In less than a year ago, the indie fighting game Skullgirls officially hit the scene on the PS3 and X-Box 360 with a clever story, dazzling characters, and an innovative fighting system that no other game had before. For months, the game went strong, but after a while things went silent once the stories were told and tournaments were held. It became a question of whether or not expansion was possible, especially when Reverge Labs laid off everyone working on the game, which in turn spawned a new game studio "Lab Zero Games." But in recent months, a revelation was made and a revival is imminent in more ways then one. Off the heels of a breast cancer donation drive race that saw Skullgirls fans racing to get their favorite game on the big stage of EVO, (even in a losing effort to Smash Bros. Melee) the big reveal was made: Skullgirls was getting a new character for DLC. An interesting young lady who was thought to be long gone is now both literally and figuratively back from the dead. She and her partner are out to breathe new life into Skullgirls and hit it on the highest of notes as we introduce Squigly the Zombie Girl!
Those who followed Alex Ahad's works long before Skullgirls was seriously set for release would actually know Squigly for a long time. She was at first slated to be among the main roster alongside the likes of Filia, Cerebella, Peacock, and so on. There were quite a few depictions of her in action, so it would have been safe to assume that she was a shoe-in once Mike Z and Alex joined forces to make Skullgirls a reality. Unfortunately when it came close to release and the roster was being revealed one by one, the final spot instead went to Double, the shape-shifting being that allegedly works for "The Divine Trinity." Due to budget cuts at the time, there was sadly no room for Squigly in the game (although she briefly appears in one of Double's signature moves) and that fact got fans thinking she would never appear for a long time if at all...until now.
With the revived support of the fans and Lab Zero Games making their voices heard, Squigly was proudly put back in the spotlight at the end of the "Salty Cupcakes" donation stream to let the gaming world know that they were NOT done with Skullgirls. So with Squigly brought back to life, what exactly is her story? According to the lore, Squigly was actually the latest in a generation of opera singers and a partner to the Medici Mafia, the mobsters that have been known to run crimes in the land of the Canopy Kingdom. In an unknown incident involving the Skullheart, Squigly died and became a mindless servant of the Skullgirl, whoever it was at the time. When that Skullgirl was defeated, Squigly would be buried and marked a permanent servant of the Skullheart and whoever possesses it. When the latest Skullgirl, Bloody Marie, made her wish on the Skullheart, Squigly was saved by a parasite named Leviathan and gave her peace of mind, even after being long dead. Now Squigly is out to settle some unfinished business with the Skullheart and together with Leviathan, will fight off whoever's in the way.
What makes the pair of Squigly and Leviathan unique is the fact that, if the pun is excused, they work in perfect harmony. It's a partnership much unlike Filia and her hairy parasite Samson, where they contrast in personality and control over one another, especially when it appears that Samson tends to drag Filia around in their attacks. With Squigly and Leviathan, they both share a refined and courteous demeanor while showing no mercy to their opponents with attacks involving fire, singing, and special twin stances. There may be much more to be seen once Squigly is fully developed and released to the public, but until then much of Squigly's past and future is still unknown. Although if the stories of the other fighters in Skullgirls are any indication, what happens when Squigly gets a hold of the Skullheart may not be the most happiest of endings, considering that most of them end on a bittersweet note or at the expense of someone else.
So what made Squigly possible again? It's all thanks to the Skullgirls teams' recent fundraiser on Indie Gogo that kept her out of the grave, which required at least $150,000 to even make Squigly a playable character possible. But not even the developers themselves foresaw the response the fans would give them. Not only did the loyal fans completely fund her spot on the roster, but raised enough money to give Squigly her own story mode, stage, and theme song in one fell swoop. As of now, there's still plenty more time to donate and make MORE DLC content with the possible inclusion of Big Band and a third character to be decided by fan vote. It's clear that not only is Skullgirls still a beloved game to fans around the world, but shows how badly fans wanted Squigly as a part of their lives. For sure, when Squigly's fate is in the hands of gamers everywhere (and for free at a limited time, as well) there will be a lot of fun and love put into the battles she is thrust into. With all the support in the world, Squigly may very well be the video game babe who truly holds the title of a "Living Dead Girl Superstar."
Don't forget to stop by the Skullgirls IndieGoGo campaign page to help fund further content for the game, as well as earn some great prizes that come along with it. There's constant updates and surprises to be had, so keep an eye on it and donate if you can.
This is Greg P., examining video game babes for you and me.
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