Lollipop Chainsaw

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"Lollipop Chainsaw" is one of the most genuinely stupid games I've played in my entire life. Its dialogue is reliant on a nonstop barrage of crude jokes and puns, its gameplay consists of decapitating hoards of zombies as a cheerleader, and it makes loving references to 80's pop music, internet culture, and, most obviously, zombie films. This is a game where Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Right Round" blasts as you're mowing down undead mobs with a tractor combine, and where a motor attached to the protagonist's chainsaw propels her fast enough to jump hundreds of feet into the air and produce a giant rainbow behind her. Everything about this game is over the top, silly, and utterly idiotic. That is why it's one of the best games I've ever played.

Suda51, creator of beloved gems like "No More Heroes", has teamed up with the writer of "Slither" to produce a brilliant throwback to the insane arcade games of the mid-90's. You know the ones I'm talking about. The brawlers with vibrant colors, nonsensical plots, and infectious music. Games with satisfying gameplay, insane characters, and boss stages that are as creative as they are punishing. In a market brimming with dark shooters and motion control minigames, this game is a beautiful, bloody spew of rainbow vomit. Not content to put forth any less effort than 120% at all times, the world Grasshopper Manufacture has created is nothing short of extraordinary.

The concept is about as out there as they come. The gleefully destructive Juliet Starling, along with her sisters Rosalind and Cordelia, has been trained in the ways of zombie killing since she was a baby, killing her first fiend when she was six months old. She also has a pathological obsession with lollipops and is an ace cheerleader. Her boyfriend, Nick, has fallen pretty hard for her, but doesn't know quite how to react when she decapitates him and begins to wear him on her hip to save him from a zombie infection. This unlikely couple, one a ditsy optimist and the other a sardonic pessimist, have to work together if they hope to exterminate the root of a zombie plague that threatens to destroy humanity.

This re-donk-ulous concept is anchored by Juliet herself, played by the wonderful Tara Strong (Twilight Sparkle in "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic"). No matter the situation, Juliet always has something witty to say, whether it be a unique observation or an entirely abstract musing about the most random of things. She is not a cold female warrior or a victimized survivor like too many female protagonists are these days. This character is funny, courageous, and a true lead in every since of the word. Her actions are defined by nobody but herself, which is such a rare thing in games today. Hats off to Suda51 for breaking the mold once again with another stellar lead character.

The gameplay should not be overshadowed by the zaniness of the game itself, however. What has been cooked up in this department is nothing short of miraculous, a sweet slice of brawler goodness. Juliet is, pardon the pun, a cut above every other beat-em-up protagonist today not because of the strength of her attacks, or the arsenal she wields. No, because even though both of those things are great, what defines this character is the fluid and creative way her cheerleader routines get thrown into the combat. Wielding a chainsaw is much more satisfying when it's prefaced by piggybacking over an enemy, whacking them with your pompoms a few times, then executing a twirling jump into the air before slicing straight through their neck. But this is all stuff you can do at the beginning of the game. When you start unlocking more moves and new upgrades, combat gets elevated to a whole new level within an hour or so of playing. "Lollipop Chainsaw" delivers some of the most intense and fun fights I've ever had, and the level of control it gives is enough to alleviate the occasional frustration brought on by camera quirks and cheap enemy knockdowns.

Variety is the spice of life, though, and the game also delivers this in spades. Sure, the brunt of the experience is spend chopping zombies to bloody, rainbow-tinged bits, but that's not all you do. No, you also get to baseball by shooting zombies with explosives while Nick (temporarily possessing a body) runs the bases; you get run through a kart racing-style obstacle course and hurdle off of rainbow ramps. Shooting, obstacle courses, driving... this game offers such a wealth of varied gameplay styles that one's head begins to spin, not knowing what's going to happen at any given second, which is exactly how the developers intended. It's constantly defying expectations, which sets it apart from the pack.

