Let’s get one thing straight: Lollipop Chainsaw is amazing. This seminal, subversive monstrosity from the minds of legendary developer Suda51 and Hollywood big-shot James Gunn (in his PG Porn era, no less) is as amusing today as it was over a decade ago; it’s outrageous, ridiculous, obnoxious, garish – we absolutely love it, and we’d rank it among Grasshopper Manufacture’s best work. Unfortunately, this RePOP remaster isn’t as good as it could be – even if it’s better than nothing at all.
Running in 4K at a slightly inconsistent frame rate, the visual upgrades are adequate – although a lot of the antiquated animations remain. The original game was always a low-budget affair, but the issues stick out like a sore thumb on PS5, as objects evaporate out of existence and zombies inexplicably T-pose on the horizon. Cheerleader heroine Juliet Starling also doesn’t feel quite right; there’s a delay to the controls which makes combat feel swimmy rather than snappy, and some ill-conceived alterations to the speed and flow of the protagonist’s movements don’t really work as intended.
In more positive news, a dramatically rebalanced shop means you can unlock many of the character’s abilities much earlier in this version, and that seems like a smart alteration considering many of the combos in the original were locked behind unfathomable grinds. The chainsaw blaster has also been totally redesigned, and while it feels OP in this version, we kinda appreciate that; Lollipop Chainsaw, while it does have score attack elements, isn’t vying for an esports award, and so the lack of balance is fine from where we’re sitting.
We’re less keen on the eponymous RePOP mode, which tones down the blood and gore from the original release and replaces it with something a little more PG-13. While it’s optional, we reckon the developer could have gone further here, incorporating flowers and other paraphernalia to sell the family friendly presentation. We’re also upset at the lack of licensed music which was a big feature of the original; The Chordettes remain, but many of the other pop and rock songs are gone.
A fresh batch of costumes round out the revisions, but this is a fairly barebones remaster outside of that. Some baffling changes – like the removal of comic book character introductions – don’t make sense to us, but don’t exactly ruin the release. It just feels like this could have been more: the gameplay feels stodgy and needed a lot more TLC – and the watered down soundtrack, no matter how understandable, strips it of some of its soul.
This is still a laugh out loud affair, though; a raucous and utterly ludicrous release that deserves to exist on modern hardware. But when the source material is this brilliant, it deserves an exceptional remaster – rather than one that’s just good enough.
Comments 48
Ill get it but the lack of the original music is gonna suck.
@Nepp67 Still a great game! But yeah, it's a real shame they couldn't get the soundtrack.
I'd maybe wait a few months, I'm confident they're going to patch the hell out of this and it'll be in a better place early next year.
It’s bizarre that they managed to just screw it up. Guess that’s what happens when you don’t have the original creators involved.
Got my unplayed PS3 version laying around somewhere, time to dust my PS3 off it seems
@Bramble With graphics like this might as well just buy the PS3 version, which I might do thanks to this review haha!
@get2sammyb
First just want to say appreciate the review since not a lot of others have covered it, and I trust this website (and the other two) more than most anyway. I bought this on Xbox, first time I've ever played Lollipop Chainsaw at all and I think it's great, one of Suda's best. It is too bad that, for whatever reason, they couldn't optimize better before release. Agree that it will probably be in a better place early next year but if it needed a delay I don't understand why the devs and publisher would opt against it? Not like the time of year is going to impact sales positively or negatively for a remaster of a niche game.
The soundtrack thing is just too much of an issue imo
It would be way worse to have a Tony Hawk game without the music. But LC also did rely a lot on the vibe the music brings.
Been anxiously anticipating the review so thx for finally dropping it, I’ve been keeping up so I understand it must’ve been difficult getting a review copy =D
Moving on, I’m a really big fan of this game. Unfortunately though I may wind up ignoring this version for the cons listed. I’m not a huge fan of licensed music being removed ;(
I was really excited for this release so thx a lot 4 da review =D it’s a shame it didn’t meet expectations, but I’ll probably still have the original so I’m likely not too affected. Good day.
I thought this was terrible back in the day and sounds like it's now worse. I'll take Shadows of the Damned for this era of Suda.
@Yousef- No review code so we just bought it in the end.
@Gamer83 Maybe they were running out of money and had to get some revenue coming in before patching it. Always a shame to get a bad first impression, though.
It's a real shame they didn't get the licensed music back. While I understand why it had to be removed, it really was part of the charm of the original. Still, I guess it's better than the game just being unavailable ever again. I think I'll wait for a sale.
@get2sammyb
Thanks for the review! I'll hold off as you suggest with the hope that they'll patch the jank further down the line.
Looks abit weird to me I'm not gonna lie. Not a fan of anime in the slightest.
It does suck about the licensed music, although understandable that they can’t use it but still. Still a fun game, I picked it up the other day.
Definitely want to get this since I played it wayyyy back on the PS3, but I'll wait until a Steam Sale.
Is she kind of craddling/rocking back and forth someone’s head in that pic? What a kind gal if she is
The only game I've played in my life that's made me embarrassed to be a gamer 🤣🤣
@Icey664
It already got patched once but I haven't been able to play it since then so I couldn't tell you what it fixed. At least it does show they're working on it.
