Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered's October release has reignited criticism of Japan's CERO age rating system. The game's creators have voiced their strong disapproval of the censorship applied to the Japanese console version.
Suda51 and Shinji Mikami Condemn Censorship in 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 imposed on their game's Japanese console release. In an interview with GameSpark, they questioned the rationale behind the restrictions.
Suda51, renowned for 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 highlighted the significant increase in development time and workload this entailed.
Mikami, celebrated for his work on Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed his disappointment, suggesting CERO is disconnected from the modern gaming audience. He argued that preventing players from experiencing the complete game, particularly those who actively seek out mature titles, is counterproductive.
CERO's rating system, including the CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+) classifications, has been a subject of debate. Mikami's original Resident Evil, a pioneer of the survival horror genre, featured graphic content and its 2015 remake, retaining this signature style, 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 such censorship.
This isn't the first time CERO's 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 rejecting Dead Space. This ongoing controversy underscores the need for a more transparent and consistent rating system in Japan.