Graphically, it's not a triple-A title, but what it lacks in polish it makes up for in inventiveness. You'll be slashing your way through schools, farms, arcades and hallucinatory dystopias inhabited by giant killer chickens. You're not going to get these types of locations from any other game. Same goes for the overall aesthetic look of the combat. Instead of just packing on the blood and guts (which it does as well), the carnage is punctuated by giant glowing hearts and vibrant rainbows. Nothing says "brutal murder" like a huge heart exploding from a decapitated corpse, after all. Also a nice touch are how remarkably well-designed all of the characters are, including the zombies. Juliet herself can be decked out in a ridiculous amount of costumes, her older sister looks like a butch biker, and her younger sister looks like something the 80's threw up. Zombies range from obese farmers to lanky rockers to bubblegum-chewing baseball pitchers. There's a big emphasis on clothing, so much so that there's an Achivement/Trophy for staring up Juliet's skirt for an extended period of time. You're welcome.

The sound is just as wonderful as everything else. Musically, the game is broad and diverse, covering a huge range of genres. This is thanks to famed composer Akira Yamaoka, whose wealth of musical knowledge fits this game like a glove. Techno, jam band, and garage rock are just a few of the types of music you're going to hear. Spicing this up is an astounding amount of licensed music, my personal favorite being Toni Basil's "Mickey", which cranks up every time Juliet activates her powered-up mode. Others include cuts by Dead or Alive and The Runaways, which round out one of the most diverse games of the past decade. Also worth noting is the boss stage music by Mindless Self Indulgence frontman Jimmy Urine, who also voices the first boss stage.

While the game itself is somewhat short, this isn't something you play just once. So many costumes, so many unlockables, and (from my understanding) an alternate ending are all good reasons to keep playing, but something else may drive players out there to wear this disc out: Scoreboards. This game is more arcade-style than most of the "arcade games" on the Live Marketplace or Playstation Network, and it's perfect for single-level playthroughs to get JUST ONE MORE POINT than the other guys and gals playing. It was a smart inclusion in what was already a great package.

Grasshopper Manufacture has struck gold once again, and created the best game to come out of them since "No More Heroes." "Lollipop Chainsaw" is a bright, gaudy, and joyfully stupid breath of fresh air to an industry plagued by far too military shooters and kiddie games. There has never been, and most likely will never be, another game like this. On top of that, it's a dang fine time for just about anybody. Years from now, I'll still be remembering this game, and comparing what I'm playing at the moment to it.

Exceeding all expectations, "Lollipop Chainsaw" has become one of the greatest games I've ever played. Well played, Suda51. Well played.

Plot: 10

Gameplay: 10

Graphics: 9.75

Sound: 10

Overall: 10 (Must-Play)

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Get this game right now if you want to be blown away by some crazy-cool style, bawdy language, fun combat, addictive gameplay, tons of unlocks, and I could go on and on. The zombies are kind of cool but they are just the dressing on this insanity salad. The first level alone left me so euphoric I was replaying it just to get my score higher and laugh and the hilarious scenarios again. I play a lot of shooters and this is definitely what I needed to clear the palette. Don't listen to the self-proclaimed professional reviewers who ditch this game because it should be "so much more". That's like saying Robert Rodriguez's "Planet Terror" should be so much more, which is the closest work of art I could say captures the feeling of this game. If you think Lollipop Chainsaw is supposed to be like Ninja Gaiden, God of War, or anything in that vein, you would be mistaken and this game would not be for you. But, I know I'll be playing this one a long time. Thank you Suda51 for taking the risks to bring this masterpiece to the public. We need more games like this.

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I was very pleased with this so far, fun button masher.Juliet is a hot cheerleader with a chainsaw! and has to fight off a mass of zombies at San Romero High, it's kinda like a Dead Rising crossed with High School of the dead [anime].If you want a type of game that is different from all the other doldrums of sports games like Madden that just update the roster each year, etc it's a good game 4 you.

If you're not completely sold wait for it to drop to $30 or so.

