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 frustration over censorship.
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 openly criticized Japan's CERO rating board for the censorship imposed on the game's remastered console release. In an interview with GameSpark, they questioned the rationale behind the restrictions.
Suda51, known for Killer7 and No More Heroes, confirmed the need to create two versions of the game – a censored version for Japan and an uncensored one for other regions. He highlighted the significant increase in workload and development time this necessitated.
Mikami, renowned for his work on Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed disappointment, suggesting CERO is disconnected from modern gamers. He argued that preventing players from experiencing the game's full content, particularly for those who actively seek mature titles, is counterintuitive.
CERO's rating system, including the CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+) classifications, has been a subject of debate. The original Resident Evil, directed by Mikami, set a benchmark for graphic horror, a characteristic maintained in its 2015 remake, which received a CERO Z rating.
Suda51 questioned the effectiveness and target audience of the restrictions, emphasizing his uncertainty about the impact on the players themselves. He highlighted the lack of clarity regarding the purpose and intended recipients of these limitations.
This isn't the first instance of CERO facing criticism. In April, EA Japan's Shaun Noguchi raised concerns about inconsistencies in CERO's ratings, citing the approval of Stellar Blade (CERO D) while rejecting Dead Space.
