Lollipop Chainsaw - PlayStation 3

Don’t Wade Into This Zombie Horde Unprepared

Joe Juba — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 16:00:00 GMT

I have spent a significant (some might say embarrassing) portion of my life watching bad zombie movies. I say “bad,” but my fellow fans know the term is more affectionate than derogatory. These films may fall short by all objective measures of quality, but the formulaic gore and campy humor strike a charming chord for those willing to forgive some glaring faults. Bringing the same mindset to Lollipop Chainsaw is the only way to appreciate the best the game has to offer.

The premise is purposefully ridiculous. You control Juliet, a zombie hunter/high school cheerleader who carries around (and chats with) her boyfriend’s enchanted severed head. It has a bit of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibe, with a cavalier Juliet fretting about typical high school problems as she slices through an army of the undead. This scenario leads to plenty of funny moments during the approximately six-hour campaign. Not all jokes hit the mark, but they shine brightest when they focus on the contrast between innocence and violence.

Though the writing can be entertaining, Juliet spends the bulk of her time slaying zombies. Combat doesn’t have the depth of a game like Bayonetta, but it requires more than simple button mashing. You string together combos using the chainsaw and pom-poms, chopping off heads in an entertaining series of stylish and acrobatic contortions. The soundtrack accompanying the action is an eclectic mix that works surprisingly well – I laughed out loud the first time I activated Juliet’s super mode and Toni Basil’s “Mickey” stared playing.

You progress through blocked-off arenas that require you to kill a specific number of zombies before proceeding, though sometimes you get to do something different. These diversions range from amusing (driving a combine through a zombie-filled field) to dreadful (protecting your boyfriend as he runs bases in a ballpark), and each time I was thankful to return to the normal undead dismemberment. The gameplay is straightforward, but something about simultaneously decapitating a crowd of zombies amid a shower of rainbows and hearts remains satisfying all the way to the end.

Performing multiple kills earns you bonus medals, which are used to purchase more moves as well as upgrades for stats like health and strength. After buying certain powerful moves, Juliet’s effectiveness in battle skyrockets, but I didn’t feel like her ability progression was well paced. I wish she knew more moves from the beginning; buying basic and unimpressive combos only delays players from getting to the good stuff, which isn’t even available to purchase until you reach specific points in the story.

Super-sexualized women are nothing new to gaming, but Lollipop Chainsaw doesn’t stop at displaying a busty protagonist in short skirt. Dialogue often crosses into the realm of misogyny, from zombies who call Juliet a wide variety of crass and unprintable female-specific names to classmates who express thanks by saying “I never thought I’d get rescued by someone with such great t---!” Instead of adding shock value, this constant abuse is distracting and pointless – and feels like it was written by a kid who just learned about bad words and is eager to try them all.

Not all of the dialogue is a problem. The exchanges between Juliet and her family are among the game’s high points. I wanted more interactions with Juliet’s dad and younger sister and less ham-fisted vulgarity from the bad guys. That approach could be more Buffy the Vampire Slayer than the developers intended, but it might have made Juliet feel more like a real character rather than a kooky concept.

After finishing Lollipop Chainsaw, I was left with the same feeling I had after playing other titles from creative director Suda 51. Like Killer 7 and No More Heroes, the premise is exciting and imaginative, but the gameplay execution has too many holes to embrace completely. However, also like those previous games, I’m glad I played Lollipop Chainsaw.

Life After The Credits

Though the core campaign is short, Lollipop Chainsaw does a good job enticing you to replay levels. The volume of unlockables, from combat abilities to costumes, means that you won’t see it all if you only clear each stage once. Going back to rescue every classmate (which is required to see the best ending), collect medals, and beat your dad’s high score all provide incentives to return to the action.

Video Takes You Behind The Apocalypse

Jeff Cork — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:20:19 GMT

Lollipop Chainsaw's creative director, Suda 51, wants you to know that there's more to the game than just violence or buckets of blood. It's actually a love story, about what happens when two people have to deal with the challenges of being fundamentally different. Also, the game is loaded with violence and buckets of blood.