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i didn't have a lot of expectations going in except i was happy about the rumored plethora of rainbows (and they are here!)!

the game breaks you in fairly well...the prologue is an easy transition into new moves and combo practice. the one thing i found sort of frustrating right off the bat is that you could be mid-horde and the screen would stop to explain a new move or somesuch which sort of threw off the momentum.

there may be some finesse in the gameplay, however this seems to be a button masher (more or less) if i've ever seen one. and honestly, the game moves pretty quickly and is enough fun that most tediums are forgotten pretty quickly. several times i found myself saying "i will play ONE more level..." and then i would see two hours go by.

sure there is loads of teenage boy humor, but given the title of the game and the style it was made in (not to mention suda51's input) this isn't a big surprise. most of the jokes are fairly corny, but a couple of times i found myself snickering out loud.

i DID feel the boss fights were tedious. honestly, how many times in a row must you kill someone?

the one really bothersome thing was the length of some of the cutscenes and the subsequent load times. at this point in the ps3's lifespan, there shouldn't be an extensive load time for a cutscene. and then an extensive load time right after.

for me, the breakdown was as follows:

concept: pretty hilarious. there is a definite adolescent humor at work here. sometimes it works, other times it feels a little forced.

graphics: i was a little disappointed. for a new release game, i felt the graphics were fairly poor, especially in the cutscenes.

sound: several of the songs on the soundtrack are great fun to fight to, however some of the interim music is a little too thrasher for me, especially for extended periods of time. sound effects were well done.

playability: i certainly found this accessible from the get go. i stumbled a bit, but the game is well laid out for the beginner.

entertainment: great! i loved the excess of rainbows, silly moves, and especially SPARKLE MODE! as a female, i appreciate a game that is tailored to my rainbow addiction and video game ass-kickery.

replay value: unsure...there are outfits and art to collect in-game, but right now i'm not sure i'd want to play this repeatedly. i will hang onto it for a while to see if i have the urge.

all in all, i'm pleased i bought this (but i'm more pleased i got it on sale). for anyone on the fence, i'd recommend waiting until the price drops. it may not be a masterpiece, but it is a heck of a lot of fun.

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Lollipop Chainsaw is a game caught my eye a little over a year ago with a chainsaw welding cheerleader fighting zombies. It caught the eye of the Brony community when it was announced that Tara Strong (the voice of Twilight Sparkle) was going to be the voice actor of the main character Juliet Starling. It caught my eye again when it was announced that professional cosplayer Jessica Nigri was going to be the official live action Juliet Starling for promotional proposes. Once again my eye was caught when it was announced that Jimmy Urine, the lead singer of Mindless Self Indulgence, would be doing the boss music for the game and the voice of one of the bosses. As well, there was a lot of hype for this game across the internet and at game expos. To me, this looked one of those games that could be really good or really bad. After playing through it a couple times I can say it falls in the middle but on the good side of the middle. This game is dripping with style. It has a comic book like theme and feel and it really works with the characters and graphics of the game. It feels like Bayonetta, Scott Pilgrim, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Zombies Ate My Neighbors, and a pinch of The Evil Dead thrown into a blender. It's a very silly game that doesn't take itself too seriously and neither should the player. The game play is generally fun and moves at a good pace. First, let's take a look at why and what is happening in this game.

STORY: You play as Juliet Starling who is the lead cheerleader for the San Romero High School and also happens to come from a family of zombie hunters. Today is also her 18th birthday but when she gets to school the freakin' zombie apocalypse has started! Good thing she was carrying her super magical and multipurpose chainsaw! At this point you might be thinking `WOW! This sounds really stupid!' well it gets better. Her boyfriend, Nick, gets bit by a zombie and in order to save him she cuts his head off and casts a magical spell to keep him alive as a severed head attached to her hip. Turns out this goth kid at her school (who looks like a Marilyn Mason wannabe) is casting an evil spell on the school to get his revenge on society and it's up to Juliet, Nick, and her family of zombie hunters to stop them. Now like I said, this game doesn't take itself too seriously most of the time. Now I know people who like to keep their zombies more serious and this story is probably very much a turn off for them. This game certainly isn't for everyone but this is where the style over substance comes into the play. All the zombie bosses that are summoned set up the themes for all the levels and all have music themes. For example there is a Punk rock zombie and an 80's funk zombie. Also these boss zombies remind me of avatars from Guitar Hero 3. It has fairly good character development and I enjoy the banter between Juliet and Nick throughout the game. Only problem is that it is a short game and it comes to an end pretty quickly.

