Game Censorship Irks Resident Evil Director

Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered faces censorship in Japan, sparking outrage from creators Suda51 and Shinji Mikami.

CERO's Censorship Draws Fire

The Japanese Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO) is again under scrutiny for its censorship practices. Suda51 and Shinji Mikami, the minds behind the remastered Shadows of the Damned, voiced their strong disapproval of the alterations required for the game's Japanese console release. In an interview with GameSpark, they criticized CERO's decision-making process and the impact of the censorship.

Suda51, known for Killer7 and No More Heroes, explained the challenges of creating two versions of the game – one censored, one uncensored – significantly increasing development time and workload. Mikami, renowned for Resident Evil and other mature titles, lamented CERO's disconnect with modern gamers, arguing that preventing players from experiencing the complete game is illogical.

CERO's rating system, including the CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+) categories, is questioned by the developers. Mikami's original Resident Evil, a pioneer of graphic horror, and its 2015 remake, both received a CERO Z rating, highlighting the inconsistency. Suda51 questioned the purpose and target audience of these restrictions, emphasizing the disconnect between CERO's decisions and the desires of players.

This isn't the first instance of CERO facing criticism. Earlier this year, EA Japan's Shaun Noguchi highlighted inconsistencies, citing the approval of Stellar Blade with a CERO D rating while rejecting Dead Space. The debate over CERO's practices and their impact on the gaming community continues.