Shinji Mikami and Suda51 are legends in the video game industry. Shinji Mikami has created classic survival horror games at Capcom and founded award-winning studios. He truly is one of the best in the industry. Suda51 has directed numerous cult classics, such as Killer 7 and the No More Heroes series, which are my favorites. These are some of the best and most creative minds in the game industry, and their working together sounds like a dream come true. They have worked on projects together, but there is one they have mixed thoughts on. A project that has been brought from hell itself, in Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered.
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a remaster of the 2011 video game for modern consoles. The original is notorious for its troubled development with many significant changes. It took five different versions before the original publisher, EA, even approved it. Even after Akira Yamaoka of Silent Hill fame joined as the sound designer, it still needed help getting corporate approval. The end product was Shadows of the Damned, a third-person horror action shooter. Now the game is back with a shiny new remaster, but how does it fare today? Well, it’s a fun time, but it feels stuck in 2011.
Back from the Dead
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered tells the story of demon hunter Garcia Hotspur. One day, he comes home to find his girlfriend Paula being abducted by Lord of the Demons, Fleming. From here, he follows them to the underworld to save her, accompanied by his demon sidekick Johnson. Armed with his motorcycle, gun, and torch (all of which are Johnson), he sets off to save Paula.
The story is basic and meant to get you from level to level as you play the game. Characters have no real depth and are intended to serve as a gameplay outlet for the player. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it’s very disappointing. Especially since this team has put out games with excellent story and character writing, along with fun gameplay. While I shouldn’t think of the original idea for the game, I can’t help but think about how that was much more interesting. I don’t dislike what is presented here, but I can’t help but think of what could’ve been.
If there is one thing I can compliment, it is the world. I have a soft spot for locations set in the afterlife or filled with religious symbolism. They remind me of a culture I grew up in, and while I don’t have much connection to it now, I still find it fascinating. Despite spending little time in this world, it presents many ideas I like and think could be expanded. There are notes of something interesting here. Notes bogged down by corporate meddling at the time it came out.
Demon Hunting
While the story may be lacking, the gameplay is at least enough to keep you going. Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a third-person shooter played over chapters. You have three guns, each with a stun attack and a torch that serves as a melee weapon. Healing is done by drinking liquor, and there are three different types as well. You can run and have a quick turn button, and you will use all of these to survive hordes of demons. All of this combined makes a pretty fun, if shallow, combat system.
What takes it a step further is the added gameplay elements. Since you are in the underworld, you have to deal with darkness. Darkness fills the level and adds a new gameplay element. The darkness drains your life, so you have to think fast. The only way to stop this is to enter the light or light up the darkness. Each gun has a light bullet that can turn on different light sources but also serves as a stun on enemies. Darkness also gives enemies a shield you can only destroy with a light bullet.
This fun gameplay element adds much to the simple core combat. It adds a puzzle element to standard gameplay, as getting out of or combating the darkness isn’t always straightforward. It also adds to the enemy variety, as you can only beat some in the darkness. The darkness makes you think and does so much to elevate a simple core loop, and I greatly enjoy it.
Boss battles utilize the puzzle element of the darkness very well. The game has a handful of bosses, most of whom are great fights. They have you thinking of which gun to use and utilize the darkness, too. They feel like spectacles with a good balance of the gunplay and darkness puzzle elements. Granted, only some boss battles are like this. Some feel like bullet sponges, and these could be more interesting. Most are a good balance, and I wish there were a way to replay them without starting over.
Beauty in Hell
I have no trouble praising the design of the world itself. As stated earlier, I have a soft spot for locations and stories set in the afterlife. But besides the world-building, the location and creature design are things to behold. The world feels lived in, and every part fits each other perfectly. It keeps that punk rock aesthetic Suda51 is known for, and I would’ve liked to see more of this world. Many levels feel reminiscent of campy B horror movies and are a delight to play. The world has much potential to expand if given the chance.
Keeping up with praising the looks, I immensely like the character design. I said they didn’t hold up narratively, but they all stood out physically. Garcia Hotspur may be a one-note protagonist, but he looks fantastic. Johnson may be a floating skull, but his transformations all have flair, and he’s a needed addition to Hotspur. These two take up most of your screen and never get boring. This praise even holds over to enemy design, as they all stand out from each other and feel like a part of the world.
The praise also applies to the bosses. They all have great designs that make the boss fights stand out and have visual flair. Manga artist Q Hayashida, famous for Dorohedoro and Dai Dark, designed them, but I can’t praise them enough. Even the boss fights I did not care for, I still have to compliment their look. While the narrative or writing does not wow me, I still enjoy the design of it all. The look of the world and characters make me want to revisit this world, even if I will be skipping cutscenes.
Hella Remastered
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a remaster of the original game for modern consoles. It boasts additions requested by fans, along with some updated visuals and performance. The most significant addition is New Game+, which the original was strangely lacking. The game is short, so this feels like a needed addition. After beating it and staring up New Game+ immediately, I find it odd that the original didn’t have it. I wish there were a way to replay specific levels, but New Game+ is still welcome.
Besides New Game+, there are some other additions. The game has costumes you can equip to Hotspur if you want to change his style. The game has updated visuals and performance as well. On PS5, Xbox Series X, and Steam, it even supports up to 4K and 60fps. Now, these are excellent additions, but they feel bare-bones. Updated visuals and performance are the standard, but I like it when remasters try to add more for fans. Earlier, I praised the designs, and I think unlocking stuff like art could’ve gone a long way. I’m still happy the game is on modern consoles, and the addition of New Game+ is still huge. Just know it’s all you’re getting in this remaster.
Last Rites
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a fun look back at the seventh console generation. Some of its writing and game design are very dated, but they are still fun to experience again. The game is short and can be beaten in 8 hours. It can sometimes feel clunky and lacks additions you may want in a modern remaster. Even after all of that thought, I can’t deny I had a good time.
A genuinely fun world and excellent creature design significantly elevate the experience. At times, it felt like I was playing through a B horror movie, and I couldn’t enjoy that more. At other times, I felt like I was walking from point A to point B with some gunplay. The Darkness is a great gameplay addition that left me wanting more. Sometimes, it feels lacking, but I can’t put it down other times. Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a fun, if inconsistent, game to bring back from the dead. I am already in the middle of New Game+ and will probably finish again.
Disclaimer: NetEase Games and Grasshopper Manufacture provided Final Weapon with a PC (Steam) copy of Shadows of the Damned: Hell Remastered for review purposes.