Too bad the PS3 copies are so expensive nowadays.
Otherwise this one's gonna be fine with some patches. I'm curious if the lack of original soundtrack is gonna make a huge difference (not familiar with the game at all)
I knew the licensed soundtrack was gone but does Wayne Static still Voce the punk dude in the junkyard or did they have to dub it? That's all from a hazy 10 year memory.
Oh yeah, what about that infamous seashell outfit. Wonder if that's in there or has been taken out? The censorship brigade is probably already up in arms if it was.
The original PS3 game is practically impossible to get here, so the only copy I've found is like $130 dollars.
Will wait for a sale on this one even with the music stuff not being to my liking.
Physical sucks if you live in third world countries.
I watched the gameplay on youtube and I think the ps3 version is the best compared to the repop mode, wish they just make the ps3 version with 1080p & 60 fps and be done with it, no need for repop mode.
I understand people saying that they might as well just go back to the PS3 version, but for people who don't own it already, PS3 copies are more expensive, in some instances a lot more.
Yes, it would have all of the licensed music, but seeing as I never played this before to really know what I'm missing, I think I'll just stick to waiting on my physical copy to arrive from Limited Run someday. By the time it arrives, I'm sure they will have patched the game some more.
Tempting.. but think I'm going to leave this one as a fond memory. (But will probably cave on a deep sale in a few years)
By the time I get mine from Limited Run, hopefully it'll be in a better state!
@nessisonett the original creators bought the IP from the publisher
I do love me some PS2/PS3 Japanese jank, but not nerfed Japanese jank.
I'll pass on this, along with Dead Rising.
Unfortunately I preorder the physical edition for PS5 but also bought on PC which I'll tell you runs amazing idk about tposing on PS5 but a fresh install on steam and it runs amazing in 4k ultra settings 120 fps maybe save up for the PS5 pro I bet it will run fine on that 😂 for those wanting the original soundtrack get it on PC and mod the soundtrack in 😭🤦♂️
I swing two ways about the licenced music - sucks that it's been axed? For sure. But would suck way more if this re-release never happened because of it.
Like if they announced tomorrow they're re-releasing all the Wipeout games on PS5 but minus the soundtracks, I'd still throw money at the screen for them.
@Whiteghost Neither Suda or James Gunn were involved in development. It was developed by Dragami Games.
Removed - inappropriate
If it had the original soundtrack intact it would have been a easy day one, the game was obviously low budget but at the end of the day I had a blast playing it. I'll get it later at a lower price or if they manage to patch the missing tracks I'll buy it immediately!
@get2sammyb I've heard all the RePop version does is water-down the gore. So I'm assuming all these issues apply to the "original" version of the game too?
Think it may be worth just picking up an old copy for the PS3?
@Gamer83
Although I can't find any patch notes online xD
Thanks for the review.
Sounds like yet another one I wait on a sale.🤷♂️
@Kingy Yeah it all applies to the original mode, too.
@Cloud39472 It should have the patches so let's hope that's the case because that is the reason i even use LRG.
Glad I managed to snag a PS3 copy for £30-ish last year, turned out to be a rare game with a high price!
@Flaming_Kaiser If I could, I'd avoid LRG altogether but unfortunately, they're always the ones releasing physical games that I really want 😔 and I suppose without them, I wouldn't get it at all.
@Cloud39472 Same here but man the physical releases the current generation dares to release rather let's me buy the LRG and buy the recent games at a discount. 😢
Never understood the love for this game. Platinimed it on the PS3 and basically forgot about it as soon as I was done with it. Spectacularly average and nothng special at all IMHO. Maybe I was just burned out on the whole 'zombie rage' when I played it but I really didn't think this game was anything above average back in the day. A 6 was about right then and I see nothing's changed apparently.
Glad I kept my PS3 original . . . I have three PS4 Pros, but no PS5, so I'm relegated to playing this game on the Switch; which seems to have performance issues. If they can make a Switch port, I don't see why they couldn't have made a PS4 port.
@Icey664
Neither could I, but I know there was an update because it popped up in the Games and Apps section on the Xbox.
@HughJasol A PS4 port is coming in November.
I'm one of those that got 'that' trophy without knowing the requirement...🤫
@HughJasol I was having a clear out and sold my ps3 copy on ebay for £90 a couple of weeks ago, think the remake might have maxed out the price for now.
@astro911 Oh sweet! I thought I read a while back there would be a PS4 release (digital only), but when Switch and PS5 ports came out, yet there was none for PS4 (plus some other article I read somewhere), I figured that had been nixed. I'll just sit on my sealed Switch physical copy once it gets here, and buy the PS4 release. 👍
To say Lollipop Chainsaw is "legendary" or "laugh out loud funny" is a wild exaggeration. Yes, Lollipop Chainsaw has some lavish style and attempts at humor, but its intellect is as short as Juliet's miniskirt. It's also full of jank and feels kinda slow. Some of the transitions are horrible too. Levels can be overlong and pacing grates. So yeah, more of a 4/10 than a 6/10 in my mind.
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