Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered's October release has reignited the debate surrounding Japan's CERO age rating system. The game's creators are voicing strong disapproval over the censorship applied to the Japanese console version.

Suda51 and Shinji Mikami Condemn Censorship of Shadows of the Damned

CERO Faces Backlash Again

Suda51 and Shinji Mikami, the creative minds behind Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered, have publicly criticized Japan's CERO rating board for the censorship imposed on their game. In an interview with GameSpark, they questioned the rationale behind the restrictions.

Suda51, renowned for Killer7 and the No More Heroes franchise, confirmed the remaster required two separate versions—a censored one for Japanese consoles and an uncensored version. He highlighted the significant increase in development time and workload this created.

Mikami, celebrated for his work on Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed his disappointment, arguing that CERO is detached from the modern gaming landscape. He believes that non-gamers censoring games prevents players from experiencing the complete intended vision, especially those seeking more mature titles.

CERO's rating system, including categories like CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+), has been a subject of ongoing controversy. Mikami's original Resident Evil, a pioneer of the survival horror genre, featured graphic content and its 2015 remake received a CERO Z rating.

Suda51 questioned the effectiveness and target audience of the censorship. He stated that while they must comply with regional restrictions, the process lacks consideration for player preferences. He wonders about the purpose of such limitations and whether they truly serve the interests of the gaming community.

This isn't the first instance of CERO facing criticism. In April, EA Japan's Shaun Noguchi highlighted inconsistencies in CERO's ratings, pointing to the approval of Stellar Blade (CERO D) while rejecting Dead Space.