Romeo is a Dead Man [REVIEW] – Love Will Tear Us Apart (Literally into Tiny Pieces) 

If you know video games, you probably already know that a title associated with Suda51 isn’t just a game… it’s a bit of a fever dream, with style and violence perfectly entwined. And sure, he is technically listed as the producer here rather than the director, but Romeo is a Dead Man is absolutely dripping with the sort of punk-rock, surrealist energy that Grasshopper Manufacture has made its calling card. It’s violent, it’s confusing, and it does have a few small niggles, but it’s also arguably one of the coolest titles that the studio has put out in years. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

The premise of the game is properly mental, with players put in the role of Romeo Stargazer, a small-town copper who has a run-in with a demon and ends up… well… mostly dead. Thanks to his wacky scientist grandfather, Romeo is patched up with cybernetics and a very silly helmet, then recruited into a trans-dimensional FBI task force. Your job? Hop through time to hunt down criminals and find your girlfriend, Juliet. F*****g crazy, right? 

Trying to make sense of the plot is a fool’s errand, with the narrative of Romeo is a Dead Man playing fast and loose with timelines, reality, and logic. One minute you’re listening to a long, text-heavy story from Romeo’s sister, and the next, you’re staring at a ‘Game Over’ screen that features a melting head rewinding itself… yeah, it’s best just to switch off the logical part of your brain and let the chaos wash over you. If you can do that, there’s a genuinely compelling, albeit absurd, sci-fi drama buried under the madness, and whilst it’s completely out there, it’s also one of the highlights of the whole experience. 

Where the game really shines is in its refusal to stick to one lane visually. The art direction is restless, with it constantly shifting gears to keep the player’s eyes popping as they soak in the visual bravado. The actual levels are gritty and 3D, often playing with liminal spaces or neon-soaked environments, but your hub world is a delightful throwback – between missions, you hang out on a spaceship that is rendered entirely in retro pixel art. I’m a sucker for nostalgic details like that, and the throwback to the old-school era of video games is appreciated (and somewhat fitting). 

“If you’re willing to embrace the silliness and dive into the universe with an open mind, Romeo is a Dead Man offers a thrill ride that is well worth taking.“

This ship isn’t just for show, either – it’s actually where some of the game’s best ideas live. Suda51 has a knack for turning mundane menus into actual gameplay, and that’s on full display here. Want to upgrade your stats? You don’t just click a button… you spend resources to fly a little rocket through a Pac-Man-style maze. Want to cook a stat-boosting curry? That’s a minigame. There’s even a Pong-inspired bit for scanning targets. It reminded me a lot of No More Heroes in this regard, which can only be seen as a good thing. 

The highlight of the ship, however, has to be the garden, where you cultivate… uh-hum… Bastards. Yes, that’s REALLY what they’re called, with players planting seeds found in the levels to grow organic zombie Bastards. You can then equip these creatures to act as support weapons in battle, setting up turrets, laser beams, or just lobbing them like bowling balls at enemies… it’s a bizarre system, but farming these little undead helpers becomes weirdly addictive, especially since you can fuse them together in a gladiatorial pit to make them stronger. It shows that there are a lot of layers of depth to Romeo is a Dead Man outside of its hack-and-slash action, ensuring it remains engaging from start to finish. 

Speaking of hack-and-slash action, the combat of Romeo is a Dead Man makes for a violent, blood-soaked affair. It’s a character action game at its core, mixing melee combos with firearms, with the gunplay relying heavily on targeting glowing weak points to overwhelm foes. There’s also a risk-reward mechanic called ‘Bloody Summer’, where covering yourself in enemy blood charges a gauge that lets you unleash massive attacks and heal yourself. It encourages you to stay in the fray and deal with foes up-close rather than hanging back, with button-mashing and careful manoeuvrability part of the secret sauce of success. It’s pretty straightforward for the most part, so if you’re familiar with the genre, you’ll be satisfied by what’s on offer here. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

That said, whilst the combat is enjoyable, it’s also where the experience can get a bit wobbly. While it’s certainly fun to tear through zombies with a laser sword, it can feel a bit loose and scrappy compared to the genre’s heavy hitters. Weapon switching can also be a fiddle in the heat of the moment, and some of the firearms feel a bit like pea shooters until you’ve poured significant upgrades into them. The difficulty can also be a bit all over the shop – one minute you’re breezing through, and the next, a boss is wiping the floor with you because of an attack with barely any telegraphing. It’s also worth noting that once you pick a difficulty, you’re locked in, so maybe don’t be a hero on your first run…  

It can have a few technical hiccups too, and whilst you aren’t likely to run into anything game-breaking, the framerate does have a habit of coughing a bit when the screen gets properly chaotic. It’s mostly smooth sailing, but do expect the odd stutter when you’re surrounded by enemies and particle effects are flying everywhere. It’s never enough to ruin the flow, sure, but it’s a bit of a shame that the stylish flair of the game is slowed down a little. 

Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture 
Publisher: NetEase Games 
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, PC 
Website: https://romeo-is-a-dead-man.grasshopper.co.jp/en/