Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP has drawn fans in with its colorful aesthetic combined with gruesome, zombie-slaying madness. What originally made the game such a classic was the balance of cheaky commentary, bright palate, and smooth hack-and-slash combat. The game was unique, it was different, and it was memorable. RePOP takes everything that was already great about the game and simply upgrades it to modern console gaming and improved visuals, although some fans have reacted with indifference, wishing the reboot had added more gameplay and content.
February saw the game release an update, photo mode, that allowed players to screen capture the colorful chaos. This time, Grasshopper Manufacture has taken highly requested player advice and added a Nightmare Mode to Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP. This free update is similar to the main campaign in battling hordes of the undead, but it gives players a chance to take control of main character Juliet, now as a legendary zombie hunter. Some of the monsters that players face during the campaign will be boosted up and or behave differently, upping the challenge level.
With the increased difficulty, though, comes increased power. Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP’s Juliet can now collect items that give her special abilities as a legendary hunter. Not all items will be available right away, though, as many will need to be purchased in the in-game shop. The new powers are outlined below, from Gemastu and released info by Dragami Games.
High-Power Dumbbells – Increases attack power.
Speed Armband – Increases attack speed.
Winged Sneakers – Increases movement speed.
Power Engine – Increases chainsaw movement speed.
Smart Chip – Speeds up Sparkle Hunting effects.
Chain Motor – Speeds up slicing QTEs.
High-Speed Loader – Increases blaster fire rate.
Special Backpack – Increases max ammo capacity.Among these, the High-Power Dumbbells and Speed Armband will be available at the start of Nightmare Mode. The other items can be purchased from the in-game shop within the mode.
Additionally, by clearing up to Stage 6, players can obtain the legendary zombie hunter skill “Aura of Legend,” which enlarges Juliet’s chainsaw and expands its attack range.
These awakened abilities can also be carried over to other modes (Original Mode, RePOP Mode, and Time Attack). With a few exceptions, players can toggle their effects on or off from the options menu.
The mode becomes available only once a player completes the original or RePOP mode with a happy ending. There are other minor changes as well, such as named Zombies. The update is currently available on nearly all consoles for free.
Final Thoughts
Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP is a unique twist on the zombie genre that manages to be as creative as the name suggests. Hack-and-slashing zombies have never felt so disturbingly bright. The new update that gives legendary skills to Juliet will add even more excitement to the main campaign. The update is currently available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The base game is available for Switch, but the update has not been approved yet. The base game is also on sale currently for Xbox, Switch, and PC, with sales coming soon to PlayStation as well.
