You’re tearing through San Romero High, chainsaw revving, glitter and zombie blood spraying everywhere, and then you hear it. That distinct, upbeat ringtone. It’s Juliet’s phone. It’s her family calling. But if you’re new to the game—or even the RePOP remaster—figuring out how to answer phone in Lollipop Chainsaw can actually be a bit of a head-scratcher.
Honestly, the game doesn’t exactly hold your hand here. You’d think there’s a button prompt, right? Like "Press X to chat with Mom." Nope. It doesn't work that way.
The reality is that answering the phone is an automated mechanic tied specifically to the flow of the narrative. You aren't pulling a smartphone out of Juliet’s pocket mid-combat like you’re playing GTA. If the phone is ringing, it’s because the game has reached a "safe" momentary pocket where the story needs to progress.
The Mystery of Juliet’s Pink Smartphone
Let’s get the mechanics out of the way first because I know that’s why you’re here. To how to answer phone in Lollipop Chainsaw, you basically just have to stand still or move toward the next objective marker once the ringing starts. Juliet picks up automatically. There is no manual "Answer" button.
It feels weird.
Most modern games give you a dedicated prompt for communication. In Lollipop Chainsaw, Suda51 and the team at Grasshopper Manufacture designed the phone calls to function as "radio plays" that happen while you explore. If you’re in the middle of a heavy combat encounter with a group of zombies, the phone isn't going to ring. It waits. It bides its time until the last limb has been severed and the "Zombie Hunt" music fades out.
What Happens if You Miss the Call?
Here is the thing: you can't really "miss" the call in terms of gameplay progression, but you can miss the dialogue if you’re rushing. If you sprint into the next loading zone or trigger a cutscene while the phone is ringing, the game might skip the conversation.
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If you care about the lore—and let’s be real, the dialogue between Juliet and her sisters, Cordelia and Rosalind, is some of the funniest writing in the game—you need to stop. Just stop moving. Let the animation play out. Juliet will hold the phone to her ear, and you’ll hear the muffled, high-energy voices of her family members.
Checking Your Voicemail
Maybe you were too busy dodge-rolling a flying zombie head to hear what Cordelia said about the zombie apocalypse. Don't sweat it. You haven't lost that content forever.
There’s a dedicated Voicemail menu.
- Access the Chainsaw Menu (the pause screen).
- Navigate to the Information tab.
- Select Phone Messages.
This is actually one of the coolest parts of the game’s world-building. These messages fill in the gaps of what the rest of the Starling family is doing while Juliet is busy being the hero. You get to hear the chaos from their perspective. It’s also where you can replay any call you might have accidentally cut short by walking into a boss arena too fast.
Why the Phone System Feels So Different in RePOP
If you’re playing the 2024/2025 RePOP version, you might notice the timing feels a bit snappier. The original 2012 release had some slightly clunky transitions where the phone would ring, Juliet would stop, and the camera would jerk into a specific angle.
In the remaster, it’s much more fluid.
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But the core rule remains: how to answer phone in Lollipop Chainsaw isn't about your reflexes; it’s about the game’s pacing. It’s a deliberate choice. The developers wanted the phone calls to be a reward for surviving a room full of undead. It’s a moment of levity. It’s Juliet’s connection to her "normal" (well, normal for a family of zombie hunters) life.
Common Glitches and "Ghost" Ringing
Occasionally, players report hearing the phone ring but Juliet won't pick up. This usually happens if you’re standing on "unstable" ground or if there’s a single stray zombie hiding behind a locker that you haven't killed yet. The game’s logic won't let Juliet answer the phone if it thinks you are still "in combat."
If you hear the ringing but nothing is happening:
- Sweep the room.
- Check the corners for "crawlers."
- Make sure you aren't standing right on top of a collectible or a shop portal (Chop2Shop.zom).
Once the area is officially "Clear," the script will trigger, and the call will commence.
The Family Dynamic via Satellite
Every member of the Starling family uses the phone differently. Her dad, Gideon, usually calls to give "advice" that is mostly just him being an overprotective, eccentric father. Rosalind’s calls are pure chaos—usually involving her driving a bus or getting into trouble.
By paying attention to these calls, you actually get a better sense of the game's map. They'll mention locations you're about to visit or bosses you're about to encounter. It’s a classic "radio support" trope used in games like Metal Gear Solid, just with more pink and glitter.
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Actionable Steps for Completionists
If you want to make sure you've experienced everything the phone system has to offer, follow these steps:
- Wait for the animation: When the ringing starts, don't mash buttons. Let Juliet put the phone to her ear.
- Clear the room: If the phone rings but she doesn't pick up, find the last enemy. The call is gated behind the "Combat End" trigger.
- The Menu is your friend: Check the "Phone Messages" section in the pause menu after every stage. New messages often unlock based on your rank and how many civilians you saved.
- Listen to the full audio: Don't skip. Some of the best jokes in the script are hidden in the last five seconds of a voicemail message.
Basically, just relax. The game wants you to hear these messages. You don't need a secret code or a specific button combo. You just need to give Juliet a second to breathe between chainsaw swings.
Final Practical Insight
The most important thing to remember about how to answer phone in Lollipop Chainsaw is that it is a "soft" mechanic. It’s designed to happen to you, not for you to trigger. If you treat the ringing phone like a cutscene rather than an item to be used, you'll never miss a beat of the story.
Go into your settings and make sure the "Voice" volume is high enough. Sometimes the chainsaw idle sound or the licensed soundtrack (in the original version) or the new BGM (in RePOP) can drown out the caller's voice. Balancing your audio levels ensures you actually hear the dialogue instead of just seeing Juliet's lips move while a zombie groans in the background.
Check your "Information" tab now. You probably have three or four unheard messages waiting for you that explain exactly why the school is currently crawling with the undead.