Resident Evil Director Thinks Game Censorship Sucks

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 Censorship in Shadows of the Damned

CERO Faces Backlash Again

Suda51 and Shinji Mikami, the creative minds behind Shadows of the Damned, have publicly criticized Japan's CERO rating board for the censorship imposed on the remastered version of their game. In an interview with GameSpark, they openly challenged the rationale behind the restrictions.

Suda51, known for Killer7 and the No More Heroes series, confirmed the need to create two versions of the game – a censored one for Japanese consoles. He highlighted the significant increase in development time and workload this caused.

Mikami, renowned for his work on mature titles like Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed his disappointment, arguing that CERO is detached from the modern gaming landscape. He questioned the logic of non-gamers censoring games, preventing players from experiencing the full intended experience, especially those who actively seek out mature content.

CERO's rating system, including CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+), has been a subject of 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 the censorship. He emphasized the lack of consideration for the players' preferences and the overall lack of clarity regarding the purpose of these restrictions.

This isn't the first time CERO's practices have drawn criticism. In April, EA Japan's Shaun Noguchi highlighted inconsistencies, citing the approval of Stellar Blade with a CERO D rating while rejecting Dead Space.