Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered Reviews
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered may be one of the wildest trips into the depths of hell you’ll ever take. It’s grotesque, it’s filthy, and it’s unapologetically crass—a fever-dream vision of the Underworld brought to life by some of gaming’s most creative minds. Just don’t forget to keep the light close, or the darkness might consume you whole.
Shadow of the Damned is a rough diamond, with its raw edges adding to its charm. While more could have been done to modernize the experience, this is still the best way to enjoy Garcia's wild adventure. Those who own the original have little reason to revisit this reissue, but for newcomers exploring these infernal streets, it's highly recommended.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered keeps its original appeal, but the dated mechanics may struggle to resonate with a newer generation of players.
Though it has its own charm, Shadows of the Damned has always been a flawed product, damaged by the neglect of all the people involved in the original project back in the day. Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a way to apologize for some of the responsible people, who came to care about what they had in their hands, but not enough to rethink all its historical issues in order to improve the whole experience. It's a very interesting title, as a whole, but it'll continue to be limited by a clear room for improvement that it has always had and has never been really explored. On the good side, even if clearly old, we can say time has done it good, as it can properly stand out in a market that's populated by other game styles, be it on a gameplay sense or a thematic one, as it works even better as a horror and gore exponent.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Shadows of the Damned was a fairly mediocre release back in 2011 and a proper remaster or even a remake to change a few design choices that were forced upon the creators, could have really made this something special or at least improved elements of the game that needed it. Instead, this “Hella Remastered” release is nothing more than an up-res’d port with a few costumes and a newgame+ mode. The Adaptive Triggers and Gyro Aiming on the PS5/Switch might be able to entice some players to jump in, as well as the cheaper buy-in price of $24.99, but this is still nothing more than a straight port of a 13-year-old game that wasn’t that great to begin with.
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a thrilling return to a cult classic, embracing its unique blend of campy horror and dark humor. If its goal was to revive interest in this wild journey, it has definitely succeeded.
This underwhelming remaster of the cult classic action title keeps the crude humor and pockets of fun but retains the original's blemishes while adding in all new warts.
While some of the writing hasn't aged the best, everything else about Shadows of the Damned still feels great. It's a game from a different time, and one that won't be for everybody, but it's a gem that I can only hope will be rediscovered by the right crowd.
Really, Hella Remastered is probably the best example of a video game that knows that it’s a video game and runs with it to the point where it almost falls off a cliff. The involvement and expertise of Mikami and Suda prevents it from careening towards the ground, but it’s still a solid game at the end of the day. The gameplay has aged surprisingly well, and the visuals have finally outgrown the limitations of its seventh generation console bretheren. Just be sure to leave any high brow notions at the door and enjoy the ride.
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a fun look back at the seventh console generation. It sometimes feels dated, has a narrative I skipped over, and can be clunky. But I can't deny how much fun I had with it. It has a world full of creativity I wanted to see more of. Gameplay elements that elevate the core loop are a lot of fun. And some creative set pieces and bosses I greatly adored. At its best, it feels like playing a horror movie, and I'm already on my next playthrough.
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a faithful remaster of the 2011 release, which is both a great change-up from newer releases and sadly missing some nice quality-of-life features that make third-person shooters more enjoyable.
Shadows of the Damned - Hella Remastered is only a minor graphics update, offering players a chance to revisit this cult classic without old hardware. While it shows its age, the game's strengths remain its wild scenario, unique humor, and grindhouse-style trash appeal.
Review in German | Read full review
By most metrics, Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is the prime example of a barebones PC port, and I wouldn’t begrudge anyone for being disappointed with what’s on offer here. That being said, if you’re looking for the most straightforward way to play a truly bizarre mishmash of juvenile humor and mindless fun, don’t hesitate to pull the trigger on this one.
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a bizarre and intriguing game that’s worth trying out. The combat and characters are a blast, which makes up for the janky movement and basic story. If you’re like me and had never played this one prior, it’s worth experiencing.
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered often breaks the fourth wall and embraces its own brand of humor to its credit and detriment. There’s a really stylish presentation akin to something like Devil May Cry, but its inconsistent gameplay mechanics and disappointing narrative hold it back. If you’re willing to overlook its flaws, this offers a decent adventure with some memorable moments. If nothing else, this is something that exists for the pursuit of video game preservation. Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is just hella OK, and it’s one of the least exciting remasters I’ve played, but it still has some charm going for it, even in 2024.
I would still recommend Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered to all audiences. Those who have already played it, like me, will have the opportunity to relive a classic. And those who are unfamiliar will finally be able to experience the antics of Garcia and Johnson.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a proper comeback of a niche classic that maintains the essence of the original while modernizing it enough for newer audiences. Despite its minor technical flaws, it is a top-notch action-adventure escapade.