Created by famed game auteur Goichi Suda (Killer7, No More Heroes), Killer is Dead is a stylish 3D Action game in which players take control of the womanizing contract killer Mondo Zappa as he uses his Japanese sword and cybernetic left arm to track down and behead criminals. Set in the near future, Killer is Dead is full of cyborgs, dark matter, and lunar tourism, and the main storyline finds Mondo battling cybernetic organisms called Wires and pursuing eight bizarre assassination targets, including a 500-foot-tall giant, a crab woman, and an anthropomorphic train.
Mondo's katana, which he calls Gekkou, and his cybernetic arm, which is named Musselback, both grow stronger by absorbing the blood of fallen enemies, and as gamers slash, guard, and dodge they build up a combo meter that will let them pull off gruesome Final Judgement finishing moves. Final Judgement moves give players special bonuses, and they can use moon crystals to upgrade Mondo's skills and acquire the charge cannon, freeze shooter, and drill upgrades to his cybernetic arm. In addition to the main storyline episode, gamers can take on a variety of repeatable sub-missions, or they can take on Gigolo missions, in which Mondo must seduce beautiful women to earn rewards.
All launch copies of Killer Is Dead include a hardcover art book, soundtrack CD, and the "Smooth Operator" downloadable content pack.