"Stupid Never Dies" is a debut action RPG from GPTRACK50, a new studio founded by former Capcom producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi, that attempts to combine a colorful brawler aesthetic with a juvenile sense of humor and zombies. However, the game ultimately disappoints, offering a regressive experience marred by a deeply uncomfortable story, repetitive roguelike mechanics, and unresponsive combat. The core narrative, which revolves around a zombie protagonist's quest to revive and romance a frozen human woman, is criticized for being tone-deaf and perpetuating harmful tropes. Despite some engaging RPG depth and stylistic elements, the game's fundamental flaws in narrative and gameplay make it a frustrating and unrewarding experience.
The central premise of "Stupid Never Dies" involves Davy, an undead protagonist in a dystopian future where monsters rule, fighting to win the affection of a human woman named Julia, who is literally frozen solid. This storyline has drawn significant criticism for echoing the problematic "fridging" trope, where female characters are subjected to harm to motivate male heroes. Davy's actions, such as offering gifts to Julia's lifeless body to earn skill points and viewing her old social media posts, are described as creepy and disturbing, despite the game's attempt to portray them as morbidly cute. The narrative is widely seen as misguided and dehumanizing, failing to provide a compelling motivation for the player.
Beyond its controversial story, "Stupid Never Dies" suffers from structural and mechanical shortcomings. The game adopts a roguelike structure, tasking Davy with navigating multi-layered dungeons to defeat monster henchmen and gather resources for Julia's revival. While this offers some RPG depth with upgrade systems and loot, the repetitive level designs and uninspired combat make for a monotonous experience. Runs often feel like a slog, artificially extending playtime without adding meaningful engagement. The combat system itself is sluggish and unresponsive, with Davy's movements and attacks feeling delayed and imprecise, further detracting from the gameplay. Even the unique monster-chomping mechanic, which allows Davy to absorb monster powers, is hampered by equally slow and unsatisfying movesets.
Ultimately, "Stupid Never Dies" fails to deliver a cohesive or enjoyable gaming experience. Its attempts at stylistic flair cannot compensate for a fundamentally problematic narrative and flawed gameplay mechanics. The game's reliance on repetitive roguelike elements only amplifies its weaknesses, making the journey to its 30-hour conclusion feel much longer and more tedious. Even with potential post-launch adjustments, the core issues of its uncomfortable story and clunky combat indicate a foundationally irredeemable game that struggles to find its footing in the contemporary gaming landscape.