GAMEPLAY: The gameplay is generally a hack and slash type game. Juliet's move list starts out very limited but you game new abilities and can buy new moves as the game progresses. You buy moves, items, and unlockables with zombie medals which you earn by killing zombies. There are gold medals which are most common to buy moves and health items and there are silver medals which are used to buy unlockables, they are much more rare. You kill 3 or more zombies at once and you will be rewarded with a brief slow-mo cut scene and gold and silver medals known as `sparkle hunting' and I won't lie, it's very satisfying when you pull one of these off.

The levels themselves linear but have some variety in gameplay though they aren't always so fun. One level you are in an arcade and get sucked into old 80's style arcade games throughout the level. In another level you drive a thresher and run over zombies in a wheat field. The one I hated was zombie basketball where you have to decapitate enough zombie heads and throw them into a basketball hoop before the time runs out. Not all moves decapitate zombies and you are racing against the clock and if you lose, you die. This took me several frustrating continues to get past this part. One big issue I have with the game is that it is short. My first play through it took me 8 hours to beat. My second play through it took me about 5 or 6 hours which sadly is pretty common these days for games. It encourages multiple play troughs with all the unlockables and two different endings and difficulty settings but for a lot of people once will probably feel like enough and the unlocks really don't give that much incentive to play again. Another big problem I have with the gameplay is heavy on quick time events. This game is filled with QTEs that result in instant death so you gotta be ready. There are also lots of little mini-games involving putting Nick on a zombie body to perform some task but it's just one long annoying QTE. If you HATE QTEs you will probably not like this game at all but if you don't mind them then it shouldn't hurt how much fun you are having ripping up zombies with a chainsaw. The best parts of the game are the bosses. These are some kick ass boss battles with interesting music themed bosses and multi-stage fights. Easily the best parts of the game.

GRAPHICS: COLORFUL RAINBOWS! This game has lots of sparkle and flash to it but it all works with the comic book theme. The character models look really good with that cell shaded look and the zombie bosses are very well designed. The levels are a bit more on the bland side. Aside from the arcade level, none of the levels stand out too much visually and there is some texture pop-in going in a few of them. I really like the main menu and level select design though, once again with that comic book theme. The animation on the characters is great and flows well with the combat and gameplay. While the environments could have been better, the characters look great.

SOUND: This game has an AWESOME soundtrack. Along with some great original music, there is also licensed music such as the song Lollipop by Julius Dixon that plays during the online store sections. Boy that will get stuck in your head. Hey Micky You're so Fine plays when you're invisible for some extra laughs. But there is also a lot of metal and punk music that fills the soundtrack such as Dragonforce and Children of Bodem that all just fits the style of the game so well. You can unlock and arrange all the music as well and create your own background music play list. The voice acting is also really well done for the most part. Tara Strong does a creating Juliet and bringing her to life and the voice actor for Nick is hilarious. Jimmy Urine does the voice of the Punk Rock zombie and his dialogue is just filled with all sorts of naughty language which he does use to literally attack you with. Also, if you don't like profanity, you really wouldn't like this game.

OVERALL: Lollipop Chainsaw is a flawed game but it is fun and super stylish. Like I've said, this game isn't for everyone but if you don't take the story too seriously and just want a mindlessly zombie hack and slash good time you'd probably enjoy it.

Score 6.9/10