Lollipop Chainsaw

A strange but wonderful experience that is sure to be as divisive as it is misunderstood.

Lollipop Chainsaw reminds us of a time when games weren't trying to be gritty and realistic, when they didn't take themselves seriously, before games were all about making money and sticking to the fundamentals. There isn't any new ground being broken here, but what we do have is a game that will give you more fun than anything else out this year.

Overall, though, the biggest problem with Lollipop Chainsaw is its length. There's no way to justify picking it up at a full sixty dollars unless you're going to get absolutely one hundred percent of everything in it, from achievements to high scores, and that might take you a week.

In the end, Lollipop Chainsaw is above all else a fun game. It has some issues (like most action games), but it's a non-stop outlandish joyride from start to finish. Thankfully, there's a ton of content packed in, and completionists will probably need 15-20 hours to obtain absolutely everything (rankings included) .

As a piece of entertainment, Lollipop Chainsaw is something truly memorable -- shameless, camp, idiotic, and so very enchanting. As a game, it is a celebration of the arcade era, an era when games felt free to be outrageous without worrying about being taken seriously or making even the vaguest lick of sense.

Although some of you may not want to spend you're hard earned cash on a game that may only last twenty to thirty hours, I'd urge you to give Lollipop Chainsaw a chance. With so many sequels coming out these days it's fantastic to see a refreshing and unique game hit the shelves and let's be honest, how can anyone reject a game that is filled with lollipops, chainsaws and short skirts?

Much as its title may suggest, Lollipop Chainsaw is a sweet confection of a game. It's an enjoyable experience, but ultimately hollow. Unlike the lollipops that Juliet sucks on, Lollipop Chainsaw won't make you fat, as it has almost no fat to speak of. It's a lean game predicated on replay value instead of an epic story and/or brilliant gameplay.

The game is crafted like a shoot-'em-up, meaning you really need to dig in and master it to understand where its value lies. If you have the temperance for that type of play, Lollipop Chainsaw is one of the best brawlers in the last few years. Combine that with an effortless sense of humor and Suda 51's one-of-a-kind style, and you have gaming perfection for the right kind of gamer.

Lollipop Chainsaw does one thing exceptionally well – it never takes itself seriously. It's fan service, it's over the top, it's beyond ridiculous, it's cute, it's funny, and it is more fun than it should be. While it does have a few flaws, the sum of all of the ridiculousness is a game that will have you laughing. Whether it 's out of discomfort or a few of the genuine funny moments is entirely up to you

One of those strange games that the industry needs sometimes, different from the usual blockbuster. Although its gameplay is not innovative and the game is quite short, it is one of those charming and special games that everyone should at least try.

Switch off your brain and bask in the silliness. [Issue#88, p.80]

For those who persist, there is so much originality here - which speaks louder than the sum of its parts. [Aug 2012, p.64]

The longevity of Lollipop Chainsaw relies on how much time gamers want to practice combos to finish levels faster and more cleanly than other players on the leaderboards or earn enough silver coins to purchase a closet's worth of outfits for Juliet. Otherwise, the game is a quick experience that doesn't dwell too much on one particular thing for too long before throwing something else at the player.

Conversations shared between Juliet and Nick are among the funniest videogames have to offer, and the range of pop-culture references Gunn weaves in (including an unexpected nod to Michael Bublé of all people) make this the most western-friendly game to come out of the studio without sacrificing its brand of lunacy. Which is something definitely worth cheering about.

Like most Suda51 games, Lollipop Chainsaw is an acquired taste. There might not be too many people who will be fine with the short gameplay length, the humor and dialogue may be offensive to some players, and the scattershot mix of minigames and combat may not sit well with those who are looking for a more straightforward title.

It's not perfect, but it wears its heart on its sleeve and delivers a game that is plain, good old fashioned fun.

Even with the lack of multiplayer and some occasionally repetitive gameplay, Lollipop Chainsaw is a sleazily good plate of video game junk food, one with all sorts of carnage and hotness to go around.

Like being injected with 50 pounds of sugar. This is fast, bizarre action with lots of personality.

Lollipop Chainsaw controls well, which is a high point. There are plenty of special combos and attacks available for purchase to upgrade your Juliet, along with unlocking all kinds of new songs, outfits, and concept art.

Cheerleading, chainsaws and no excuses – Lollipop Chainsaw totally is a crazy game. The soundtrack fits like a (bloody) glove. The game feels like the highschool version of Shaun of the Dead.

