The upcoming October release of Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered has reignited criticism of Japan's CERO age rating system, with the game's creators voicing their disappointment over censorship in the Japanese version.

Suda51 and Shinji Mikami Condemn Shadows of the Damned's Censorship

CERO Faces Renewed Backlash

Suda51 and Shinji Mikami, the creative minds behind Shadows of the Damned, have publicly criticized Japan's CERO rating board for the censorship applied to the game's remastered console release in Japan. In an interview with GameSpark, they openly challenged the board's rationale and restrictive policies.

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

Shinji Mikami, celebrated for his contributions to mature titles like Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed his concern that CERO is disconnected from modern gaming audiences. He argued that non-gamers imposing censorship prevents players from experiencing the complete artistic vision, despite the existence of a market for mature content.

CERO's rating system, including categories like CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+), has been a source of ongoing debate. Mikami's original Resident Evil, a groundbreaking horror title, featured graphic violence, a characteristic maintained in the 2015 remake, which received a CERO Z rating.

Suda51 questioned the effectiveness and target audience of these restrictions, emphasizing his uncertainty about the impact on players and the overall purpose of the censorship. He expressed a belief that the restrictions don't prioritize the preferences of the gaming community.

This isn't the first instance of CERO facing criticism. In April, EA Japan's Shaun Noguchi highlighted inconsistencies in CERO's ratings, citing the approval of Stellar Blade with a CERO D rating while rejecting Dead Space. This latest controversy further underscores the ongoing tension between game developers and Japan's age rating board.