The upcoming October release of Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered has reignited criticism of Japan's CERO age rating board, with the game's creators voicing their disappointment over censorship imposed on the Japanese console 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 remastered edition's Japanese console release. In an interview with GameSpark, they openly questioned the rationale behind the restrictions.
Suda51, renowned for Killer7 and the No More Heroes series, confirmed the necessity of creating two versions of the game – a censored one for Japan and an uncensored version. He highlighted the significant increase in workload and development time this entailed.
Mikami, celebrated for his work on mature titles like Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed his concern that CERO is out of sync with modern gamers. He argued that non-gamers imposing censorship prevents players from fully experiencing games, even those who actively seek out mature content.
CERO's rating system, including categories like CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+), is at the heart of the controversy. Mikami's original Resident Evil, a pioneering horror title, featured graphic violence; its 2015 remake retained this element and received a CERO Z rating.
Suda51 questioned the effectiveness and target audience of the restrictions, stating that the process lacks consideration for the players' perspectives and desires. He emphasized the lack of clarity regarding the purpose and intended recipients of these limitations.
This isn't the first time CERO's rating practices have drawn fire. 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 instance further underscores the ongoing debate surrounding CERO's standards and their impact on the gaming industry.
