Lollipop Chainsaw, next game from Shadows of the Damned creators, coming to US/UK in 2012

When we first heard the news of Suda51 and Grasshopper Manufacture’s next game we were intrigued, though it was disconcerting that it had only been announced for Japan. It’s pretty rare these days for a title as expensive-looking as Lollipop Chainsaw to stay region-exclusive, but after the poor sales of Grasshopper’s recent title Shadows of the Damned who could say what would happen? Luckily, Warner Bros Interactive today alleviated our fears by announcing they were going to publish the game internationally next year.

Warner is teaming with Grasshopper and the Japanese publisher Kadokawa to release the game in 2012, and the team behind it looks pretty unique. Not only does the title reteam Suda51 with Akira Yamaoka, the amazing composer for Shadows of the Damned as well as Silent Hill, but Warner is also bringing on film director James Gunn in some capacity, perhaps to help with the localization. (By the way, you should really watch Gunn’s Slither, one of the best modern horror films around.)

Though they weren’t more specific on the release date than 2012 for the PS3/360 title, the press release did give some details on Lollipop Chainsaw’s story in a paragraph so good we had be include it verbatim:

“Lollipop Chainsaw is the ‘un-deadly’ story of sweet and killer zombie hunter Juliet Starling and her quest to uncover the root of a colossal zombie outbreak. With her wickedly awesome chainsaw in hand, Juliet slices, dices and splits her way through hordes of the undead, but soon realizes the horde is only the opening act to a festival of zombie rock lords determined to kill the chainsaw wielding cheerleader.”

Above: Images supplied byAndriasang

We can’t wait to play as the All American-looking Juliet as she battle zombies and their “rock lords,” but what’s the deal with that disembodied head she’s carrying around? Is he going to be an exposition-spouting, bodiless, supporting character not unlike Johnson in Shadows? And will this game have as many dick jokes as Shadows? Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long for a proper preview, and in the meantime you can follow the game on Twitter and Facebook.

Aug 1, 2011