In the video below, Suda 51 and writer and filmmaker James Gunn talk about some of the inspirations behind the game's zombie-infested storyline. Apparently, Mr. 51 started out trying to find a way to make zombies funny. When he imagined a decapitated zombie gushing blood and rainbows, he knew he was onto something.

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Lollipop Chainsaw is due out June 12 on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Check out our video preview for a deeper look at the game.

Meet The Starling Sisters In The Latest Lollipop Chainsaw Trailer

Kyle Hilliard — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:30:25 GMT

Cordelia and Rosalind, the older and younger sister of Lollipop Chainsaw's cheerleader protagonist, are the stars of the game's latest trailer.

It looks like you will have more than just the decapitated head of your boyfriend on your hip to help you take out the zombie menace. Juliet's sisters are there to helpith some spectacularly vulgar quotes to keep you motivated. They also, somewhat disturbingly, find the idea of a boyfriend without a body to be awesome, especially Rosalind.

Lollipop Chainsaw releases June 12 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

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Get A Behind-The-Scenes Look At Lollipop Chainsaw's Aural Fixation

Jeff Cork — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:13:19 GMT

There's a lot to talk about with Lollipop Chainsaw, and it's easy to see why other elements of the game have been overshadowed. In a game with chainsaw-wielding cheerleaders, living disembodied heads, and a zombie outbreak, relatively mundane subjects like soundtracks can slip through the cracks. Fortunately for audio lovers, a new dev diary digs into how the development team has crafted the game's soundtrack.

The clip below features Mindless Self Indulgence's Jimmy Urine and Lollipop Chainsaw's audio director Akira Yamaoka discussing topics such as, "What music is appropriate for a zombie holocaust?". Even if the topic bores you to tears, you can always put it on mute and watch scenes of bloody chainsaw-fueled carnage. It's a win-win, really.

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Look for the game on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on June 12.

Breaking News: Lollipop Chainsaw Has Crazy Boss Fights

Jeff Cork — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:08:51 GMT

Lollipop Chainsaw includes a chainsaw-wielding cheerleader, her boyfriend's animated disembodied head, and loads of zombies. Perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise then that it also contains a number of slightly skewed boss encounters, too. How skewed? Check out this new trailer to see for yourself.

The new Bosses of Zombie Rock trailer shows off four of the game's boss battles. Watch the video below to see old-school punk Zed, Viking metal hero Vikke, funk lord Josey, and psychedelia queen Mariska.

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The game is due out on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on June 12. Check out our recent hands-on preview of the game for more details.

Celebrate Lollipop Chainsaw’s June Release Date With Hands-On Impressions

Tim Turi — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:40:00 GMT

Besides learning the anticipated title’s release date, we also got a chance to step into the sneakers of Juliet Starling and lay waste to some undead in a freaky arcade.

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Japanese Lollipop Chainsaw Trailer Shows Off Enemies, Characters, And Outfits

Kyle Hilliard — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:15:00 GMT

The latest Lollipop Chainsaw trailer shows off the Japanese version of the game with new characters, enemies, and gameplay modes.

It looks like you will be doing more than simply chopping up the undead. You'll be driving harvesters, shooting in the third-person, playing zombie basketball, and doing some kind of crazy violent sprinting. The trailer also shows off punk rock and viking metal zombie bosses, and some friendly characters. There's no word yet on whether North American players will be able to play as the versions of Juliet featured in the trailer.

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Lollipop Chainsaw is coming to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 this year, but we don't have an exact date just yet.

See How Juliet Got Her Man (Or Most Of Him) In New Lollipop Chainsaw Trailer

Jeff Cork — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:48:35 GMT

If you've been following any of our Lollipop Chainsaw coverage, you may have been wondering about that Nick dude. Juliet Starling may be the game's hero, but she's accompanied at all times by her boyfriend's disembodied head. A new Valentine's Day trailer not only fills you in on their romantic backstory (awww, decapitation for love!), but if also offers a few glimpses of how he helps out in combat.

