Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered's October release is sparking renewed debate about Japan's CERO rating system, with the game's creators openly criticizing the censorship applied to the Japanese console version.
Suda51 and Shinji Mikami Condemn Censorship in Shadows of the Damned
CERO Faces Backlash Again
Suda51 and Shinji Mikami, the creative minds behind Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered, have voiced their disappointment with Japan's CERO rating board. In an interview with GameSpark, they criticized the censorship imposed on the remastered game, questioning the rationale behind the restrictions.
Suda51, known for Killer7 and the No More Heroes series, confirmed the need to create two versions of the game—a censored version for Japanese consoles and an uncensored one. He highlighted the significant increase in workload and development time this required.
Mikami, famed for his work on Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed concern that CERO is disconnected from the modern gaming landscape. He argued that non-gamers imposing censorship prevents players from experiencing the game's intended vision, especially those who actively seek out mature titles.
CERO's rating system, including categories like CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+), has been a source of contention. Mikami's original Resident Evil, a groundbreaking horror title, featured graphic content. Its 2015 remake, retaining its signature gore, received a CERO Z rating.
Suda51 questioned the effectiveness and target audience of these restrictions, emphasizing his uncertainty about the impact on players and the overall purpose of the censorship.
This isn't the first time CERO's practices have been challenged. In April, EA Japan's Shaun Noguchi highlighted inconsistencies, citing the approval of Stellar Blade (CERO D) while rejecting Dead Space.
