Romeo Is a Dead Man Review: Ultra-Violent, Sci-Fi Chaos, Asking: Are You Dead Man!?
Some games arrive quietly, while others kick the door down and demand your attention. Such is "Romeo is a Dead Man" Grasshopper Manufacture’s first completely new intellectual property in years. The game is loud, violent, strange, and in a world of cloned game concepts it is bursting with personality. When I started this game, I was not sure I could handle it all , but I stuck it out and in the end it took me for one of the most fun rides I have had in a while.
From its bizarre opening sequence through some of the wildest time travel theories and grotesque creatures you encounter, it is clear this is a game that refuses to play it safe, nor does it allow to be put in a any box and instead combines a bunch of wild concepts and ideas into one game.
For long-time fans of Suda51’s work, it likely feels like a confident return to form. For newcomers, it is a wild introduction to a studio that has never been afraid to take creative risks. Will the game to be able to find an audience in 2
026 , where live service online games and homogony still seems to rule the roost?
What is this?
Romeo Is a Dead Man is an M-rated third-person action adventure from the mind of SUDA51 (Goichi Suda) known for games such as "Killer 7", "No More Heroes" and "Lollipop Chainsaw". Set in a fractured science fiction universe where life and death are no longer fixed states, you take on the role of Romeo Stargazer, who while working as a deputy sheriff, falls in love with a lady without memory ( Named Juliet ..duh! ) .... is killed during a catastrophic event that destabilizes all reality. However, Instead of staying dead, Romeo is promptly revived by his time traveling grandfather, Benjamin, using an invention known as a DeadGear life support system. This leaves Romeo ultimately suspended between life and death. Oh and during all this is grandpa dies on the spot. But that is ok, he now lives as an A.I on the back of Romeo's, cool as hell, jacket.( just stay with me here)
His new found unnatural existence allows Romeo to pursue interdimensional criminals who exploit the collapse of space and time. And he is in short order recruited by the FBI for their time cop division. Along the way, he searches for answers surrounding the disappearance of his girlfriend Juliet, whose fate is closely tied to the disaster in some way. The story balances over the top sci-fi horror spectacle with personal stakes, blending existential themes with Grasshopper’s signature brand of surreal storytelling.
Buckle up , things are getting weird.
All personality, disturbing, wild personality
Romeo Is a Dead Man is all mystery and momentum. Using a mis-mash of art styles and game ideas thrown together in a blender to blasts out of context quotes and story beats at you. The largest part of the game revolves around its combat. Simple, fast, and aggressive, all built to keep players constantly on the offensive. Romeo fights using a mix of melee weapons such as a chainsaw blade and various firearms such a pistol , shotgun ands more. You can switch between close-quarters sword combat and ranged gunplay depending on the situation, each with their own devastating effects. The game strongly encourages constant movement, stylish finishers, and decisive aggression rather than cautious play as lets say, "Dark Souls". This is raw, over the top bloodied action.
Encounters are designed around crowd control and flow. As you move from space to space, enemies come in waves, often attacking from multiple directions, pushing you to stay aware of your surroundings and adapt quickly. At other times get sealed in a room or confined space, making your quick decisions and attack style even more important.
The controls are fairly simplistic around one two buttons (light and heavy attack) to smash and blast your way out of any situation. Due to this simple approach the combat is very responsive except for some areas where switching between melee and ranged. A small pause here can really interrupt your momentum so switch on opportune moments in the fight. At more difficult levels there is still some strategy to be found to via some other methods and rewards for players who like to take risks and commit to bold offensive strategies. One thing is clear, standing still or playing defensively rarely ends well.
So much to to
One of the style defining moves in Romeo Is a Dead Man revolves around blood. Defeated enemies spill blood that Romeo can absorb to power special abilities, especially the powerful finisher called "Bloody summer" When activated it obliterates most common enemies and really hurts the bosses you encounter. All in gratifying , colorful splatter house fashion.
Stylish as they might be to the eye, these finishers can be essential tools for surviving tougher encounters and managing overwhelming enemy numbers.
The other side of each game level is the exploring what is known as "subspace" the world between the living and the dead. Using this subspace , you can go around locked doors and gates in the real world and solve the maze to get to your end destination, and find resources that progress story or level your characters abilities.
Romeo is a dead man does not have one clear identity and breaks up its combat with changes to its gameplay and presentation all the time. Besides the combat and exploration there are also plenty more narrative moments that drive the story, such as cutscenes and dialog with a cast of side characters. Most of that dialog happens when visit your time traveling space ship where you can also play one of many mini games that are used to unlock and upgrade your skills and weapons. Yes you have a flying time travelling space ship as your home base, where you meet a cast of characters, learn more about your characters history, and much more. You can even play farmer and grow zombie "Rotters" from seeds you collected in the game, evolve and fuse them, and use them as weapons / allies in future fights. It is a whole thing.
