Romeo Is A Dead Man Review – A Crazy Game Man

If there is one thing to know about a SUDA 51 game, it is that it will always be memorable. They may not be the most polished, but definitely a memorable experience. Romeo is a Dead Man is the next game from Grasshopper Manufacture and the mad mind of Goichi Suda, and If I can describe it in any way, it is that it is a crazy sci-fi action game that mixes the modern with the retro.

The spirit of video games, as they advertised it. I can say that is the case. If you are in the market for a game that is outside of the box, bonkers, and just insane, look no further. Romeo is a Dead Man is a crazy ride that will stick with you, make you laugh, and say WTF.

Game Name: Romeo is a Dead Man
Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series, PlayStation 5 (Reviewed)
Developer(s): Grasshopper Manufacture
Publisher(s): Grasshopper Manufacture
Release Date: February 11, 2026

To Another Garden of Madness

So, what is this game? You play Romeo Stargazer, a cop who was killed during a routine stop, who is then revived by your Doc Brown-inspired Grandfather Benjamin Stargazer, by using a device called the Dead Life Support System. Of course, the only way to install it is through your eye. Yeah, Suda 51 has no subtlety.

Upon having this done, Romeo becomes Dead Man, a Sentai-inspired hero with a cyber blade and gun to take out zombie horrors while searching for your girlfriend Juliet. Following all of this, Romeo becomes an FBI Space-Time agent after being recruited to take out the most wanted fugitives in space-time. This comes after your grandfather is killed and is replaced by an AI persona that exists on Romeo’s back.

Don’t question it. It’s a SUDA game.

When I first booted the game, I wondered what kind of acid trip I was about to embark upon. Glad I wasn’t disappointed. I was greeted by an Arowana fish that was flying on the start screen. Then I chose my difficulty level via a box of chocolates. If you are already familiar with SUDA games, it shouldn’t be a surprise. Presentation and flair have always been a priority with Grasshopper. Mixing modern-style gaming with old-fashioned retro graphics. Suda 51’s love for comics, western media, and wrestling shows. And if you have touched any Grasshopper Manufacture IPs, you will be glad that there are many easter eggs throughout the game. From Let It Die, No More Heroes, and other games. I’m still trying to figure out where this game fits in the SUDA verse, if SUDA’s other game, Travis Strikes Again, was any indication.

You may be used to the modern-day presentation, 3D models, and detailed environments, but SUDA 51 makes his love for retro games known and says, “No! Let’s go back when games had style and not follow trends.” When you begin, it starts like a regular hack n’ slash, carving through zombies while traveling the map. The performance is steady at a solid 60 FPS with no slowdowns. Environments are nothing to write home about, but it’s stylish and nostalgic of old 70s and 80s locales. The music is a great accompaniment to the mood of the game, including the main theme of “First Rotter” by Nobuaki Kaneko. And following in the style of No More Heroes 3, each chapter has its own opening and credit scene à la a TV series. Mixing a comic book style when telling story scenes and coming boss fights.

Slaying zombies and taking down the fugitives, the game switches between modern and retro graphics. When I went to the save point, I was taken aback and laughed when the screen turned old computer style. The level-up system in the game uses an arcade machine where you spend your experience, called Flowsion, and travel à la Pac-Man to gain buffs and level up. From the menu, equip menu, and encyclopedia, it all shares the retro style. Even the hub of your ship is in a 16-bit retro style. Suda has been known on record to love stylized games like Hotline Miami, and it carries through here. There is even a subspace, à la Tron, in which to traverse to collect keys to access the next area. A nice breakaway from the bloody action. So, if nostalgia is your preference, it’s here.

Tools of the Dead Man

Of course, when dealing with zombies and fugitives, it’s going to be a bloody time. So you begin with a one-handed cyber katana, the Spazzer, along with your pistol, the Discovery. Combat is straightforward, with light and heavy attacks. Though a minor complaint I have is that combos don’t string together in a free-flow style. If it is a simple one-button combo, then it’s no problem. But if you want to string weak attacks with strong attacks, it may come off as rigid.

