Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered faces censorship in Japan, sparking outrage from creators Suda51 and Shinji Mikami.

CERO's Censorship Draws Fire

The Japanese age rating board, CERO, is again under fire for its censorship policies, specifically targeting the remastered version of Shadows of the Damned. Suda51 and Shinji Mikami, the game's creative minds, voiced their strong disapproval in an interview with GameSpark. They criticized the restrictions imposed, questioning the rationale behind them.

Suda51, renowned for Killer7 and No More Heroes, confirmed the need to create two versions of the game—one uncensored and one compliant with CERO's standards. This significantly increased development time and workload.

Mikami, celebrated for his work on Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed disappointment, arguing that CERO's decisions are out of sync with modern gamers' expectations. He highlighted the irony of non-gamers dictating content experienced by players who actively seek out mature titles.

CERO's rating system, including categories like CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+), is called into question. Mikami's original Resident Evil, known for its graphic content, and its 2015 remake both received a CERO Z rating. Suda51 questioned the effectiveness and target audience of the restrictions, suggesting they don't reflect the desires of the players themselves.

This isn't CERO's first brush with controversy. Earlier this year, EA Japan's Shaun Noguchi highlighted inconsistencies, noting the approval of Stellar Blade with a CERO D rating while rejecting Dead Space. The debate continues over CERO's impact on the Japanese gaming landscape and its responsiveness to players' preferences.