The presentation of growing your skills is done in a weird arcade style presentation instead of simply adding a values to a skill number. It takes a little getting used to , but once you get the feel for it it is a fun mechanic to mess around with, especially the skill bonuses. Progression allows players to enhance weapons, improve blood absorption efficiency, and modify special attacks. The system supports multiple playstyles, whether you prefer close-range melee dominance, balanced hybrid combat, or ability-focused destruction. Experimentation is encouraged, and no single approach feels mandatory.
Sensory overload, brain breaking experiences.
Visually, Romeo Is a Dead Man is unmistakably a SUDO51/ Grasshopper Manufacture production. The game is a almost constant attack on your senses, thematically all over the place and leans heavily into bold colour palettes, surreal environments, and dramatic visual effects. Locations shift between gritty sci-fi cityscapes, distorted dimensions, and abstract dreamlike spaces that reflect the instability of the game’s universe. The concept of time travel and alternate dimensions just adds a whole new angle to the experience.
Narratively vibe of the game reminded me of movies like "John dies in the end" or "existenz". The way the story is presented and shown to you is just so bizarre it slams your right into it crazy world like being punched in the mouth by a stranger while you were just sitting there. It pushes all your senses to make your scream out loud "WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW?" But I encourage you to push your confusion to the side, stop trying to make everything make sense immediately and strap in for the ride.
As you move through the game the puzzle pieces are starting to fall in place and you are getting a grip on what is going on, well for the most part. There is a lot here that could take you months to unravel and study. Then again you could just take those for what they are and keep moving.
Each chapter of the game plays out like a mini episode of a tv series, with its own title, intro movie and mini story line. There is even an end credits for each chapter, all culminating in a season finaly episode that ties it all together.
Graphicly the game is a mixed bag. Being on modern hardware and software it benefits from modern lighting and details running on a smooth framerate, all without losing its stylized edge. Combat effects are explosive, animations are fluid, and the overall presentation prioritizes impact and personality over realism. But the art style also features barren textures at times and some tearing , an a look reminiscence of older generation hardware and software. I wonder which parts of these are part of its style and design though. Other areas, especially the bosses look very good and and have impressive details. She is not the prettiest game I have ever seen, but she gets a prize for character and pizazz.
Not everything in this game has is modern and flashy "realistic" look, in some areas the game uses different styles such as pixel art and animation. In fact the entire spaceship , which itself is presented on the outside with modern graphics, on the inside is all basic pixel art. This sudden twist in not only style but graphics overall does some heavy lifting in adding to the surreal experience of the whole game.
It seems to me that when creating the game early on there were conflicting goals for everyone and in the end no idea was our right rejected and instead they found a way to add it in this game. A true exercise of "YES.. and? It makes me wonder what in the hell what did not make the cut and was left on the cutting room floor.
As with any good game, sound design plays a major role in selling the experience. From SFX with weapon impacts that feel heavy, and enemy deaths that are squishy and visceral as a strong foundation, The soundtrack mirrors the chaotic tone of the game with a smorgasbord of music from haunting ethereal sounds to EDM/DnB and even classical in the form of Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet, No 13 Dance of the Knights ". But somehow everything works together to create a sense of madness wild excess that defines the game’s identity. Afterall , reality is falling apart all around you.
There is some voice acting in the game, but mostly limited to the cutscenes, with here and there a voice line during gameplay. You will have to read quite a bit of text to get context clues on what is going on.
If I sound a little manic here in my attempt to explain everything, it is really because the game has so many layers and concepts it is sometimes wild to really explain. But within an hour of being absolutely lost in the barrage of weirdness, I started to "feel "this game, even if I did not always grasp what was going on. My curiosity in what was next kept growing, the need to solve the puzzle drove me to keep playing. I might still not understand it all , but when connections are made in the story or in the gameplay it leaves a satisfying feeling. Like an itch that was scratched in my brain.
Parents beware! ( ESRB)
Let me be very clear! Romeo Is a Dead Man is firmly aimed at a mature audience. Violence is frequent and graphic, with heavy use of blood effects. Language and themes are adult in nature as well, and the overall tone is intense and often disturbing. This is not a game suited for younger gamers, once they hit the teen years it is up to you if you feel like over ruling the M for Mature ERSB rating
Final Thoughts
Like many of the studio's other games, "Romeo Is a Dead Man" is not a something that tries to appeal to everyone, and I think that is exactly why it works. Thought it might cause some division among gamers, it forges its own identity and embraces its excess, weirdness, and unapologetic style in a way that honestly has been missing in a crowded market. Studio Grasshopper Manufacture, delivers a confident new IP that feels both nostalgically familiar and excitingly unpredictable. More important I had some good old fashioned fun gaming.
For fans of high-energy action games and wacky , of-your-rocker storytelling, this is an experience worth getting your hands on. With its strong and fun combat flow and creative narrative momentum, Romeo Is a Dead Man is one of 2026's early stand out titles.
Publisher: Grasshopper Manufacture
Release Date: January 11, 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
ESRB Rating: Mature
