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In 2012, Suda51 and James Gunn came together to bring life to a wild concept. It was of a cheerleader that’s also secretly a zombie killing badass. If that sounds familiar, it’s because that notion captures the Buffy the Vampire Slayer essence. Lollipop Chainsaw has sold upwards of a million copies and has solidified itself as a cult classic to many. I’ve got fond memories of playing it when it came out, much to the chagrin of my ex. It was a weekend full of bliss, allowing the Protagonist, Juliet Starling, to leave her mark. 12 years later and I’ve got the chance to relive that magic.
Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP began as a complete remake of the original. However, as time went on, it quickly became a remaster but my excitement never wavered. All that I’m hoping for is a chance to revisit San Romero High School. I needed to prove to myself that nostalgia wasn’t blinding me, and after a 7-hour marathon to the finish line, I have thoughts.
Strawberry Lollipops are apparently the secret to a decent ab situation.
While this title is developed by Dragami Games, it’s still a Suda51 creation. That said, the dialogue is going to be a showcase of immature humor. It discusses great tits, the cutesy design of Juliet’s panties, and tentacles. I found it funny because I knew what to expect. It’s destined to be perverse and dumb. The cringe wasn’t a shock to see as I had prepared for it. I just enjoyed this ride for what it is. It’s a product of the 2010’s, with references spanning My Chemical Romance to Mindless Self Indulgence. I felt like I was back in my apartment. Whether you laugh or don’t, that’s subjective, but there’s an odd charm to it that isn’t easy to ignore.
Between the outrageous subject matter is, surprisingly, sincere undertones. There’s heart poured into the script and while it didn’t leave me sobbing, I did crack a smile. The way that was mixed with the banter between Juliet and her boyfriend, who’s a disembodied head, felt very natural. Their quips do a fantastic job of communicating the stage of their relationship and the bond that they’ve cultivated. Sure, comments about yearning for a penis or a not-so-subtle oral joke do muddle the actual impact of the moment but it wouldn’t be a Suda51 project without it. If you’re ready for unbridled lunacy, then there’s a fun romp waiting.
Bad puns aren’t rampant but they’re there and they’re so bad that they’re awesome.
The gameplay is what I found memorable about Lollipop Chainsaw. Granted, it’s a standard hack-and-slash affair, with blood and gore, but there are also rainbows. This is about Juliet, who is a girly-girl with a penchant for adorable objects, after all. In the midst of her brutality, we’re going to get glitter. Stringing together a combo and murdering a group of zombies goes into a special overlay known as sparkle hunting, too. Yea, I see the transition into it being a tad tedious, especially as it happens frequently, but it’s fast to get back into the action – I didn’t find it disruptive to the killing.
What I love is how the theme of Juliet’s move-set revolves around her cheerleading. She strikes with her Pom-poms and does cart wheels as she slices and dices her enemies with her chainsaw. There’s a commitment to her identity and who she is. We won’t see Juliet suddenly become an expert marksman when she’s just a senior. In that regard, I liked her sense of realism. She uses what she has in her arsenal. However, what won’t be delightful is how at the start, her movements were stiff. It isn’t until I unlock her combos that it’ll smooth itself out. It’s a minor gripe as by level 2, I’ve bought a couple, but until then, the combat is sluggish.
Probably the only time I’ve seen such a high grade on a report card.
Now, I’m going to address the elephant in the room and admit that Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP is short. We’re only going to be controlling Juliet for maybe 6 to 7 hours. It’s a bite-sized, insane adventure, warranting the question of replay-ability. Well, thanks to the Arcade touches and the focus on a point system, I reckon it exists. See, Dragami Games have included a leaderboard, and for the players with a competitive soul; it’s perfect. You’ll be tasked with speed-running, with the current top rank clocking in at a staggering 2 hours and 34 minutes for a completion run. It’ll be tough but for those up for the challenge, the prize is bragging rights.
Let’s discuss Nick, Juliet’s love interest. If you’ve seen the assets for Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP, he’s the head that’s hooked to her skirt. He also plays a pivotal role – dude is a mechanic. Throughout the maps I’m visiting, I’ll locate a lot of headless bodies that I can insert him into, allowing him to use it to clear obstacles blocking my path. What’s cute is seeing Juliet off to the side, cheering him on. Oh, Nick can also help her slaughter zombies. He has tons of whacky methods of doing it but I’ll let you discover what those are. In my opinion, it’s a joy seeing everything that he can do.
RePOP mode may shy away from the blood but Original Mode sure as hell doesn’t!
Alright, I suppose a huge fear is how repetitive battling is going to be. I mean, we’re going to be pressing the same three buttons ad nauseam. The truth is that sure, that’ll be inherent, but thanks to the duration of a session and how fun massacring my foes is, it wasn’t ever a worry for me. Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP does try shaking it up a bit with mini-games, too. I might be playing Pac-Man in one instance and protecting Nick as he runs the bases during a game of Baseball in the other. I will note, however, that I felt occasionally, some ruined the pacing, bringing it to a crawl. It’ll be jarring, but only for a brief second before then recovering.
