"Resident Evil Director Slams Game Censorship"

As the release of Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered approaches this October, the ongoing criticism of Japan's CERO age rating board intensifies, with the game's creators voicing their frustrations over the censorship required for the remastered version in Japan.

Suda51 and Shinji Mikami Criticize Shadows Of The Damned's Censorship

Shadows of the Damned producer and writer duo, Suda51 and Shinji Mikami, have openly expressed their dissatisfaction with Japan's CERO age rating board due to the censorship of the console version of Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered. In a recent interview with GameSpark, a prominent Japanese gaming news site, the two creators criticized the stringent restrictions enforced by CERO, questioning the rationale behind such decisions.

Suda51, renowned for his work on titles like Killer7 and the No More Heroes series, revealed to GameSpark that the remastered version of Shadows of the Damned required censorship for its Japanese release. "We had to create two different versions of the game, which presented a significant challenge," he explained. "The remastering process forced us to develop both versions simultaneously, greatly increasing our workload and extending the development timeline."

Co-creator Shinji Mikami, celebrated for his contributions to mature-rated games such as Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed his disappointment with CERO’s approach. He argued that the board is disconnected from the modern gaming community. "It's perplexing to see individuals who don't play games making decisions that limit the full experience of these works," Mikami stated. "There are players who want to enjoy these 'edgy' games, and it's frustrating to see that desire being curtailed."

CERO's rating system categorizes games into various classifications, including CERO D for audiences 17 and older, and CERO Z for those 18 and above. The original Resident Evil, directed by Mikami, set the standard for the horror genre with its graphic and gruesome content. The 2015 remake retained these elements, earning a CERO Z rating due to its mature nature.

Suda51 questioned the underlying purpose of these restrictions. "While we have to comply with regional censorship as part of our job, I often wonder what the fans think about these limitations," he remarked. "What is the goal of these restrictions? Who are they intended for? It certainly doesn't seem like they're aimed at the players who enjoy the game."

CERO has faced criticism before. In April, following the release of Stellar Blade, EA Japan General Manager Shaun Noguchi highlighted the board's inconsistencies. He noted the contrast between CERO's approval of Stellar Blade with a CERO D (17+) rating and its rejection of EA’s survival horror game Dead Space.