A Story of Love Through Time and Space
Some games are over the top outrageous, while others go a step further and become completely balls to the wall outrageous. Romeo Is a Dead Man firmly falls into the latter category, as its debut trailer showcases an unhinged journey across time and space in search of your true love. Still, this level of insanity should surprise no one, considering it comes from Grasshopper Manufacture, the studio behind Killer7 and No More Heroes.
As an added bonus, the title reminds me of Romeo Must Die – which is awesome.
Romeo Is a Dead Man is the latest title from Suda51 and his team at Grasshopper Manufacture. It’s a love story that transcends time and space, following Romeo Stargazer on a mission to save the love of his life by hacking and slashing his way through otherworldly forces. This is a game made for gamers who cherish the culture and want an unforgettable experience.
Everyday is Like Monday
Romeo Stargazer is a sheriff’s deputy who one evening discovers a woman lying unconscious in the middle of the road. Named Juliet, she has no memory of her past or how she arrived in Deadford, Pennsylvania. Despite the strange circumstances, the two fall in love and plan to start a new life together. Everything changes when a White Devil appears in Juliet’s place and brutally attacks Romeo. On the brink of death, he is saved through advanced technology created by his super-scientist grandfather. After defeating the White Devil, Romeo draws the attention of the FBI Space-Time Police. Learning that Juliet is a space-time drifter linked to multiple singularity events. Given his relation with Juliet, Romeo is recruited as a Special Agent under the name Deadman and tasked with going to different worlds to find her.
Like I said, if you have played Killer7 or No More Heroes then you have some idea of what to expect – that is, you have no idea what you are in for. On one hand, you’re in for an over-the-top story and adventure packed with humor and an outrageous amount of carnage. On the other, it’s filled to the brim with homages and deliberate nods to the works that inspired it. Where Killer7 paid tribute to paranoid spy thrillers and No More Heroes acted as a love letter to otaku culture, Romeo Is a Dead Man applies that same irreverent approach to science fiction. Specifically, multiverse driven works such as Rick & Morty, Doctor Who, and the MCU.
That MCU influence extends beyond the multiverse, as the game fully embraces a comic book inspired aesthetic. Breaking from past Grasshopper Manufacture titles, Romeo Is a Dead Man leans more heavily into the visual language of Western comic books. Bold paneling, exaggerated framing, and high-contrast effects give the presentation a distinct identity, helping it stand apart from the studio’s earlier work.
Something Mean About Other People’s Tragedies
The core gameplay centers on fast-paced hack ’n’ slash combat, where cutting down or blasting through waves of enemies is the main objective. For the most part, the combat keeps things simple, encouraging players to focus on having fun and experimenting with different approaches. This is made possible with a blade and gun combo aong with the ability for a super attack when enough blood is collected. One of the genre’s biggest strengths has always been its accessibility, and Romeo Is a Dead Man is no exception. Players will quickly grasp the combat system alongside its light RPG elements. As you progress through each stage, resources can be collected and used to enhance your character or upgrade weapons, adding a layer of progression without overcomplicating the experience.
Each stage culminates in a boss battle, and these encounters were among the highlights of my playthrough. The bosses are massive in scale and capable of dealing serious damage if players aren’t careful. Despite their size and raw power, victory comes from learning their attack patterns and using the stage layout to your advantage. These fights often require a bit of trial and error, but once everything clicks, the resulting victory feels incredibly satisfying.
After each stage, players return to the FBI Space-Time Police mothership to rest and prepare for the next mission. Presented in a charming 16-bit style, the hub offers plenty to do, and making full use of its services is essential before heading out again. Upgrading Romeo, also known as Deadman, is handled in a unique way by spending Emerald Flowsion earned through an arcade-style minigame to boost stats such as weapon skills, health, and more. Other activities aboard the ship include learning how to cook and growing your own critter, which can even be deployed during combat.
Romeo is a Sharp Man
Romeo Is a Dead Man is what I like to call a “game for gamers.” Think something like the Earth Defense Force series. You’re not jumping in expecting a thought-provoking premise or groundbreaking gameplay innovations. Instead, you play for its cheesy setup, over-the-top action, and generous fan service. This is the kind of title made for players who embrace gamer culture and enjoy venturing beyond established franchises. Even the gameplay is easy to pick up, as the developers clearly want players to have fun from the very first moment.
The gameplay is not only easy to get into, it also feels right to play. This is how a hack ’n’ slash should feel, with your blade cutting through enemies like a hot knife through butter. That sense of impact is there from the very beginning, and it only improves as you continue upgrading your character. Combat remains fast, responsive, and satisfying, reinforcing the game’s focus on immediate fun rather than slow and grindy.
A game like this demands a sharp sense of humor and a killer soundtrack, and both are present in ways that actively enhance the gameplay. The humor strikes a careful balance between wit and carnage, lightening the mood without undercutting the blood-soaked chaos. Of course, it’s not all laughs and gore, as that same charm carries over to the mothership. The soundtrack knows exactly how to set the mood during both combat and story moments, truly shining during the game’s standout boss fights.
Romeo is a Bloodied Man
Romeo Is a Dead Man is a great game, held back by one notable issue: its use of Unreal Engine 5. Once again, the game feels built with default settings left largely intact, resulting in environments that appear noisy, with excessive bloom, overused film grain, and heavy motion blur. The end result is a presentation that can feel visually off-putting at times, with certain areas becoming distracting due to noticeable TAA smearing during movement.
That said, this is ultimately another run-of-the-mill example of Unreal Engine 5 being poorly tuned, and far from the worst offender.
Romeo is a Honorable Man
There are games that are over the top outrageous and then there are games that are balls to the wall outrageous. Romeo Is a Dead Man firmly falls into the latter. Its outrageous levels of action and cheese are only complemented with a solid story that has a balance between the humor and carnage. The soundtrack knows how to set the tone for the moment while it peaks during the most epic boss fights. Of all the gamer’s games I’ve played, Romeo Is a Dead Man stands out as a masterpiece that captures everything there is to love. Not just about the medium, but the culture surrounding it.
Disclaimer: The publisher through a PR representative provided the game used for this review.
This review is the critique and thoughts of one writer. If you want to see how other critics felt, then check it out on OpenCritic.
8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides an insight into the gamer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Romeo Is a Dead Man (PC)
Pros
- Outrageous levels of action and cheese in all the right ways.
- Gameplay is easy to learn and the fun starts right away.
- Solid story with a balance between humor and over the top violence.
- Killer soundtrack that knows how to set the tone and peaks during boss fights.
- Boss fights are epic and challenging.
Cons
- Another instance of Unreal Engine 5’s mishandled implementation.
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Author: 360 Technology Group
