Don’t Stop GirlyPop review: Clumsy combat weakens Y2K shooter

Kwalee and Funny Fintan’s new Y2K boomer shooter, Don’t Stop, GirlyPop!, is a nostalgic sensory experience for turn-of-the-millennium mallrats. Flip phones, saccharine-sweet singalong pop, bubblegum color palette — the fast-paced and vivid FPS feels just as much a time capsule as an arena shooter. Despite an earworm-packed soundtrack, sincere storytelling, and avant-garde visuals, Don’t Stop, GirlyPop!‘s DOOM-like gameplay isn’t quite as fun as it looks and sounds.

In the hectic, fast-paced world of Don’t Stop, GirlyPop!, first introduced to PC players on Jan. 29, players assume the role of a passionate (albeit naive) revolutionary named Imber as she works to quash the cruel and hypercapitalist Tigris Nix mining corporation. Meanwhile, the company’s cronies are hard at work siphoning precious “Love” from the in-game environment. The corporation is led by Auctus, an aptly named figurehead whose Latin name means “abundance” and “prosperity.”

As Imber speeds, dashes, and “wave hops” through dizzying stages peppered with punishing drones and obstacles, her crew relays important intel using an on-screen flip phone a la Kim Possible‘s Wade. Successfully clear each arena using stylish and speed-reliant techniques, grabbing any lost “love” to replenish depleted health. Expand your arsenal with new tools like magic wands and bubble guns, employ each weapon’s unique abilities, and customize your appearance with a “Dressup” feature reminiscent of popular Barbie PC CD-ROM games of the early aughts. Send that multiplier to the skies by maintaining high speeds, nailing brutal executions, and, frankly, serving.

In addition to Imber’s already daunting mission, players mustn’t forget: Don’t. Stop. Moving. As you move, you’ll reach varying speed tiers. 15x speed is your max, and players must wave-hop ad nauseam to maintain it; slowing for even a second will sink your speed multiplier.

Campy aesthetics stand out, but combat falls flat

Don’t Stop, GirlyPop! is a feast for former Limited Too shoppers’ senses, but the game’s imprecise controls and countless low-poly targets — all in a world that just doesn’t stop — make potentially satisfying fights feel more like Sisyphus’ climb. Maintaining max speeds is for nimble fingers only; the rhythmic, three-button combo necessary for hasty dashing quickly shifts from fun to fatiguing. Even after (finally) finding my stride, mid-run chaos and crushing speeds cratered my confidence.

The game’s lock-on feature didn’t help much; even with accessibility settings adjusted and aim assist enabled, I struggled to keep an eye on opponents. In an attempt to make it stick, I moved from my Lenovo Legion Go handheld. Not even the latter’s FPS mode could save me. Unsatisfying shooting combined with the game’s hot-pink HUD, screen-obscuring effervescent effects, hyperpop tunes, and relentlessly respawning enemy hordes, Don’t Stop, GirlyPop! can get overstimulating. Increase your speed, and your whole display washes over with an immovable cotton candy-pink overlay. These campy features are cute on paper, but they can quickly complicate in practice.

Otherwise impressive accessibility options lack basic settings

Don’t Stop, GirlyPop! is an accessibility standout, all things considered. The game’s expansive settings menu gives players the tools to toggle gratuitous screen movements, adjust to accommodate color vision deficiencies, and more. That being said, the noticeable lack of camera and gamepad settings leaves a lot to be desired. For a title aiming to evoke early 2000s vibes, so few gamepad settings is a bummer. Players can’t change keybindings or invert gamepad axes, either. Naturally, this makes a mouse and keyboard your best bet.

The game champions wave-hopping as the optimal way to get around, but players must repeatedly ground-pound + jump + dash in sequence to achieve it. When a well-executed combo is almost imperative to your success, richer accessibility settings can be handy. Continued cadenced key input without accommodations can quickly deter players with mobility concerns.

Final Thoughts

Despite its saccharine-sweet songs, kitschy customization tools, and alluring aesthetics, Don’t Stop, GirlyPop! gameplay detracts from an otherwise poignant (and timely) story. A tongue-in-cheek Y2K arena shooter sounds sick on paper, but Don’t Stop, GirlyPop! leans so far into flair and flamboyance that, at times, it’s borderline unplayable. The title’s story and its characters drown under theatrics and on-screen flair, ultimately diluting the experience. If you thrive in chaos, DSGP might be for you. If you’re prone to migraines or motion sickness, you might pay more than the game’s retail value.

Wanna try it for yourself? Find Don’t Stop, GirlyPop! for PC via Steam for $17.99 before the launch promo ends on February 5.