featured in Final Fantasy XIV as part of their Dragon Quest X collaboration.[28] It also appeared in Dragon Ball Xenoverse as a gesture that can be performed by the character Master Roshi.[29]

A t-shirt with the words "puff puff" printed on it was released as part of a set of t-shirts by ZOZOTOWN as part of a set of t-shirts based on the character Bulma from Dragon Ball.[30]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Kalata, Kurt (February 20, 2009). "Dragon Quest". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  2. ^ Antista, Chris (July 22, 2009). "Nintendo: Banned in the USA". GamesRadar+. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age review: A gorgeous JRPG for the modern age". The Independent. September 17, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Petty, Jared (August 28, 2018). "Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age Review". IGN. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Ashaari, Alleef (April 9, 2018). "Dragon Quest XI Won't Be Censored for Western Players". Game Revolution. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e Baird, Scott (September 20, 2019). "Dragon Quest's Long-Running NSFW "Puff-Puff" Joke Explained". TheGamer. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  7. ^ Kalata, Kurt (February 20, 2016). "Dragon Warrior VIII: Journey of the Cursed King". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  8. ^ "【ドラクエウォーク】ぱふぱふが使える装備/仲間と継承玉の入手方法【DQウォーク】". Game With. October 27, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  9. ^ "【特集】「ゲームに登場するエッチなお店」10選". Inside Games. December 14, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  10. ^ Shobo, Halala (October 27, 2023). "「実現する」場合の方がガッカリ？ 歴代『ドラクエ』の翻弄される「ぱふぱふ」集". Magmix. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  11. ^ Somin (October 16, 2019). "ぱふぱふと『DQウォーク』【電撃DQW日記#101】". Dengeki Online. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  12. ^ Gen, Gumachi (June 3, 2016). "しゃべって動く『ドラクエヒーローズ』LINEスタンプ配信開始、あの"ぱふぱふ"も!?…金田一連十郎描き下ろし". Inside Games. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  13. ^ "あの"ぱふぱふ"が体験できる！"大魔王ゾーマからの脱出"会場内のグッズ・フード購入特典として"ぱふぱふ部屋"を実施". Famitsu. July 25, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  14. ^ West, Mark I. (October 23, 2008). The Japanification of Children's Popular Culture: From Godzilla to Miyazaki. Scarecrow Press. p. 205. ISBN 978-0-8108-6249-4. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  15. ^ Mizuguchi, Makoto (May 15, 2010). "同性結婚・ぱふぱふ・解雇問題……ゲームとゲイの深い関係". Inside Games. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  16. ^ Kalata, Kurt (August 1, 2017). "Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  17. ^ Gilbert, Henry (February 18, 2011). "An interview with Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii". GamesRadar+. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  18. ^ Byrd, Matthew (May 22, 2021). "15 NES Games You Didn't Know Were Censored". Den of Geek. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  19. ^ Sushishi (May 30, 2021). "『ドラクエ3』再リメイクで"あの要素"はどうなる！？「すごろく場」や「あぶない水着」など懐かしく気になるポイントをピックアップ". Inside Games. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  20. ^ Andreyev, Daniel (February 7, 2018). La Légende Dragon Quest: Création - univers - décryptage. Third Editions. ISBN 978-2-37784-022-9. Retrieved March 21, 2024.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  21. ^ "ももせもも、ぱふぱふ完コピ!!". Men's Cyzo. May 28, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  22. ^ Sainsbury, Matt. "Square Enix, what the hell are you thinking with Dragon Quest XII?". Digitally Downloaded. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  23. ^ Sainsbury, Matt. "Review: Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (Sony PlayStation 4)". Digitally Downloaded. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  24. ^ Kauz, Andrew (August 21, 2010). "The rubbing of breasts on faces in Dragon Quest IX". Destructoid. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  25. ^ Romano, Sal (September 4, 2019). "Yakuza: Like a Dragon Weekly Famitsu developer interview tidbits". Gematsu. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  26. ^ Sato (January 7, 2020). "Yakuza: Like a Dragon Shares More on Dragon Kart, Selfies, and its Own Version of Dragon Quest's "Puff-Puff"". Siliconera. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  27. ^ Vitale, Bryan; Torres, Josh (February 3, 2024). "Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth Honk-Honk Locations guide". RPGSite. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  28. ^ Sato (June 26, 2020). "Dragon Quest X Collaboration Rerun Will Bring Golems and Puff-Puffs to Final Fantasy XIV on July 2, 2020". Siliconera. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  29. ^ Luster, Joseph (November 24, 2014). "Jaco the Galactic Patrolman Joins "Dragon Ball Xenoverse" as Pre-Order Bonus". Crunchyroll. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  30. ^ "「ドラゴンボール」ブルマの服たくし上げや、ぱふぱふモチーフにしたTシャツ". My Navi. September 24, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
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