Let’s get something directly: Lollipop Chainsaw is superb. This seminal, subversive monstrosity from the minds of mythical developer Suda51 and Hollywood big-shot James Gunn (in his PG Porn technology, no much less) is as a laugh these days because it was once over a decade in the past; it’s outrageous, ridiculous, obnoxious, garish – we completely like it, and we’d rank it amongst Grasshopper Manufacture’s highest paintings. Sadly, this RePOP remaster isn’t as just right because it might be – even supposing it’s higher than not anything in any respect.
Working in 4K at a somewhat inconsistent body fee, the visible upgrades are good enough – even though a large number of the antiquated animations stay. The unique sport was once all the time a low-budget affair, however the problems stick out like a sore thumb on PS5, as gadgets evaporate out of life and zombies inexplicably T-pose at the horizon. Cheerleader heroine Juliet Starling additionally doesn’t really feel moderately proper; there’s a prolong to the controls which makes battle really feel swimmy slightly than snappy, and a few ill-conceived alterations to the rate and float of the protagonist’s actions don’t in point of fact paintings as supposed.
In additional sure information, a dramatically rebalanced store method you’ll unencumber lots of the personality’s talents a lot previous on this model, and that turns out like a wise alteration taking into account lots of the mixtures within the authentic have been locked at the back of unfathomable grinds. The chainsaw blaster has additionally been utterly redesigned, and whilst it feels OP on this model, we kinda recognize that; Lollipop Chainsaw, whilst it does have rating assault parts, isn’t vying for an esports award, and so the loss of steadiness is okay from the place we’re sitting.
We’re much less willing at the eponymous RePOP mode, which tones down the blood and gore from the unique unlock and replaces it with one thing slightly extra PG-13. Whilst it’s non-compulsory, we reckon the developer can have long gone additional right here, incorporating plants and different paraphernalia to promote the circle of relatives pleasant presentation. We’re additionally disillusioned on the loss of approved track which was once a large characteristic of the unique; The Chordettes stay, however lots of the different pop and rock songs are long gone.
A recent batch of costumes spherical out the revisions, however this can be a rather barebones remaster outdoor of that. Some baffling adjustments – just like the elimination of comedian e-book personality introductions – don’t make sense to us, however don’t precisely spoil the discharge. It simply seems like this can have been extra: the gameplay feels stodgy and wanted much more TLC – and the watered down soundtrack, regardless of how comprehensible, strips it of a few of its soul.
That is nonetheless amusing out loud affair, even though; a raucous and totally ludicrous unlock that merits to exist on fashionable {hardware}. But if the supply subject material is this sensible, it merits an outstanding remaster – slightly than person who’s simply just right sufficient.