Suda 51 and Shinji Mikami’s cult classic makes a comeback but it’s not the update it deserves

Legendary Directors, Mixed Reactions

GAMES from legendary director Suda 51 are not to everyone’s taste with their crude sense of humour, but they are always jam-packed with unique ideas. People have fallen in love with his games, which push the boundaries and offer gamers something original.

Missed Opportunities in Hella Remastered

Some of his most famous titles are now pretty old, and the perfect targets for a modern remake. That’s why I was so excited to play Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered only to be left disappointed. The quirky story that so many people fell in love with is still here, but the remake missed the mark on fleshing out characters and improving gameplay.

Repetitive Gameplay and Missed Potential

Shadows of the Damned’s quirky story that so many people fell in love with is still here, and if you want bizarre ideas and immature humour, you’ll definitely find that here. However, the original’s development felt rushed as some ideas were reused a little too frequently, losing their unique flair. This persists in the remake, which could have been a perfect opportunity to flesh out the characters further.

There is a character that you see multiple times throughout the game only to be taken out without a complete arc and in an unsatisfying manner. Shadows of the Damned also contained a lot of filler like relentless hordes of enemies that eat up your bullets, unskippable cutscenes, and attacks that can instantly kill you. All of these frustrations are still present in Hella Remastered, which, despite this, took me less than 8 hours to complete.

A Wasted Opportunity

Shadows of the Damned is a game that truly deserves a remaster but it feels that the developers weren’t as passionate about the original and the fans. We all wanted to see it be given its chance to shine with new content to remove the filler, and much needed quality-of-life improvements. That isn’t what we have with Hella Remastered and what it could have been makes what it is feel so much worse. The whole game feels like a wasted opportunity to finally bring Shadows of the Damned to the greatness it deserves.

Final Thoughts

Despite the anticipation for Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered, the update falls short of expectations. Fans of the original may find some nostalgic enjoyment, but missed opportunities and frustrating gameplay elements hinder the overall experience. If you were hoping for a revitalized version of this cult classic, you may be left wanting more.