Veteran designer Suda51 discusses the inspirations, development philosophy and genre expectations behind Romeo Is a Dead Man, his latest action title due February 11.
Nearly three decades into a unique game-making career, Goichi Suda—popularly known as Suda51—and his Tokyo-based studio are preparing to launch Romeo Is a Dead Man, a bold action title that blends high-octane combat with wildly eclectic influences.
In a recent interview ahead of the game’s February 11 release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, Suda51 described the project as an opportunity to test new creative ground while staying true to the studio’s irreverent ethos.
A creative lineage outside genre boundaries
Suda51 said that while classic literature such as Romeo and Juliet provided nominal inspiration, the spiritual core of Romeo Is a Dead Man comes from disparate cultural sources. The relationship between Romeo and his grandfather—an emotional pivot in the narrative—draws from the dynamic between Marty McFly and Doc Brown in Back to the Future as well as the intergenerational absurdity seen in Rick and Morty.
Rather than strictly adhering to Shakespearean drama, Suda51 said the team aimed to craft an action experience rooted in personality, energy, and emotional contrast. That includes character growth, combat tension and narrative twists that break from linear expectations.
Pushing action with Unreal Engine 5
Unlike his earlier work on platforms like the No More Heroes series, the new game is built in Unreal Engine 5, giving Grasshopper Manufacture scope to blend photorealistic visuals with stylistic flourishes. Switching between melee and ranged combat is central to the experience, and the development process reflected both technical ambition and iterative experimentation.
Suda51 emphasised that the studio’s action design stems from a desire to raise the bar on player engagement. “We needed to up our game ourselves,” he said, noting advancements in technology and player expectations since the team’s last major action release.
Influences beyond gaming
Suda51 also acknowledged media outside traditional game design as creative input. Popular culture, animation and genre television informed tone and pacing, while nods to wrestling, anime, and fringe pop further shape the sensory palette.
This eclecticism is a hallmark of Suda’s work—a philosophy that sees studio processes resemble jam sessions rather than regimented pipelines, embracing spontaneity and cross-disciplinary input.
Legacy and looking ahead
For fans of Grasshopper’s past cult hits, Romeo Is a Dead Man is both familiar and refreshingly new: a stylistically chaotic journey that refuses to be easily boxed into genre norms.
As players prepare to step into Romeo’s boots, Suda51’s intent is clear: deliver action that surprises as much as it satisfies, in a game shaped by influence, innovation and unabashed creative risk.
