With the October release of Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered looming, criticism of Japan's CERO rating board intensifies. The game's creators openly express their disappointment over the censorship applied to the Japanese release.
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, have voiced their frustration with Japan's CERO rating board. Their criticism stems from the censorship imposed on the Hella Remastered console version for the Japanese market. In an interview with GameSpark, they directly challenged CERO's restrictive policies and questioned the rationale behind them.
Suda51, renowned for Killer7 and the No More Heroes series, confirmed to GameSpark that two versions of the remastered game were created – one uncensored, and one compliant with CERO's requirements. "Creating two versions was incredibly demanding," he stated, highlighting the increased workload and extended development time.
Shinji Mikami, celebrated for his work on mature titles like Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed his concern that CERO is disconnected from the modern gaming landscape. He argued that "It's absurd for non-gamers to censor games and prevent players from experiencing the complete vision, especially when there's an audience that actively seeks out these more mature titles."
CERO's rating system includes classifications such as CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+). Mikami's original Resident Evil, a groundbreaking horror title, featured graphic violence. Its 2015 remake, retaining the series' signature gore, received a CERO Z rating.
Suda51 questioned the effectiveness of these restrictions, stating, "While we must comply with regional regulations, I constantly wonder about the players' perspective. What's the point of these restrictions? Who are they protecting? It certainly doesn't seem to be the players themselves."
This isn't the first time CERO's rating practices have drawn criticism. In April, EA Japan's Shaun Noguchi highlighted inconsistencies, citing the approval of Stellar Blade with a CERO D rating while Dead Space was rejected.