Lollipop Chainsaw is an extremely eccentric game that builds itself around that idea. It never attempts to be anything it isn't and always remains fun throughout. I have slowly grown to love Suda51 games over time and appreciate their simple diversity from the pack. Having a fresh game like this is great next to the over-abundance of brown and gray shooters this market is dominated by. If you enjoy action games, and can take a little insanity, I definitely recommend giving this game a whirl. It is definitely one of the few games I played almost entirely with a smile on my face. It's charm is just how preposterous it really is.

My hope to witness the reincarnation of a "small" Bayonetta was shattered fast. But nonetheless I haven't had this much fun with a brawler since the appearance of the Platinum witch - albeit it is a rather short time overall you can spend with the sweets sucking and chainsaw wielding cheerleader.

Playing Lollipop Chainsaw is exactly like eating a lollipop - once you're finished with such a luscious treat, all the excitement is gone but definitely remembered.

You will either love or hate Lollipop Chainsaw. The title does not offer a complex structure or a very deep gameplay, but succeed,s with a perfect ironic characterization, in satisfying many of the longtime gamers.

If you're a fan of Suda51, you know what to expect from this talented director, and Lollipop Chainsaw will not change your mind. This game is freakin' crazy and delivers some solid combat mechanics, but it's also a little too short and not very well refined.

Lollipop Chainsaw is the ideal antidote for the dime in a dozen action games of today, with an obscure story, weird characters and tons of funny references to games, music, movies and television. Sometimes it gets a bit too preposterous though, and the basic gameplay feels slightly rigid.

Lollipop Chainsaw it´s not the best work from the brilliant minds of Grasshopper Manufacture, but still has their classic look & feel.

A whirlwind of fun for sure, but too many opportunities are missed. At least the cathartic nature of zombie slaughtering does help you push through to unveil the end boss, which in a definite way is its own reward, along with the post credit ending, which you should stick around for.

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.

Despite not being Suda51's tightest video game, Lollipop Chainsaw is still very fun, and rather poignant. Some may scoff at the overt sexuality of the main protagonist, but that's the whole point of the character. Juliet, and the game she stars in, is a rather sharp commentary on the industry.

Yes, it's weird. It also may seem like a ridiculous waste time, but given the chance, it can also be ridiculously fun.

Bayonetta and Devil May Cry are maybe better optimized from a game design perspective but there is no other fighting game with such a sexy look as Lollipop Chainsaw. [Issue#220]

Pick it up if you're a serious Japanese action fan, but if not, then at least wait until it's on sale.

The fascination for this game must come from the bizarre, exaggerated humor. It´s really good at that and uses it well to keep you motivated. Gameplay-wise, there is not much here, that you will remember after a while.

Erratic, smart, puerile, limited but never less than a lot of fun, Lollipop Chainsaw is something of an endearing mess. Too often its satirical tone can run into trouble, and Grasshopper's hyperactive approach to game design can infuriate as much as it impresses. But Lollipop Chainsaw's quirky edge and strong writing carries it through those shakier moments, leaving a candy-coated video game in possession of a sharp bite.

Suda 51 proves again that heʼs a special creator with a strange sense of humor. Lollipop Chainsaw is probably the best "b-videogame" ever created.

It's typically scattershot Suda fare, in other words. Some brilliant ideas rub shoulders with some pretty terrible ones, but it's almost unfair to criticise a game for trying too hard at a time when so many publishers are determined to play their safest possible hand.

Suda 51's most recent production could have been something very special, but it's just a little (very little) sweet lollipop with a bitter aftertaste.

Lollipop Chainsaw has great characters, a classic Suda 51 world and simple and direct action. But its gameplay is so simple and has too many repetitive situations.

Crazy, original and repetitive, this "not quite" recipe for success might not be the best meal, but it doesn't taste bad; nonetheless.

Lollipop Chainsaw never tries to take itself too seriously which is a good thing. It's funny and entertaining in that bad-movie sort of way.

As short as its lovely heroine's skirt, not particularly pretty and rather shallow in terms of gameplay. Still you might enjoy it if you're in a mood for some Japanese insanity. [August 2012, p.70]

Lollipop Chainsaw absolutely nails certain aspects of its B-movie influenced aesthetic, not to mention how genuinely surreal and surprisingly inspiring it is to see a major Western publisher like Warner Bros. get behind something so unapologetically bizarre. Lollipop Chainsaw at times is a lot of fun - it's just a shame it's almost as disposable as its titular confection.

An insane and wildly entertaining game, something untouched by the alleged japanese developers creative crisis; too bad its short longevity and low challenge level concur to drag the overall rating down, but it deserves to be tried.

