"Resident Evil Director Slams Game Censorship"

As the eagerly anticipated Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered approaches its October release, the spotlight once again falls on Japan's CERO age rating board, with the game's creators openly voicing their frustrations over the enforced censorship in their home country.

Suda51 and Shinji Mikami Voice Frustration Over Shadows of the Damned's Censorship

The creative minds behind Shadows of the Damned, Suda51 and Shinji Mikami, have publicly criticized Japan's CERO for the censorship imposed on the upcoming console release of Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered. In a candid interview with GameSpark, a prominent Japanese gaming news site, the duo highlighted the challenges and frustrations brought about by CERO's regulations.

Suda51, renowned for his distinctive work on games like Killer7 and the No More Heroes series, shared insights into the development process, explaining, "We had to prepare two versions of the game, which posed a significant challenge. Remastering required us to develop dual versions simultaneously, greatly increasing our workload and extending the development timeline."

Shinji Mikami, celebrated for his contributions to mature-rated classics such as Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed his disappointment with CERO's disconnect from modern gaming audiences. He remarked, "It's perplexing that individuals unfamiliar with gaming are making decisions that limit the full enjoyment of these 'edgy' games for those who wish to experience them in their entirety."

CERO's rating system includes categories like 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 horror gaming with its intense, graphic content. Its 2015 remake, which retained the series' iconic gore and horror, received a CERO Z rating due to its mature themes.

Suda51 raised questions about the rationale behind these restrictions, stating, "While we must comply with regional regulations as part of our profession, I often ponder what the fans think about these limitations. What is the true purpose of these restrictions? Who do they serve? Certainly, it doesn't seem to be the players who enjoy the games."

CERO's rating decisions have previously come under scrutiny. In April, during the release of Stellar Blade, EA Japan's General Manager, Shaun Noguchi, criticized the board for what he perceived as inconsistent ratings. He noted the approval of Stellar Blade with a CERO D rating while rejecting EA's Dead Space, highlighting a perceived disparity in CERO's standards.