Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered's October release has reignited the debate surrounding Japan's CERO age rating system. The game's creators, expressing their disappointment, highlight the censorship imposed on the Japanese console version.

Suda51 and Shinji Mikami Criticize Censorship of Shadows of the Damned

CERO Faces Renewed Backlash

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 applied to the game's Japanese console release. In an interview with GameSpark, they voiced their concerns about the restrictive regulations and questioned the rationale behind them.

Suda51, renowned for his work on titles like Killer7 and No More Heroes, confirmed the necessity of creating two versions of the game—a censored version for Japan and an uncensored version for other regions. He emphasized the significant increase in workload and development time this required.

Shinji Mikami, celebrated for his contributions to mature-rated games such as Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed his belief that CERO is disconnected from the modern gaming landscape. He argued that preventing players from experiencing the full intended game experience is counterintuitive, especially considering the existence of a dedicated audience for 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 own Resident Evil, a groundbreaking horror title, and its 2015 remake, both feature graphic content and received CERO Z ratings.

Suda51 questioned the effectiveness and target audience of these restrictions, highlighting the disconnect between the censorship and the desires of the players themselves. He emphasized the frustration of having to comply with regional restrictions without understanding the reasoning behind them.

This isn't the first time CERO's rating policies have faced scrutiny. In April, EA Japan's Shaun Noguchi raised similar concerns regarding inconsistencies in CERO's decisions, citing the contrasting ratings of Stellar Blade (CERO D) and the rejected Dead Space.