ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN is one of the most insane, fast-paced, and captivating games I’ve played in a while. It made me laugh, shocked me with its gore, and impressed me with its insane story, amazing artwork, and brilliant hack-and-slash mechanics. In short, it is absolutely brilliant! I’m not one for discussing GOTY, but I’m sure this will be in that category.
This third-person action adventure title was developed and published by GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURER INC. It is a single-player game where the chocolates decide your difficulty. Think wisely when you pick your confectionery, as your difficulty setting cannot be changed. I picked the middle ground, and I wasn’t disappointed. The action was challenging, and the bosses tested me. However, very experienced gamers may want to up the ante and test their resolve with the harshest and most bitter chocolate on offer.
ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN tells a weird story.
I’m used to strange stories, but ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN takes the biscuit. Your grandad is a talking logo on your jacket, but he also appears from another dimension in the FBI spaceship. A talking cat, interdimensional time shift, and plenty of other sci-fi elements blow your mind. It is the blend of ridiculous moments that brings this to life. Furthermore, the crazy bosses, zombie Rotters, and your homegrown zombie “Bastards” add a sprinkle of insanity to the mix.
You play the role of Romeo Stargazer. He is a man saved from the brink of death by a time paradox. Armed with the Dead Gear, he becomes a key asset for the FBI Space-Time Division. This team work tirelessly to track down the baddies and close the dimensional portals. However, it is Romeo’s girlfriend, Juliet, who drives the hero forward. Can he find her? Can he save her? Or, will she want him once she sees what he has become?
Super smooth hack n slash.
At its core, ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN is a hack-and-slash adventure that blends melee combat with impressive ranged weaponry. The seamless transition between each weapon was incredible. Moreover, the dodge mechanics and drip-fed skills keep you adjusting your approach during every fight. Alongside this, the hero is armed with the skill of Bloody Summer. This devastating move decapitates and demolishes your foe in one fell swoop. Additionally, it looks bloody incredible!
Mindless combat isn’t at the centre of this fantastic game. Instead, there are tactical moments to consider. You must use your homegrown Bastards to change the course of each battle. These beasts offer an array of skills and can be used together to distract, attack, or blow up your enemies. Furthermore, you can merge them to create rare and hybrid creatures that put your foes on the back foot.
If this isn’t enough of a game-changing element, you can use a skill improvement mini-game to increase your health, strength, blood collection, ammo, and much more. However, this comes at a cost. Do you buy new items to support you immediately, or upgrade yourself permanently? The choice is yours, and yours alone.
Dungeon crawling.
Alongside the core story is the ability to grind out resources. The dungeon element is slowly unlocked, and new difficulties offer greater rewards. However, if you fail, you will lose it all and have to start the dungeon again. Consequently, biting off more than you can chew is a risk you must be willing to take.
Each story mode is composed of the real world and a strange, alternative dimension. Here, you must transport from area to area using TVs. Additionally, you’ll have to handle orbs to create new pathways, unlock doors, and collect portions of a key to access the boss for that stage. Thankfully, the game pushes you in the right direction, so much of ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN is easy to follow.
ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN is incredible to witness.
It doesn’t matter if it is the stunning story mode, the 16-bit pixel art hub world, or the rotoscoped cutscenes; ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN is incredible to witness. This 60+FPS game runs extremely well on the Xbox Series X. I witnessed no bugs, glitches, or frame rate drops. Moreover, the blend of colours, the amazing animation, and the awesome bosses were a joy to look at.
The audio is unbelievably aggressive. The soundtrack is captivating, dramatic, and full of energy. However, it is the use of quiet that makes the soundtrack excel. There are key moments where stealth is a must. Here, ambient sounds are the priority. This well-considered audio approach works exceptionally well.
Brilliant controls.
ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN could have been messy to play. There is a lot going on and plenty to get your head around. However, the developer has incorporated a pleasant learning curve and easy-to-follow controls. Moreover, the upgrade system is straightforward, and the use of mini-games is interesting, fun, and as insane as the rest of the action.
There is plenty to get your teeth into. With some Soulslike-lite elements, the gameplay can be pretty unforgiving. Additionally, you can dungeon dive as much as you wish, and the bosses will kick your ass repeatedly. Therefore, it’ll take practice, patience, and some luck to get yourself through this in one piece.
ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN is incredible.
I’ve loved every second of this utterly mad title. The characters are fantastic, the story is ridiculous, but brilliant, and the aesthetics are off the charts. Additionally, the combat is smooth, gory, and a joy to experience repeatedly. Accordingly, it is a special game, and you must buy a copy here! Can you find Juliet and save the day? Listen to your grandad, master your weapons, and let the Bastards have the final say.
