Prepare for a wild ride through absurdity in gaming! Ever since he left GameCube fans scratching their heads with the bizarre Killer7 in 2005, Japanese game director Suda51 has been known for his eccentric and provocative creations. From taking a jab at the monotony of open-world games with No More Heroes in 2007 to teaming up with filmmaker James Gunn for the quirky Lollipop Chainsaw in 2012, Suda's titles have consistently provided a refreshing alternative to the often soulless, multi-million dollar gaming blockbusters saturating the market. So, when I finally booted up Suda’s first new game in a decade, my anticipation was high.
The adventure kicks off with an eye-catching animated sequence where the protagonist, Romeo Stargazer, meets a grisly end at the jaws of a zombie. Fortunately, his eccentric scientist grandfather quickly brings him back to life, granting Romeo a set of unusual powers. And just like that, the chaos begins! However, I was quickly overwhelmed by a torrent of bizarre terms and names—an experience akin to trying to decipher a foreign language without any context. This bewildering onslaught continues for almost the entire 20-hour playtime.
In this narrative, Romeo transforms into a "deadman," a unique being caught between the realms of life and death. He is enlisted by an intergalactic FBI tasked with apprehending time-traveling villains wreaking havoc across the universe. As players progress, they will face wave after wave of relentless zombies, referred to oddly as "bastards" in this universe. Along the way, a character named Juliet makes sporadic appearances across different dimensions, haunting Romeo's dreams in retro 3D reminiscent of the PS2 era, ultimately culminating in dramatic boss battles. If my description sounds like it’s been penned by a child who didn’t bother with their homework, it’s because, even after completing the game, much of the plot remains a mystery to me.
In a discussion last year, Suda51 mentioned that the animated series Rick and Morty significantly inspired Romeo Is a Dead Man. Although he struggled to articulate the storyline’s nuances while sharing his fondness for chicken katsu and his disdain for "the bastards," I still hoped for some underlying depth amidst the seemingly juvenile chaos. Alas, I was left disappointed.
On the gameplay front, there initially appears to be promise. Main missions involve wielding a legally distinct lightsaber to slice through the relentless "bastards," offering a gameplay experience that feels like an upgraded version of the beloved No More Heroes series. The hack-and-slash mechanics provide straightforward fun, with stylish moves creating vibrant bursts of color across the screen. Boss battles are engaging and visually striking, contributing to an overall sense of chaotic enjoyment. However, as the nonsensical narrative drags on towards its conclusion, even the game’s engine seems to give up. Despite testing this on a PS5 Pro, I frequently experienced frustrating dips in frame rates during intense enemy encounters in later stages, transforming what could have been an enjoyable game into something nearly unplayable.
Between these inter-dimensional skirmishes, players can explore a whimsically retro hub world set within Romeo’s FBI-themed spaceship. This area features charming 16-bit pixel art, allowing you to interact with Romeo’s diverse crew, which includes an ancient Roman deity, a talking cat, and a Jamaican journalist. Here, players can purchase upgrades, engage in mini-games, and cultivate special plants that grant abilities inspired by the various zombies defeated throughout the game.
One aspect that Romeo Is a Dead Man excels in is its visual appeal. Featuring fully animated cutscenes alongside polygonal graphics reminiscent of the PS2 era, this game showcases an impressive array of artistic styles that surpasses many game publishers' entire catalogs. However, while the visuals may be captivating in promotional materials, the final product often feels less like a cohesive artistic vision and more like the chaotic result of a child randomly mixing the contents of their toy box.
While Romeo Is a Dead Man is anything but predictable, it can elicit a bemused smile from players. Its anti-establishment attitude may resonate with hardcore gamers searching for a reason to celebrate its ironic charm. Yet, unlike the straightforward narrative of No More Heroes, which maintained a perfect balance between action and humor, Romeo Is a Dead Man’s sprawling storyline comes across as frustratingly aimless. Instead of delivering a cohesive universe-spanning epic, this sci-fi tale is narrated with all the finesse of a drunken ramble in a pub.
Mark your calendars! Romeo Is a Dead Man releases on February 11, priced at $49.99.
What do you think about the direction in which gaming narratives are heading? Are we losing depth for the sake of bizarre creativity? Share your thoughts in the comments!