It looks like Nick can be called on to give Juliet a boost by finding him a proxy body, and he can also be tossed like a cannonball. See for yourself in the video below.

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Look for Lollipop Chainsaw on the PS3 and Xbox 360 later this year.

Preorder Lollipop Chainsaw, Add A Few New Outfits To Juliet's Wardrobe

Jeff Cork — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:08:10 GMT

Warner Bros. has revealed its suite of preorder bonuses for its upcoming Lollipop Chainsaw, and gamers are going to have to make some tough decisions. Depending upon where you plunk down your cash, you'll have access to at least one of several different outfits for cheerleader heroine Juilet.

Amazon is offering up the outfit; Best Buy is providing access to the goth girl and foxy funk outfits; GameStop (Game Informer's parent company) is letting players dress up like Evil Dead's Ash, and GameStop's PowerUp Rewards members can get Mindless Self Indulgence's Jimmy Urine.

Check out the trailer below to see the skins in action. If Batman: Arkham City taught us anything, however, it's that these exclusive deals are fleeting. You'll probably be able to score all the remaining outfits as DLC a few months after its mysterious 2012 release. For a nominal fee, of course.

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To see more of the game in action, take a look at our video preview.

Lollipop Chainsaw Preview: Sex, Blood, Rock And Roll

Jeff Cork — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:18:00 GMT

Warner has released a new trailer for Suda51's upcoming action game Lollipop Chainsaw, just in time for Halloween. It's definitely not for the squeamish or for folks who are easily offended. In other words, it's vintage Suda51.

Lollipop Chainsaw puts players in the sneakers of Juliet Starling, a cheerleader at San Romero High. It's invaded by zombies, and she has to kill or rescue her fellow students before the menace spreads. If you're wondering about that extra head in the picture above, it's her boyfriend Nick. He's still kind of alive, in spite of having lost his body.

Suda51.

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If you haven't been keeping up with the game, check out our video preview. In it, Bryan and the game's producer Scott Waar walk you through about 14 minutes of the game. Spoiler: It looks insane.

New Lollipop Chainsaw Screens Show Spirit

Joe Juba — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:39:00 GMT

Cheerleaders are the embodiment of school spirit, but in Lollipop Chainsaw, peppy protagonist Juliet spends more time demolishing zombies than leading chants. For TGS, developer Grasshopper Manufacture has revealed more shots of Juliet in action.

The premise of Lollipop Chainsaw is simple and absurd: Juliet is an 18-year-old cheerleader at the fictional San Romero High. The school is attacked by zombies, and with the help of her boyfriend (who is just a severed head), she revs up her chainsaw and mows through the undead.

If you like what you see below, you can find out more about by watching this video interview, checking out these screens, and reading these impressions from the Gamescom demo in August.

A Guided Tour Of San Romero High

Bryan Vore — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:20:00 GMT

We chat with Lollipop Chainsaw producer Scott Warr as he takes us through several sections of the bloody, tongue in cheek game.

I got a chance to go hands-on with the game as well and it's a lot of fun so far. In zombie games you always go straight for the chainsaw, but it usually breaks or something so you can't spam it. Suda 51 and Hollywood director James Gunn realize this and built all of the combat around this perfect zombie slaying weapon. See it in action for yourself in the video below:

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A Cute Teen With A Killer Attitude

Jeff Cork — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:13:00 GMT

Suda51 isn’t known for subtlety, but Lollipop Chainsaw seems excessive even by his own standards. The game stars Juliet Starling, an 18-year-old cheerleader and queen bee at San Romero High. When the school is attacked by zombies, she grabs her trusty chainsaw and fights back to save her classmates. Her boyfriend Nick accompanies her, or at least he kind of does. He’s a severed head who just happens to still be alive.