When it concerns graphical fidelity, Dragami Games has been all up in that cookie jar. If you’re unaware, Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP was announced as a full remake but as time rolled on, the narrative changed. Well, if you look at the visuals, you can see what fell victim to that decision. For example, Juliet herself looks amazing and so do some environments. The lighting has been improved upon and I know it’s kind of weird to highlight but the fire textures are really awesome. If we take a gander at the undead or the NPCs, though, they didn’t receive polish. The textures are muddy and they betray the realistic look that RePOP strives for.
Soooooo, I might have a thing for goth girls.
To be frank, I’m not entirely sure where I stand on which is better. RePOP’s presentation is superb and again, I like what Dragami Games did with Juliet. In that same breath, the cartoony, cel-shaded-like vibe of the original fit like a glove. It matched the absurdity of Lollipop Chainsaw to a tee. It would have also masked how less refined enemies and bosses are here. Yes, this complaint is subjective and objectively, the remaster is a big upgrade – call it a nitpick since it eventually grows on me. I still think that it clashes with the enhancements made to the surroundings which is disappointing.
For anyone in the dark, the reason Lollipop Chainsaw was taken from every digital storefront was the soundtrack – it fell into licensing hell. The deals in place had expired and because the whole OST included the likes of Joan Jett and Arch Enemy, it couldn’t be sold. That’s why a key promise of RePOP was recording self-made tracks so as to avoid this fate in the future. Well, as a fan since 2012, I’ve got a soft spot for the old but I kept open-minded and I sort of dig it. Granted, it didn’t have the same feel but I jammed to songs like “I’m a Cute Zombie Hunter” and “Strawberry Flavored Lollipop” because I found they matched the feel of this title.
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” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” tabindex=”0″ role=”button” class=”wp-image-167326 size-full” title=”Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP – Preparing to face a boss!” src=” alt=”Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP – Preparing to face a boss!” width=”860″ height=”484″ srcset=” 3840w, 300w, 1024w, 768w, 1536w, 2048w, 1720w, 2580w” sizes=”(max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px”/>
There are many costumes for Juliet: some are modest while others are revealing – jiggle physics apply.
As far as performance goes, it’s a conundrum. I’m on the PS5 but this game struggles to hit 60fps consistently. For instance, the first stage hovers around 45 but when I’m in the second, it’s closer to that 60 frames with a handful of dips. The original was 30, but by tweaking the resolution to a paltry 480p or so, it would rocket to, you guessed it, 60. I’m going to be straight: there’s zero reason the PS5 can’t reach those heights. In fact, this poor optimization is hindering RePOP. I’m hearing through the wind that a future patch is planned to address it but given how beefy the console is, I can’t fathom why it isn’t a thing from the beginning.
AND THE REVVING VERDICT IS…
Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP is a spectacular enhanced port of the PS3 cult hit. It retains the all-star voice acting that made it one of, if not the best, Suda51 project. It kept the stupid silliness and crazy energy that made me a diehard defender intact. Dragami Games did an admirable job at reproducing the OST, too, and have a few bangers on the setlist. I would’ve preferred a remake, especially because the detailed areas and robust Juliet model is a contrast to the mediocre NPCs. I couldn’t help but think that was the point of pivoting. Regardless, I have always believed that Lollipop Chainsaw is a solid, slightly above average jaunt, and RePOP validates that.
Juliet Starling has gotten a full facelift and she looks wonderful. The environments share that compliment but as you get further, it shifts into a mixed bag. One area may be amazing but then the next is mediocre. Same deal for my surroundings. What I can say is lighting and shadows are improved. It’s brighter than the PS3 edition. The realistic look could have been great but the fact there’s disparities in quality holds it back. I also just miss the cartoony look. | I can’t hate on the tried and true hack-and-slash formula. It stands the text of time for a reason and that’s due to how fun it is. What brings the score down are those mini-games that break the momentum. Like, there’s a part where I’m going through a field with a Combine Harvester. I have to run down hundreds of zombies before I can advance. Plainly, it’s monotonous and the bad news is I’ve got to do it twice. It’s quick but so damn out of place. |
I did like some of the music. I do think there’s a lack of heavy metal to match the intensity on the screen. While I did like the more Japanese aesthetic the sound took, Lollipop Chainsaw, at its core, was a fusion of Eastern and Western. Again, I say this as a diehard and having lost hours to the PS3 edition. I just feel by ignoring the latter half of the globe, it lost a piece of its identity. To its credit, I currently have a newer song stuck in my head, so. | I adored it. The small increase to frame-rate is still a difference that you can feel. It’s puzzling that on PS5, that silky flow isn’t constant. Instead, there are fluctuations between the levels I go to – it might be a sturdy 30, increased to 45, or hitting 60. Anyway, that’s neither here nor there. I was simply smitten by the arcade goodness, the unlockables, the outfits, and the rush I got from trying to beat my highest score. |
Final Verdict: 7.5 | |
Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PC and Switch
Reviewed on PS5
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