Who would’ve thought that a modern game remake / remaster which actually managed to avoid the usual pitfalls of self-censorship and remembered what made the original great has ended up being a surprise sales success.
Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP’s release was anything but smooth, especially after it was initially hyped up as a full-blown remake of the 2012 zombie hack-and-slash classic from Suda51 and Grasshopper Manufacture.
However, likely due to budget cuts and the sheer complexity of overhauling the game, those grand ambitions were scaled back to a straightforward remaster instead.
The game follows Juliet Starling, a peppy high school cheerleader from a family of zombie hunters. Armed with a chainsaw and her boyfriend Nick’s wise-cracking severed head, she battles a zombie apocalypse in San Romero, unleashed by goth sorcerer Swan. The story is packed with dark humor, fourth-wall-breaking jokes, and absurd scenarios, parodying horror B-movies.
Lollipop Chainsaw combines hack-and-slash combat, platforming, and quick-time events. Juliet’s acrobatic moves with chainsaws and pom-poms are stylishly over-the-top, featuring flashy gore, rainbow explosions, and arcade-inspired minigames.
The game’s defining feature is its unapologetic fanservice, with Juliet’s skimpy cheerleader outfit and a wide range of unlockable costumes, from bikinis to anime-inspired cosplay from franchises like Highschool of The Dead and Deadman Wonderland.
This campy, exploitative humor plays with gender stereotypes and pokes fun at gaming and pop culture tropes, which polarized players and drew ire from easily offended Western critics who balk at the sight of attractive women in media.
Despite mixed reviews, Lollipop Chainsaw became a cult classic thanks to its unique blend of humor, style, and fanservice, supported by James Gunn’s witty writing and Suda51’s eccentric creativity, making it a standout in an era dominated by more serious titles.
Originally announced in July 2022 with a planned release in 2023, the remake, later changed to a remaster faced multiple delays. However, Dragami Games and its CEO Yoshimi Yasuda maintained an unusually transparent dialogue with fans, frequently updating them on social media about development changes and assuring them that Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP would NOT be censored.
This level of transparency, uncommon among gaming corporations, fueled hope that the long-awaited remaster would stay true to the spirit of the original.
Finally launching on September 11, 2024, Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP arrived with improved high-resolution visuals, marking its debut on PC, as the original was never ported beyond the PS3 and Xbox 360.
While some fan-favorite DLC costumes inspired by anime and manga were missing due to licensing issues, Dragami Games compensated by retaining all of the original outfits and introducing new ones. The remaster received a mostly positive reception, boasting an 85% review score on Steam from over 1,200 reviews, proving that the game’s mix of camp, gore, and untouched fanservice still resonates with fans over a decade later.
Upon release, some players were quick to point out potential censorship, noting that Juliet’s jiggle physics seemed toned down compared to the original game.
However, Yoshimi Yasuda, CEO of Dragami Games, promptly addressed these concerns. He clarified that any changes were not due to censorship but were a technical result of transitioning from Unreal Engine 3 to Unreal Engine 5, as the original physics plugin was incompatible. Yasuda assured fans that his team would patch the game to restore Juliet’s jiggle physics to match the original’s intent.
True to his word, within the month of release, Patch 1.03 focused on improving Juliet’s physics processing, enhancing breast sway and bounce while resolving additional issues. The game has since been continuously updated, with Patch 1.05 addressing further bugs and glitches alongside adjustments made to regional pricing demonstrating the developers’ commitment to preserving the authenticity of the fan-favorite elements.
This dedication to maintaining the spirit of a niche hack-and-slash title known for its irreverent humor and unapologetic fanservice—centered around its over-the-top cheerleading protagonist has clearly paid off. According to the latest fiscal earnings report from Dragami Games’ parent company, Extreme, Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP has “significantly exceeded initial sales targets,” proving that the revived cult classic still resonates with fans eager for its unique blend of camp and action.
At its core, Lollipop Chainsaw is a wild celebration of excess, unapologetically blending sex appeal, humor, and zombie-slaying action into one over-the-top package. The game revels in its absurdity, encouraging players to embrace the chaos and just have fun as showcased from the original game having the achievement “I Swear! I Did It By Mistake!” for when the player inevitably tries to take a peep up Juliet’s skirt.
This achievement carried over faithfully into RePOP, solidifying its cult classic status. The game’s bold embrace of fanservice and satire has secured its place in gaming history as a standout title that breaks conventions.
When the remake, Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP, was announced, it sparked both excitement and apprehension among audiences. This was understandable, especially given how many companies, most notably Capcom have been eager to exhume the graves of classic games only to censor and sanitize them, stripping away anything deemed “problematic” or demanding towards women.
However, Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP defied the trend by staying true to its roots. Instead of censoring or dumbing down the game for “modern audiences,” it offered a faithful remaster that preserved the original’s edgy, provocative spirit while enhancing the visuals.
The remaster’s success has positively impacted the company’s financial outlook, leading to a projected 5.9% increase in net sales and a 52.1% boost in net profit. Although specific sales figures for the title weren’t disclosed, it’s clear that Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP far exceeded internal expectations, proving that there’s still a strong market for games that embrace their irreverent charm without compromise much to the dismay of gaming journalists.