Your pistol is standard-issued, with slow but solid power. Headshots and weak points matter in combat and boss fights. And should you choose, you can grind on maps for extra Flowsion, as enemies respawn each time you activate a save station and heal. You also have a special move called the Bloody Summer, a one-hit slash that heals you upon killing with this move. It always feels nice to activate it as it flares the screen with sparkles and cleaves enemies.

Thankfully, you have other weapons to choose from. A two-handed sword that is slow but powerful, claw gauntlets for quick attacks, and a glaive for crowd control. You can also switch out your guns as well, like a shotgun, an assault rifle, and a rocket launcher. The rocket launcher is a great option when taking out tough enemies in one shot. The trade-off is that it is one shot, and the reload time is long. So pick your tools of justice. All the weapons and guns can also be upgraded for more attack power, blood charge, and reload speed.

Another tool you have access to is your abilities via your Zombie Bastards. You heard me. Bastards. Abilities range from healing, sentry guns, kamikaze zombies, and other abilities. Throughout the game, you get seeds to grow the Bastards on your ship. Seed quality ranges from common to super rare, like a gacha game. The better the quality, the better the output ability. You can also fuse different Bastards to upgrade the quality. I just find it funny that you will hear your AI grandfather notifying you in battle, “Bastards are fully charged!” “Unleash the Bastards!” and so forth. So, raise the little Bastards well, and they will serve you.

Before you head into the fight, you want to pre-buff yourself with curry meals. While traveling in space and exploring maps, you will obtain ingredients to make particular curry dishes, like Katsu Presto and seafood. There is also a minigame in which you need to prep the chicken correctly with the right amount of heat. Once finished, it presents itself in anime style. Why is it that food looks better this way?

The Strange Journey

With SUDA 51 games, there are moments that you will love, hate, or question about the game. One aspect I cannot help but question is the dating sim questionnaire with Worst Pink, the ship’s doctor. At first, when I talked to Pink, it changed from the 16-bit hub ship to a dating sim questionnaire. I admit I laughed and was amazed that he put something like this in the game. I was not aware of the pain that was waiting.

The reason is that if you want to see what lies at the end of this dating sim, you will have to answer 40+ questions correctly in a row. If you get one wrong, you’ll have to start ALL over again. I sincerely hope that there is a trophy for this feat, because when heading into 30+ questions and trying to remember what you chose before, I felt a headache come on. There will always be a part in which SUDA loves to put players through pain. This is one of them.

Another aspect I question is that even though you have a sword, there is no block action. Coming from No More Heroes, I kind of expect it here to defend myself. You would think using your sword can block some attacks or gunfire, but no, there is none. All you have is a dodge roll. Suda recently disclosed that he did not include a parry mechanic in the game because he hates waiting for enemy attacks. So do not expect any defense mechanics aside from dodging. You hit, roll, and shoot. Perhaps as a throwback to old hard games that do not have any modern-day convenience.

Other minor critiques I have are the camera angles. The camera sticks fairly close to Romeo, so there will be blind spots in which enemies can attack you off-screen. If the camera were a bit further out so that you can see an area behind Romeo, or from an above angle, this would be better. This especially applies when it concerns enemies that shoot you. If you’re in their sights and you can’t see them, prepare for a world of hurt. Especially so on higher difficulties. The aim of these zombies is crazy.

Rock On, Dead Man

Overall, Romeo is a Dead Man is a crazy ride that you know can only come from Grasshopper Manufacture and SUDA 51. A fresh experience that is outside any trend. The retro and crazy presentation that stands out from any modern-day game. And it is what it sets out to be, the spirit of video games. Not grounded in any common-sense reality or modern-day thinking. Just a straight-up video game.

A straight-up bonker of a story, memorable cast, blend of presentation and style, and bloody action. It may be rough in some parts, and at times it may drive you bonkers, but you can’t help but like it overall. This game continues my belief that Goichi Suda is one of the rare auteurs of the gaming industry. There is nothing like a SUDA 51 game.

There is a hero in this tale, and killers are alive. So, dish out your justice, ready your Bastards, and enjoy the ride that is Romeo is a Dead Man.

Review Disclosure Statement: Romeo Is A Dead Man was provided to us by Grasshopper Manufacture for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please review our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy.