Resident Evil Director Thinks Game Censorship Sucks

With the October release of Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered looming, criticism of Japan's CERO age rating board intensifies. The game's creators are voicing their frustration over the remastered version's censorship in Japan.

Suda51 and Shinji Mikami Condemn Shadows of the Damned's Censorship

CERO Faces Backlash Again

Suda51 and Shinji Mikami, the writer and producer duo 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 the No More Heroes series, confirmed the need to create two versions of the game for release in Japan. He stated, "Creating two versions presented a significant challenge, dramatically increasing our workload and extending development time."

Shinji Mikami, renowned for his work on mature titles like Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed disappointment with CERO's approach, suggesting the board is out of sync with modern gamers. He argued, "It's peculiar for non-gamers to censor games and prevent players from experiencing the full intended experience, especially when a segment of the player base actively seeks out these 'edgier' titles."

CERO's rating system includes CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+). Mikami's original Resident Evil, a pioneer of the survival horror genre, featured graphic content and its 2015 remake, retaining this signature style, received a CERO Z rating.

Suda51 questioned the effectiveness of these restrictions, stating, "While regional restrictions are unavoidable, I constantly wonder about the players' perspectives. What's the purpose? Who are these restrictions for? They certainly don't seem to benefit the players themselves."

This isn't CERO's first encounter with 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.