With the October release of Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered looming, criticism of Japan's CERO age rating board intensifies. The game's creators are voicing their frustration over the censorship applied to the remastered version in Japan.
Suda51 and Shinji Mikami Condemn Shadows of the Damned's Censorship
CERO Faces Backlash Again
Suda51 and Shinji Mikami, the writer and producer duo behind Shadows of the Damned, have openly criticized Japan's CERO rating board for the censorship imposed on the Hella Remastered console release in their home country. In a GameSpark interview, they questioned 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 for the Japanese market. "Creating two versions presented a significant challenge," he stated. "This doubled our workload and extended development time considerably."
Shinji Mikami, renowned for his work on mature titles like Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed disappointment with CERO's approach, suggesting a disconnect with the modern gaming audience. He argued that non-gamers censoring games prevents players from experiencing the complete intended work, despite the existence of a market for mature titles.
CERO's rating system, including CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+), has been the subject of debate. Mikami's original Resident Evil, a pioneering horror title, featured graphic content. Its 2015 remake retained this style and received a CERO Z rating.
Suda51 questioned the purpose and target audience of these restrictions, stating, "While regional restrictions are a professional necessity, I constantly wonder about the players' perspectives. What is the goal of these limitations, and who are they intended for? They certainly don't seem to benefit the players."
This isn't CERO's first encounter with criticism. In April, EA Japan's Shaun Noguchi highlighted inconsistencies, citing the approval of Stellar Blade (CERO D) while rejecting Dead Space. This incident further fuels the ongoing debate surrounding CERO's rating practices.
