Resident Evil Director Thinks Game Censorship Sucks

Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered faces censorship in Japan, sparking outrage from creators Suda51 and Shinji Mikami. The pair criticized Japan's CERO rating board in a GameSpark interview, highlighting the challenges of creating two versions of the game – one censored, one uncensored – for the Japanese market.

Suda51, known for Killer7 and No More Heroes, explained the significant workload and extended development time required by this dual-version approach. Mikami, renowned for Resident Evil and other mature titles, argued that CERO's censorship is out of touch with modern gamers, preventing players from experiencing the game's intended content.

CERO's rating system, including the CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+) classifications, was questioned. Mikami's original Resident Evil, and its 2015 remake, both feature graphic content and received Z ratings, illustrating the board's apparent inconsistencies. Suda51 questioned the target audience and purpose of these restrictions, suggesting they don't benefit the players.

This isn't the first time CERO's practices have drawn fire. In April, EA Japan's Shaun Noguchi highlighted inconsistencies, citing the approval of Stellar Blade (CERO D) while rejecting Dead Space. The ongoing debate underscores the tension between content creators and regional rating boards in the gaming industry.