There is no coherent way to explain what ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN is. At first, I thought it would be a story more like any other game that uses William Shakespeare’s tragic romance, only adapted to the 80s with a bit of science fiction. However, I could never have imagined what this game had in store for me. This game was the work of Ren Yamazaki and Goichi Suda, so it was obvious it would have everything except a simple story. And you know what? It is one of the most unique games I’ve played, and everyone should try it at least once.
The Oldest Doomed Couple in History
Just like in the classic play, Romeo is madly in love with Juliet; we all know the deal. However, in ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN, Romeo is not a nobleman, but a police officer in a town in the middle of nowhere where nothing interesting ever happens—or so it seems. One day, while on patrol, Romeo finds an injured woman in the middle of the road. If you thought the strange woman was Juliet, you’re right. Obviously, Romeo falls head over heels for Juliet’s beauty, and after several months, they decide to run away from town.
I said before that the story was anything but simple, and well, here there is no eternal feud between the Montagues and the Capulets. What keeps the young lovers apart is that a being from space-time slaughters Romeo. And just before Romeo takes his last breath, his genius grandfather, Benjamin, injects Romeo with a life support system. This suit, which keeps Romeo half-alive, much like Darth Vader’s armor, turns him into DeadMan, a warrior capable of eradicating space-time aberrations.
The beginning is chaotic, frenetic, and with too much happening at once. That said, Romeo instantly jumps into action like a cyber-samurai with a chainsaw-edged katana to cut zombies in half. Also, the FBI recruits Romeo as a Space-Time Special Agent to destroy the space aberrations and find Juliet. But first, our romantic agent must face multiverses where other Juliets threaten the universe.
This story has it all, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming; rather, it lets you explore variations within the game, from styles to mini-games that make each level more interesting, while you discover the plot of a dangerous group of “people” space entities. Yet what I loved most was how bizarre yet enthralling everything felt. I didn’t expect to feel so involved in a narrative centered on multiverse threats and a talking jacket, but amid all the strangeness, there’s a solid plot. If you’ve been a fan of other Suda51 games, I can tell you that this is the most Suda51 installment, and in the right ways.
FBI, OPEN UP
ROMEO IS A DEADMAN tries to make the gameplay experience just as unique. For starters, the game features different facets in its presentation and hands-on moments, from dazzling us with a comic-book-like style to sending us aboard a ship to train as an Agent, and even some side space cultivation.
For instance, before going on a mission, you must scan space in the control center. To do this, you must complete various 8-bit games, such as a type of Tetris, to perform the scan. Once you have the ship’s course, you have to pilot it through space and shoot the space aberration to enter another time-space. I loved this more than I expected, as it made me feel like I was playing Space Firebird or Asteroids. It makes it much more entertaining to set the ship’s course for your mission than just pressing a button—it’s much more interactive.
These aren’t the only fun things on the ship, however. There are special machines to train Romeo, and you can buy shiny new weapons, so you need to kill lots of zombies and explore for more space currency. There’s also family time, as Romeo’s mother teaches him to cook with whatever ingredients he finds through the map. Still, you’ll need to perfect your culinary skills to make more dishes with different bonuses.
Meanwhile, with his sister, you learn Bastard Cultivation, which basically involves creating a beautiful garden of zombies. In our travels, you’ll find “seeds” of various types of enemies to plant in plots in the ship, but with care, you can grow Bastards with abilities that will help you in battle. So it’s in your best interest to learn gardening, because you can equip different zombies with unique abilities. I was not expecting a cozy side on my intergalactic zombie-slaying adventure, but I was glad there was one, as it offers different approaches to Romeo’s mission across his journey. Still, I enjoy slicing and dicing enemies more than cultivating them.
Last but not least, and what is, in my opinion, the best of this installment: the combat. Your normal mission requires you to clear the areas of different zombies, Kill Bill style. There are different types of zombies, including normal ones, ones with weapons, and stronger mutations that you must shoot in their weak spots. What I enjoyed the most were the flashy boss fights. Here, I had to learn the special mechanics of each one. Without giving too much away, there is a giant enemy whose fireballs you must avoid, but whom you must shoot from behind to defeat.
Overall, ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN manages to combine several systems to provide a healthy pacing between slaying space zombies and enjoying some R&R time. Even if the former was my jam, it is always nice to see these cozy segments that are actually relevant to the gameplay and rewarding on top of that. Everything is flawlessly balanced, which is refreshing, as not all games with a plethora of systems manage to deliver as cohesive a game as this one.
Violent Delights Have Violent Ends
Don’t let Romeo’s terrible taste in women fool you. ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN is a fast-paced game that had me on the edge of my seat, trying to take down colossal bosses. Yet it has moments of calm that let me explore other skills or upgrade my equipment to slice through zombie hordes more effectively.
Some may find it difficult to follow the beginning of the story, especially with so many elements that seem random, but there is incredible cohesion in this world. This will be easier to digest for those who have already experienced the director’s style in games such as Lollipop Chainsaw or the No More Heroes series. Personally, I was more of the former, but the peculiar nature of the world was what hooked me, and I stayed for the flashy and dynamic combat. It is truly a beautiful, bizarre, unique experience, and something I wish we’d seen more of in the modern gaming market.
ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN (PC Review)
ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN is the culmination of everything Suda51 has done, as it delivers another quirky adventure with a memorable story, and a superb combat system with a side of cozy activities.
Pros
- Interesting yet bizarre story
- Dynamic and flashy combat
- Fun side mini-games which give combat perks
Cons
- It may not be everyone's cup of tea and can be difficult to get used to
