The vampires have Buffy, but the zombies have Juliet Starling in the revival zombie slaying, hack-and-slash Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP.
If you are unfamiliar with Lollipop Chainsaw, it was initially released in 2012 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and is one of my all-time favourites! The game is more known for its vulgar dialogue, ridiculous humour and revealing outfits, but overall, it is truly a unique experience for the slasher genre.
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The Story of Lollipop Chainsaw
You play as Juliet Starling, the ultimate blonde bombshell and cheerleader with a deadly secret, she’s also a fierce zombie slayer! On her 18th birthday, Juliet is excited to meet her heart-throb boyfriend, Nick Carlyle, at San Romero High. But her big day takes a dark turn when there’s a zombie outbreak, forcing Juliet to battle through a horde of the undead. When she finally arrives to meet Nick, tragedy strikes; Nick gets bitten by a zombie. In a desperate bid to save him, Juliet performs a magical ritual, saving her boyfriend’s life – but he is left with just his head!
As Nick wakes up he is in for a wild ride when he finds out that he is surviving without a body, and his girlfriend and her family are zombie slayers! After processing this information, he is accessorised to Juliet’s hip and joins her in tracking down Juliet’s sensei, Morikawa, who holds the information about the sudden apocalypse.
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Once they reunite, Morikawa reveals that a portal has been opened, connecting three realms: Earth, the Land Beyond Worlds, and the infernal Rotten World. As Juliet battles her way through the school in search of the culprit, she discovers that the outcast Swan has summoned five rock-and-roll-themed demons into their world. Now, it’s up to Juliet to purify these dark purveyors and restore the world back to normalcy.
The story remains as quirky and entertaining as I remember; playing through only cements how much I enjoy the chaotic narrative. The crude humour, the daftness of Juliet and Nick’s ongoing support through each bizarre situation all adds to the fun of the game.
Throughout your zombie slaying adventure, you will meet members of Juliet’s family, who cameo in each stage offering upgrades and tactics to help you defeat the boss. The game is packed with varying types of zombies, collectibles and mini-games. You can also unlock new music, cute but suggestive outfits, and badass combos to help you fight in style!
Hackin’ & Slashin’
In Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP, Juliet wields a chainsaw that delivers deadly combos. Whether you prefer precise button sequences or chaotic button-mashing, you’ll be having fun mowing down hoards.
Juliet can dodge, use melee and ranged attacks, and do high and low strikes. As you defeat zombies and help survivors, you earn gold coins to spend on attack combinations and stat upgrades in the shop.
Advancing through the game unlocks more of Juliet’s special moves, like Sparkle Hunting, which is achieved by killing multiple zombies simultaneously. This earns you platinum coins, which can be used to purchase new outfits, music tracks, or different coloured chainsaws from the shop.
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Nick who is literally attached to your hip has purpose in combat also. Nick’s head can be attached to a decapitated zombie for a QTE mini-game to clear obstacles. Throughout your journey, you’ll collect ‘Nick Tickets’ that activate a roulette game allowing you to use Nick’s head for unique attacks.
The combat variety in Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP is filled with ridiculous antics but adds another level of humour and entertainment to the game.
Original Vs. RePOP
In Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP, you can choose from two game modes: Original or RePOP. Original being the game as it was in 2012, or the modernised remake.
The ability to switch between Original mode and RePOP mode at any moment, without needing a separate save file, is a standout. While the differences weren’t substantial, there are a few key distinctions that set them apart.
The gameplay in Original mode does show its age, it’s a little bit clunky and the reduced frame rate is noticeable. However, if you are after that nostalgia hit, it still holds up reasonably well. When switching to RePOP the gameplay was smoother and you were able to easily execute combos making combat more refined.
In RePOP mode, the game is given a minor facelift graphically but don’t expect anything drastic when it comes to detail. Although the graphics are upgraded, the game stays true to its original style.
My main gripe with the game is the changes to the gore. When I played back in 2012, and again in Original mode, the blood splatter and flying limbs gave a dangerous edge to Juliet’s character. The contrast of executing a brutal finishing move whilst looking so cute was impressive. However, in RePOP mode, the gore is completely replaced by sparkles and love hearts, giving the game a ‘kawaii’ vibe. I can understand how this would be appealing to players who aren’t a fan of gore, but I prefer the original violent aesthetic.
Should I buy Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP?
Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP is the kind of game that I’d recommend to anyone looking for an action-packed, dangerously fun and unique gaming experience. The combat is utterly ridiculous, but it’s incredibly entertaining. While it’s still a little clunky in places and there’s been some obvious changes to game visuals, it still offers a nostalgic hit for fans of the original. There’s no other game quite like it!
Gamers can pick this one up on September 12th on PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S for around $60.
Quest Daily scores Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP:
7.5/10
A review copy of Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP was supplied to Quest Daily for the purpose of this review.
