Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered Reviews
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.
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 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.
A funny, goofy shooter that ultimately feels just as much of a missed opportunity as it did in 2010. Visual inconsistencies and frustrating mechanics aside, Shadows Of The Damned can still offer a good time for those looking for one, but it's a shame that this remaster doesn't do enough to polish Grasshopper's cult gem and make it palatable to modern audiences.
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered keeps its original appeal, but the dated mechanics may struggle to resonate with a newer generation of players.
Back in 2011, Shadows of the Damned was unrepentantly daft, and as Hella Remastered serves as an entirely faithful update, preserving the game with 4K resolution at up to 60fps, in 2024, it only seems all the more unhinged. This remains a dose of unapologetic, stupid fun, however, even if time hasn't been all that kind to it.
A remaster that only goes a little beyond doing very basic rework, and yet still turns out to be enjoyable, aimed above all at those who appreciated it in 2011 or at those who are particularly curious to discover one of Goichi Suda's old craziness.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Nothing was done in this Hella Remastered to help Shadows of the Damned in the aspects in which the game underperformed at launch, thirteen years ago. Hence, the game has today the same qualities and the same problems of yesterday, but the latter weigh down the experience much more than before.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is still as offbeat and endearing as it was when it was originally released 13 years ago. The story works precisely because it is not afraid to be funny, disgusting, and mischievous (perhaps too much so) which might bother some. The gameplay is still quite good and varied today. The 4K resolution and 60 fps, is the only real difference from the original, which would not justify buying this version. However, considering the price, €24.99, if you want an over-the-top and unusual experience in the underworld, give it a chance, you won't regret it!
Review in Italian | Read full review
To be fair, what is actually disappointing about Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is that, as a remaster, it’s not the most impressive piece of work out there. The colors are drab, the particle effects are still dated, and the gameplay, whilst pretty good, should have received an extra layer of polish. With that being said, I had a bit of fun with it. Everything that had to do with Shinji Mikami’s side of the project, namely the gameplay, worked wonders for me. The Suda51 side of things was a mixed bag at best.
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered brings Suda51’s cult classic to new life with enhanced visuals, a darkly humorous narrative, and intense demon-slaying action. The remaster preserves the original’s unique style while adding some welcome refinements. Although the combat can be repetitive, the game’s atmospheric puzzles, challenging boss encounters, and compelling underworld setting make for an unforgettable journey through hell. Garcia Hotspur’s quest to rescue his girlfriend, Paula, pushes both him and players to their limits, and the result is a devilishly entertaining experience that fans of the genre will appreciate.
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
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 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 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 is just as offbeat and captivating as it was when it originally came out 13 years ago. The story works partially because of how it isn't afraid to be funny and gross, and the lack of malice sells the game, even if the humor doesn't strike a chord for some people. The gameplay is fine enough that the rough edges can be ignored at times. It sounds just as good as before and looks much better, but one can't help wishing that more care had been taken to create something more than a barebones port of the original.
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is not for everyone. While its over-the-shoulder action and moody vibes previously established the original as a cult classic, its overly edgy style, poor optimization, and derivative gameplay make this version feel more like a dark shadow compared to the industry greats.
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a great excuse to experience the simple, crude, and bombastic joys of a proper cult classic, even if its writing and humour feel thoroughly out of place in today's day and age.
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a mixed-bag experience. While I was a fan of the game when it was first released in 2011, you can really feel its age in this remaster.
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it offers a new glimpse at a fascinating relic of the seventh console generation.