Lollipop Chainsaw: A test you can use to see if other people are worth talking to

This post was originally hosted at cheshirecatart by the great artist Devin Kraft. The review was originally posted back when the game was first released and I wanted to post it here now that I have my own blog. 

---

The game starts with young Juliet Starling narrating to the player about how today is her birthday. She introduces us to people we'll see throughout the game; her sisters Cordelia and Rosalind, her mom (who,we are told is the reason that Juliet and her sisters wear their vaginas proudly) her dad, and her boyfriend Nick.

Juliet explains, in a series of photos and shower scenes, that her family is different from Nick's because they are zombie hunters. Nick is very early on bitten by a zombie and before he himself turns, Juliet decapitates him. With magic she is able to keep his head alive and attached to her waist band. Nick serves as comic relief (in an already comical game) and in several different situations can be used as a weapon against the zombie hordes. Her weapons, along with Nick's are upgraded by the cast of the game giving Juliet presents for her birthday.

The prologue exists mostly to introduce us to combat and the tone of the game.

The combat is simple:

• Strong chainsaw attack
• Pom Pom Attack (which serves to dizzy zombies for a beheading hit)
• Low chainsaw attack which de-feets  zombies (get it?!?)
• Dodge

Note: Beheading zombies results in rainbows and sparkles spraying from the neck stump.

As you progress thru the game you earn zombie medals in gold and platinum which you can use at the game store. Gold variety buys upgrades to either her base stats or for combo moves. Platinum medals buy costumes, in-game music and conceptual art.

The aforementioned tone is decidedly adult and at the same time juvenile but always funny. From a class mate that was rescued from a zombie horde randomly proclaiming his favorite president to be Warren G. Harding to the perverted Sensei Morikawa repeatedly falling face first into Juliet's cleavage. Although some humor is just funny without being rude or offensive, one of my favorite exchanges is in the first level between Juliet and Nick, it goes:

Juliet: I need to find Morikawa Sensei.

Nick: Who?

Juliet: Morikawa Sensei! He's my sensei.

Nick: You mean like a teacher?

Juliet: I didn't know you speak Japanese Nick!? (she then proceeds to speak in Japanese for a minute or so)

Nick: I don't know Japanese, just that one word.

Juliet: Oh Nick, your simple innocence is one of the reasons I love you! You're like a kitten. A kitten that doesn't speak Japanese!

The story does feel like it's being purposely perverse (in a very good way), like a lot of the comedic R rated movies coming out lately, it's reaching for that "hard R," or in this case a "hard M." It's in line with other Suda51 games, being unapologetically weird, with cursing and gorey fighting and has random uses of the words "dick" and "fuck" aplenty. Lollipop Chainsaw also contains one of my favorite mini games in which you drive a combine thru a field of zombies.

Leading up to the release of the game James Gunn (director of Dawn of the Dead and the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy) was brought on and his addition helps to make a zombie masterpiece.
 
Graphically the game isn't out to win any awards, but it serves it's purpose. Their are several mediums used in the design of the game. Most of the game is done in a third person camera style, but has comic panels for level score and menus, as well as very flat 2-D transitions in levels that look a lot like moving paper similar to South Park but not crappy. Whenever a new character is introduced we are given a bio in comic book format, that gives us attributes and a list of "Likes" (things like badminton and shooting are clumped together with things like masturbation and wanting to meet Justin Bieber and then add his skull to the person's collection).

There do seem to be controversies around the game already about it being degrading, offensive, sexist, and weird. My argument to that is, "Isn't that what makes it fun?" Which is what it really breaks down to folks. The reason we play video games is to have fun. Why should we take a game like this seriously when it clearly doesn't take it's self seriously. Yes the game is short. There is replay value and not just for achievement hunters but for the great dialogue and all the many things that you miss the first time around.

In closing I do not believe in number scoring (because numbers are arbitrary), I will only recommend that you buy this game and love it for what it is. Always pay for the things you like so that the people making them can continue to do so.

Also, do yourself a favor and turn on the subtitles, you'll be glad you did.

Original Artwork by Devin Kraft

---

Disclosure: This is a non-sponsored review. All product was purchased by me and the purpose of this review is based solely on my own interests. No product or monetary compensation was given to me by said company.