Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered Has Been Censored For Consoles in Japan

As a long-time fan of gritty, unapologetic video games that push boundaries and challenge conventional norms, I find myself deeply saddened by the news of the censored Japanese version of Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered. Having grown up playing games like this, I’ve come to appreciate their raw, unfiltered storytelling and adult humor that doesn’t shy away from taboo subjects.


In a recent statement, one of the creators of Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered, Suda51, confirmed that the game’s Japanese version has been modified for console release due to censorship. Interestingly, the original version from 2011 also faced similar censorship issues in Japan, requiring edits to meet the approval of the CERO ratings board.

Goichi Suda shared with GameSpark (via VGC) that creating two variations of the game was quite demanding. He meant the censored and uncensored versions. In essence, while working on the remaster, they had to create both versions simultaneously, which significantly increased their workload and ultimately prolonged the development process.

As a game creator who helped bring Shadows of the Damned to life, I share similar feelings with Shinji Mikami about the rating process in Japan. It seems to me that the Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO) might not fully grasp the intricacies and dynamics of creating and playing video games.

He expressed that it’s an unusual circumstance where some people prefer to engage in edgy games, while others aim to limit their availability by imposing regulations on these creative works, he pointed out.

“Suda commented, ‘If there are regional restrictions, we must comply, but I often ponder about it. Players seeking an unaltered version will likely favor the PC edition. It makes me question who these restrictions are intended for – at the least, I don’t believe they’re aimed at the customers playing the game,’ he concluded.”

The remastered version of “Shadows of the Damned” will be available on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC on the 31st of October.

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2024-09-03 17:27