Preview: How The Smiths Shaped Suda51’s Wildest World Yet in Romeo Is a Dead Man

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With a career spanning over 30 years, Suda51 could be forgiven for running out of ideas.

His forthcoming game, “Romeo Is a Dead Man,” a fusion of third-person shooting and melee combat, could possibly be his wildest project thus far. It’s worth noting that this isn’t surprising given the director’s history, which includes other unconventional titles such as Killer7 and Killer Is Dead.

We managed to find some time with the esteemed Japanese director in an unremarkable part of the Gamescom exhibition hall, right after experiencing a preliminary PC version of his upcoming work.

Suda’s usual lively demeanor brightened even more as he caught sight of the Gundam t-shirt, but his excitement spiked when he realized that we had spotted the subtle Morrissey nod hidden in the demo he’d created.

It’s fascinating to discover that Manchester’s most melancholic singer significantly influences the veteran in the music industry. Notably, this artist first gained prominence through the Super Fire Pro Wrestling series. Remarkably, this game also includes a wrestler named Morio Smith, which appears to be a tribute to The Smiths’ somber lead vocalist.

He shares with us that he’s been an admirer of The Smiths ever since he was young, expressing his deep affection for their music. In fact, a large poster of The Smiths adorns the wall in his office.

He mentions that he frequently turns to it when he needs motivation. It seems likely this is how he came up with the name for his boss, ‘Every Day Feels Like Monday’, a play on Morrissey’s popular song ‘Every Day Is Sunday’.

He notes that the Smiths have significantly influenced his identity, making them a crucial aspect of who he is personally and individually. While it’s debatable how much Suda resembles Morrissey, there’s no questioning their shared passion for the band’s music.

The positive aspect is that with Johnny Marr and others looking after him, he’s not concerned about running dry on ideas. In truth, “Romeo Is a Dead Man” could possibly be his most unconventional work thus far – although he also acknowledges his team for consistently inspiring him.

He acknowledges that he likely won’t exhaust his supply of fresh ideas. He explains that this isn’t due to any extraordinary creativity on his part, but rather, it stems from his enjoyment of brainstorming novel concepts.

He elaborates, “I’m not the sole creator of these games; it’s not just my ideas bringing them to life. It’s a team effort at Grasshopper. We have many talented individuals here, brimming with innovative thoughts and valuable contributions.

The team seems boundlessly creative, with no apparent boundaries to their idea generation. During our demonstration, they shared that the game includes a farming simulation element, allowing players to grow “Bastards” for use in combat.

The small, portable helpers possess a variety of skills. Some of them detonate, acting like explosives, whereas others aid in restoring your health.

Initially, we found the system somewhat confusing, but it’s becoming clear that creating “Bastards” (or whatever the system is called) will play a crucial role later on in the campaign. This system could be likened to games like Atelier, where the items you craft can provide an advantage in combat during your next adventure.

Additionally, you’ll discover that you’re gathering spices for making curries, which is a mini-game developed by a well-known Japanese anime production studio.

Instead of highlighting, Suda mentions that previous installments of the Grasshopper series placed a significant importance on food depictions, notably, No More Heroes 3 showcasing ramen. However, this upcoming title aims to feature katsu curry as its culinary centerpiece.

He exclaimed with delight, ‘This food is simply incredible and a stunning gift from Japan’s culinary scene!’ He aimed to spread awareness about this remarkable dish, hoping that many would not only learn about it but also have the opportunity to taste it during food events.

When we expressed our admiration for Coco Ichibanya, a popular Japanese restaurant chain specializing in katsu curry, Suda couldn’t help but smile broadly. Upon asking if this is a favorite among locals, his whole team enthusiastically nodded in agreement.

Although we didn’t have the chance to delve deeply into Romeo Is a Dead Man, our brief experience was enough to recognize its unique fusion of third-person shooting and close combat mechanics.

One of our senior programmers at Grasshopper, Hiro Nakata, who’s been with us for quite a while, is responsible for many key aspects, particularly combat sequences in the older games. As he recounts, his preference is to incorporate both gun and sword mechanics – a combination he’s enthusiastic about.

It’s somewhat reminiscent of the offspring from a union between Shadows of the Damned and No More Heroes, a combination that doesn’t sound too unfortunate.

He clarifies that they combined [shooting and hand-to-hand combat] in the game and left options for both. Essentially, players can opt for a close-quarter melee fight or stand back and initiate ranged attacks. The team put effort into preserving balance while enabling players to pick a playstyle that feels most comfortable to them.

However, the demonstration was far from a leisurely stroll, and one member of Suda’s team even suggested we perish at a certain moment. This was due to the Game Over screen displaying sped-up clips of a waxwork figure being swiftly melted by a flamethrower.

The team recorded the footage themselves directly at a unique studio setup. It seems that the project ended up being rather costly.

Pausing thoughtfully, I found myself questioning whether I’d wisely allocated my resources in the right areas regarding this project. After a brief moment of contemplation, I offered a reassuring smile as my response.

“Of course!”

Are you eagerly anticipating experiencing Suda51’s latest work, or have you been unimpressed by what’s been revealed about Romeo Is a Dead Man so far? Show your enthusiasm for something new and exciting in the comments below.

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2025-09-08 21:07