Resident Evil Director Blasts Game Censorship

The upcoming release of Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered has reignited the debate surrounding Japan's CERO age rating board. Leading game creators are voicing their frustration over the censorship imposed on the remastered version for the Japanese market.

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 game's remastered console release. In an interview with GameSpark, they expressed their disappointment with the restrictions, questioning the rationale behind the decisions.

Suda51, known for his work on titles like Killer7 and the No More Heroes series, confirmed the necessity of creating two separate versions of the game – a censored version for Japan and an uncensored version for other regions. This, he stated, significantly increased development time and workload.

Shinji Mikami, renowned for his contributions to mature-rated games such as Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, argued that CERO is disconnected from the modern gaming landscape. He believes it's inappropriate for non-gamers to censor games, preventing players from experiencing the complete intended vision, especially for titles that cater to mature audiences seeking "edgier" content.

CERO's rating system, including classifications like CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+), has been a subject of ongoing debate. Mikami's original Resident Evil, a groundbreaking horror title, 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 the disconnect between the censoring body and the actual players. He wondered about the rationale behind the censorship and who it ultimately benefits.

This isn't the first instance of CERO facing criticism. Earlier this year, EA Japan's Shaun Noguchi highlighted inconsistencies in CERO's ratings, citing the approval of Stellar Blade with a CERO D rating while rejecting Dead Space.