Interview: An Inside Look Behind the Chaos of Romeo is A Useless Man

Romeo is A Useless Man is coming to Xbox Collection X|S on February 11, 2026!

On this third-person, motion journey, gamers will assume the position of Romeo Stargazer, a person trapped within the house between life and loss of life created by a mysterious time paradox. In his new position as FBI House-Time Agent “Useless Man”, Romeo will uncover a wild, unpredictable story with intense battles, search out a few of the universe’s most harmful fugitives, and seek for his lacking girlfriend, Juliet.

There’s a whole lot of strange themes at play inside Romeo is A Useless Man, and so, I sat down with Govt Director Goichi Suda (Suda 51) and Director Ren Yamazaki to search out the way it all got here collectively.

The sport is fairly chaotic proper off the bat. How’d it find yourself like that?

Suda Goichi (Suda 51): The opening particularly is full velocity forward, yeah. If we’re gonna trigger some ruckus proper off the bat, we would as nicely equally get the participant within the thick of the motion as quick as attainable so that they don’t should suppose too lengthy about it. I’m simply glad if they’ll benefit from the motion proper from the beginning.

Ren Yamazaki:　I’ve been on the firm for fairly a while now, so I’m actually used to Suda’s storytelling fashion. I assume from that perspective, it’s nothing too uncommon for me. It’s, like, yeah, enterprise as typical (laughs). In fact, I perceive it’s in all probability complicated to first-time gamers, however that confusion itself is enjoyable to see. I’m particularly excited for a way individuals will react to the story as an entire.

Let’s speak about the principle character – what choices have been made when bringing Romeo to life?

Suda: I at all times needed Romeo Stargazer to be a personality that left a powerful impression not simply via his in-game expertise and weapons, however as a personality too. Our previous titles characteristic all kinds of characters who’re cherished by players, so I actually thought onerous about learn how to make Romeo a personality who’d be simply as praised. When Romeo bought the “DeadMan” moniker alongside the best way, he actually began to come back to life in a means that made me assured in him. I assumed to myself, like, “Romeo actually is DeadMan!” after which all of it form of fell into place. That’s why we made it the title, too.

The fight in Romeo is A Useless Man is intense and fast-paced from the beginning. Was this at all times a most important aim for the sport?

Yamazaki: I used to be fairly agency in regards to the core motion parts of the sport. So many alternative features and techniques of the sport modified all through growth, however in my discussions with our most important programmer, Hironaka, we made certain the battle system delivered a powerful sense of enjoyable, attention-grabbing motion from the start to the tip of growth.

Is there something in regards to the motion you paid explicit consideration to, Suda-san?

Suda: The massive finisher—Bloody Summer season—I paid a whole lot of consideration to how precisely it felt, and to that finish the overall motion of swords have been refined meticulously in order that it will really feel as genuine as attainable. I’m fairly certain I additionally made a whole lot of changes to the precise second of influence, however that was years in the past development-wise now and I’ve completely forgotten what precisely I requested (laughs). Motion video games higher and higher with each minor tweak.

 We additionally paid particular consideration to what number of enemies seem and the place in every degree. Every time I performed via the sport to make changes, I imagined myself to be enjoying it for the primary time and actually thought-about the feelings that comes with that. Even on a primary playthrough, I actually needed it to really feel as easy as it’s difficult, and I believe we bought a very good stability there. The tip result’s clearly depending on the gamers, so I’m actually trying ahead to seeing the way it’s acquired by the general public.

It’s powerful to create a completely new IP, particularly with a rising workforce – did you’re feeling that stress throughout growth?

Suda: I suppose it’s a whole lot of stress, however we’re a studio that has survived virtually solely on unique IPs, and we have now a whole lot of long-running IP, so I don’t give it some thought an excessive amount of. There’s a level of stress concerned with team-building, particularly when employees come from all types of firm cultures and backgrounds, however that’s true of any growth workforce. It’s when these two cultures reconcile that I really feel the studio’s personal id evolves and matures into one thing extra complete, and that is an ongoing course of between each challenge we’ve taken on.

Within the earlier components of growth, we’d have these large month-to-month the place every workforce would present what they’re engaged on. General I believe it was fairly constructive, because it helped everybody perceive the route of the challenge, and foster a way that that is “our” sport, so to talk.

Yamazaki: I believe that sense of “our sport” amongst each particular person employees member is strictly what turned the challenge’s general energy, too. It fuels dedication in direction of each element; everybody approached it with a lot sincerity that at instances I felt I needed to inform individuals to not go too far with what they have been engaged on.

How would you place Grasshopper’s growth fashion into phrases?

Suda: Our growth fashion is form of ad-libbed, I’d say. We convey a bunch of concepts to the conferences and develop them simply via speak, and choose aside what looks as if one thing value implementing, and for essentially the most half we simply choose essentially the most attention-grabbing concepts and ad-lib methods to place them in. Particularly in relation to motion video games, they’re not likely one thing the place you determine a brilliant inflexible spec sheet from the start and observe it during—it modifications all through growth. You mainly should maintain sprucing actually small components to make the general product higher. It’s these sorts of processes the place the general Grasshopper fashion is developed.

Yamazaki: I’m undecided if that strategy is a bonus or a drawback, however that’s exactly the place that daring taste distinctive to our video games comes via; I believe that basically works for the individuals who take pleasure in it, and is extra of an acquired style for a first-timer. It’s form of like a ramen store with a thick, robust broth.

There are undoubtedly instances I think about making issues a extra normal, salty taste for the general public at giant; although, I’m undecided it really works out that means even once I attempt (laughs). Often what occurs is I begin out that means, however someplace alongside the best way I get tired of the blandness and find yourself placing a bunch of spice in with out even realizing.

Suda: There are already sufficient “orthodox” video games on the market to start with, and I don’t suppose it’s our place to compete with them!

Romeo is A Useless Man arrives on Xbox Collection X|S on February 11, 2026.

ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN

GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE INC.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

“About ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN”
Take management of the protagonist Romeo Stargazer on this third particular person singleplayer motion journey, cut up into numerous chapters. His story is each unpredictable and plagued by intense battles, interspersed with facet missions to go well with the participant’s tempo.

“Battle blood with blood”
Romeo switches between swords and weapons to struggle. Wipe out the waves of enemies that stand in your path to provide beginning to a brand new form of bloody motion, and take down the fearsome space-time criminals that await. Soak up the blood of your enemies to unleash Romeo’s particular assault: Bloody Summer season, able to turning any scenario round. Romeo’s numerous weapons will be strengthened and altered because the story strikes ahead as he takes on even stronger enemies.

“A narrative that transcends space-time”
This sport’s story begins with space-time itself being shattered by a sure incident. Romeo, too, getting ready to life and loss of life finds himself revived by a brand new form of tremendous expertise. Thus he’s recruited for the FBI’s House-Time Police as a particular agent, and wanders the cosmos seeking criminals who’ve taken benefit of the scenario at hand in an try to convey justice again to the universe. On the similar time, he seems to be for clues regarding his lacking girlfriend Juliet, and rapidly comes to search out each her disappearance and the destruction of house could also be extra linked than he thought. Donning the masks known as Deadgear, what awaits Romeo on the edges of space-time?