With the October release of Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered looming, criticism of Japan's CERO age rating board intensifies. The game's creators are voicing their frustration over the censorship applied to the remastered version in Japan.
Suda51 and Shinji Mikami Condemn Shadows of the Damned's Censorship
CERO Faces Backlash Again
Suda51 and Shinji Mikami, the writer and producer duo behind Shadows of the Damned, have openly criticized Japan's CERO rating board for the censorship imposed on the Hella Remastered console release. In a GameSpark interview, they questioned the rationale behind these restrictions.
Suda51, known for Killer7 and No More Heroes, confirmed the need to create two versions of the game for the Japanese market. "Creating two versions presented a significant challenge," he stated. "Developing simultaneously for both versions heavily impacted our workload and extended development."
Shinji Mikami, renowned for Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed disappointment, suggesting CERO is disconnected from modern gamers. "It's peculiar that non-gamers attempt to censor games and prevent players from fully experiencing the content, especially when there's an audience that actively seeks out mature titles," he commented.
CERO's ratings, including CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+), are at the heart of the controversy. Mikami's original Resident Evil, a pioneer of the horror genre, featured graphic content. Its 2015 remake retained this, earning a CERO Z rating.
Suda51 questioned the censorship's purpose. "While regional restrictions are unavoidable, I constantly wonder about the players' perspectives," he said. "What is the goal of these restrictions? Who are they targeting? It certainly doesn't seem to be the players themselves."
This isn't CERO's first encounter with such criticism. In April, EA Japan's Shaun Noguchi highlighted inconsistencies, citing the approval of Stellar Blade (CERO D) while rejecting Dead Space.
