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 creative minds behind Shadows of the Damned, have openly criticized Japan's CERO rating board. Their frustration stems from the censorship imposed on the Hella Remastered console release in Japan. In an interview with GameSpark, they questioned the rationale behind CERO's restrictions.
Suda51, renowned for Killer7 and the No More Heroes series, confirmed the need to create two versions of the game for the Japanese market. He stated, "Creating two versions presented a significant challenge, impacting our workload and extending development time considerably."
Shinji Mikami, celebrated for his work on mature titles like Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed disappointment with CERO's approach. He argued that the board is disconnected from the modern gaming community, stating, "It seems odd that non-gamers would censor games, preventing players from experiencing the full intended experience, especially when there's a clear audience for mature content."
CERO's rating system includes CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+). Mikami's original Resident Evil, a pioneer of the survival horror genre, featured graphic violence. Its 2015 remake retained this intensity and received a CERO Z rating.
Suda51 questioned the purpose of these restrictions, stating, "While regional restrictions are unavoidable, I constantly wonder about the players' perspectives. What is the goal of these limitations? Who are they intended to protect? It certainly doesn't seem to be the players themselves."
This isn't CERO's first encounter with criticism. In April, EA Japan's Shaun Noguchi voiced concerns over inconsistencies in CERO's ratings, citing the approval of Stellar Blade (CERO D) while rejecting Dead Space.
