GPTRACK50's debut action RPG, Stupid Never Dies, fails to impress, offering a dated gameplay experience amplified by a deeply uncomfortable narrative and unresponsive combat. The game, helmed by former Capcom producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi, aims for a unique blend of zombie romance and brawler action but ultimately falls short, presenting a regressive experience that would have been better left in the past.
A Tone-Deaf Premise
Stupid Never Dies attempts to explore the concept of a video game rom-com in a dystopian future where zombies are at the bottom of the social hierarchy, below werewolves and vampires. Players control Davy, an undead protagonist seeking to win the affection of a human woman, Julia, who is frozen solid. This premise draws heavily from the zombie romance comedy Warm Bodies, but Stupid Never Dies takes a jarring turn into the territory of "fridging" – a narrative trope where female characters are harmed or traumatized to motivate male heroes. Julia's frozen body becomes the object of Davy's affection and a literal damsel in distress, around whom Davy places gifts like a shrine to earn skill points. The game encourages players to interact with Julia's frozen form by liking her old social media posts, a mechanic that feels disturbingly voyeuristic.
The narrative's tone-deafness is compounded by the game's purported celebration of "stupidity," advocating for instinct over intellect. While this might align with the idea of a mindless action game, it does little to salvage a story that feels actively uncomfortable. Despite some visual flair reminiscent of No More Heroes, the underlying narrative issues permeate the experience, making even the most benign moments feel questionable. The game's climax involves a "boss rush" that requires completing five separate runs, a tedious conclusion to an already drawn-out 30-hour experience.
Repetitive Roguelike Structure and Sluggish Combat
Beyond its narrative shortcomings, Stupid Never Dies suffers from a repetitive faux-roguelike structure. Players repeatedly descend into a multi-layered dungeon, fighting through randomized arenas filled with various monsters to gather resources. While the intention is to add replayability and permanent character progression, the execution leads to a slog. The level layouts are often reused, and the time limit imposed on each run, while adding a risk-reward element, can become frustrating, especially if it cuts short a boss fight.
Combat is another major point of failure. Davy's movements are sluggish, with basic attack animations feeling delayed and unresponsive, a stark contrast to the fast-paced action the game seemingly aims for. The lack of a lock-on feature exacerbates this issue, making it difficult to target enemies effectively, particularly those that are mobile or attack from a distance. While the game features an ability called "Stupid Parry" for counter-attacks, it still results in taking damage, and the overall combat feel is consistently off. Even the mechanic allowing Davy to absorb monster powers and transform feels underutilized, as the transformed states are often as slow and cumbersome as Davy's base form, failing to provide a meaningful advantage or variety.
Despite its stylish presentation and the potential for RPG depth through upgrades and gear, Stupid Never Dies is fundamentally undermined by its poor combat mechanics and a deeply flawed narrative. The game's extended runtime, coupled with its repetitive structure and uninspired gameplay, makes for an experience that is difficult to recommend. The development team's note that "Rot happens" upon player death serves as an apt, if unintentional, summary of the game itself.