In the Gamescom demo, Juliet starts out battling a group of zombies in a classroom. Her cheerleading skills are on display with every acrobatic jump, kick, and flip that she incorporates into her melee attacks. She accentuates those dazzling moves with her saw, which generates some grisly kills. It can be used in special finishing kills, which zoom in on the action to give players a nice look at what happens when a zombie is split vertically from crotch to skull, for instance.

The gruesome content is tempered by a happy, upbeat tone. Juliet wants to save the school, darn it, and she’s going to try her hardest. That optimism translates to the game visually in the way freshly killed zombies disappear in a sparkly flash, or how particularly awesome kills are rewarded with a rainbow and gold star.

Juliet fights her way through the halls and classrooms of the school, rescuing the occasional student. When she waits too long and a helpless classmate is overtaken by zombies, he’s transformed into an especially nasty specimen. Fighting a super zombie is definitely an incentive to try to save as many people as possible.

Eventually she comes upon the mid-level boss, math teacher Mr. Fitzgibbons. After yelling that there’s a math test today, the zombified teacher opens the classroom door to let a swarm of the undead join the fight. After the crowd is torn apart, Fitzgibbons dives out of the window. He resurfaces a few minutes later, wielding a desk as a shield. His methodical bashing and swings are no match for Juliet’s agile fighting style, and he’s laid flat in no time.

Next, we saw a boss battle against a punk zombie named Zed. He’s everything you’d expect to see in a stereotypical punk: red Mohawk, leather jacket, plaid pants. Judging from the spiked microphone he bears, he’s also an aspiring musician. Zed and Juliet meet up in a junkyard, where Zed says he loves dead cheerleaders.

The fight goes on in several stages, with Juliet slicing him in half at the end of each phase. Zed simply pushes his two halves back together and brags about how it doesn’t hurt him. One of Zed’s attacks is bound to ruffle a few feathers. He yells things into his microphone like “f---ing b----“ or “stupid c----,” and the letters of those words radiate away from him. Juliet has to bash them away or take damage. Eventually, Zed is killed in a spectacularly graphic fashion, and the demo is over.

Lollipop Chainsaw would seem like another game that’s only out to shock people if not for the silly tone. It’s like Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive in that regard. Juliette is a likeable heroine, and it’s nice to see that she’s more interesting than just another hot chick in a skimpy outfit. I only saw a little bit of the game, but she seems sassy and confident without falling into the easy “tough girl” trap. She kind of reminds me of Buffy.

There’s still a lot to learn about the game, including what Nick’s role is. On one screen we saw references to a “Nick Roulette,” but the devs wouldn’t elaborate on what exactly that entails. Considering that he’s just a head, I’m intrigued to learn how he can help in battle. Maybe he’s a biter?

Look for the game on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2012.

Lollipop Chainsaw Trailer Is Ridiculous

Tim Turi — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:42:00 GMT

Suda51 is a developer who knows what he likes. Among those things are scantily clad cheerleaders, enormously phallic chainsaws, and zombies. Now for the first time you can see Lollipop Chainsaw, the bizarre new Grasshopper Manufacture game, in action.

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If you're itching for more revealing screenshots about Lollipop Chainsaw, click here.

New Screens Reveal Cheerleader Protagonist Juliet

Tim Turi — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:53:00 GMT

We don't know much about Lollipop Chainsaw, the next game from Suda51's studio Grasshopper Manufacture, developer of Shadows of the Damned. What we do know is the main character, Juliet Sterling, chops the undead into pink little bits using her chainsaw and she has some dude's head hanging from her waist.

According to Andriasang's translation of a Famitsu article, Juliet is a cheerleader who must ward off zombie invaders from her high school on her 18th birthday. We're not sure what type of game Lollipop Chainsaw is, but it looks to be an action game in the vein of Dead Rising. There's no confirmation of a Western release for the quirky title, but that shouldn't stop you from checking out more shots of the game below.

To check out the rest of the Lollipop Chainsaw screens, head over to Famitsu.