Exclusive: 'Resident Evil' Director Slams Game Censorship

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 Backlash Again

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 one for Japan. He highlighted the significant increase in workload and development time this necessitated.

Shinji Mikami, renowned for his work on Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed disappointment, arguing that CERO is disconnected from modern gamers. He believes it's inappropriate for non-gamers to censor games, preventing players from experiencing the full intended experience, especially those who actively seek out mature titles.

CERO's rating system, including CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+), has been a source of contention. Mikami's original Resident Evil, a pioneering 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 his concern for the players' perspectives and the lack of apparent benefit to the gaming community.

This isn't the first time CERO's practices have been challenged. In April, EA Japan's Shaun Noguchi highlighted inconsistencies, citing the approval of Stellar Blade (CERO D) while rejecting Dead Space.