The game's shorter than the protagonist's skirt and is filled with more cheese than a Hickory Farms gift basket. Despite its relatively shallow gameplay, Lollipop Chainsaw is worth checking out for its sheer audacity and outrageousness. At the same time, it's hard to recommend paying full price when taking into account the limited replay value.

The game has lots of spunk, for sure, but it's ultimately no deeper than its vacuous star.

Lollipop Chainsaw could have been something really special-had a variety of unpolished elements and outdated gameplay mechanics not gotten in the way. While this cheerleader is overflowing with heart, soul, and spirit, her sloppy execution unfortunately keeps spoiling her routine.

It's bizarre and disheartening that Grasshopper Manufacture's most approachable, refined, and charming game yet is so stuck in such disconcerting subject matter, so little of which is pertinent to Lollipop Chainsaw's gameplay, story, or characters. While Shadows of the Damned dealt with some similar themes in a darker story, it never dove into the weird misogyny and exploitation that Lollipop Chainsaw does.

No matter how you view the game's potentially divisive depiction of Juliet (Is her giggly, panty-flashing, stripper-pole-swinging act crassly exploitative, or just cheeky, campy fun? Lollipop's tone is frustratingly all over the map.), the gameplay seems to always fall just shy of being much more than it is.

It's hard to recommend Lollipop Chainsaw for the public. Just as other games from Grasshopper and Suda51, this is not a game for the general public, butif you are willing to ignore its problems and embark on a crazy trip that lasts only six hours, Lollipop Chainsaw is worth it.

Lollipop Chainsaw is silly, short-lived fun that won't appeal to everybody, but shouldn't fail to leave a lasting impression on players who stick with it to the end.

While the game doesn't sour our love for Suda-51's output as whole, it feels less faithful to his unpredictable blend of Western pop culture and Japanese quirkiness than last year's Shadows of the Damned was. Instead Lollipop Chainsaw seems to purposefully shift the balance in an attempt to pander to some perceived audience made up entirely of sex-obsessed American teenagers.

As a whole, Lollipop Chainsaw is worth a try, but don't expect anything less than a perverted take on zombie bashing with all the comedic qualities of a foul-mouthed school-kid.

It features a strong female lead who happens to also be a scantily-clad idiot that characters disrespect with borderline sexual harassment. It plays like a brick at times, but there are few things as satisfying as bisecting a zombie, starting at the crotch. It's intensely brutal and violent, surrounded by rainbows and glitter sparkles. Following on that theme, it's a fascinatingly entertaining video game that just doesn't play very well.

While it's difficult to ignore the surface appeal of an oddball title like Lollipop Chainsaw, what are merely workable mechanics, and some overused humor can't keep the experience afloat.

The gameplay at times feels regressive and uninspired, just things that you have to do to get to the next hilarious dialogue exchange. The story very effectively pushes you along through it, and I can't say that the gameplay is terrible by any stretch. It just never tries to be as innovative as the rest of the package and comes across as underwhelming by the end of its five hour campaign.

What's heart-breaking about it all is that Grasshopper can do better. With a few tweaks to the combat – weaker zombies, and perhaps more of them – the experience could be much more entertaining. As is, Lollipop Chainsaw is a serviceable confection, though something of a bitter one.

If you expect groundbreaking insanity and innovative gameplay based on Grasshopper's legacy, Lollipop Chainsaw falls short of expectations. If you can successfully curb those expectations, then you've got yourself something quirky for a simple weekend playthrough, even if it's a game with some ups and some real downs.

While the game's visuals, witty dialogue and chainsaw welding combat are certainly entertaining, the game is just a tad too thin on features for me to recommend it, especially with the lack of any cooperative play. On top of it all, the wonky camera issues, and other combat related issues I experienced pull the entire experience down a few notches.

I personally couldn't shake the weird exploitation feel of the game that was sexist in the worst kind of way: trying to be funny but failing. Juliet could have been an amazing character (even as a hot, 18 year old cheerleader) but is too air-headed and makes too many cheap jokes fall flat and just come across as flippant. She is not a hero on a quest, she's just a girl with some amazing skills who keeps stumbling along until she wins.

The music and sidekick are really all you can rely on to stay great from start to finish. The rest of Lollipop Chainsaw is all over the place before it ultimately settles for mediocrity and disappointment.

After sitting through the entire experience, I found Lollipop Chainsaw to be a failure on every level thanks to the rough, unsatisfying play and a script and characters that are the worst of what video games can be. I'm all for edgy, challenging pieces that push boundaries, but this thing isn't hip, sassy, smart or sarcastic-it's just a lot of absurd, awful nonsense with pedo-bait breasts slapped on top