Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered

About

"Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered" is a hellish action-adventure game where players control Garcia Hotspur, a charmingly crude hero on a mission to rescue his kidnapped lover from the Underworld's overlord. Fight through hordes of demons with the help of your skull-butler Johnson, harnessing the powers of light and dark to traverse fiendishly funky dungeons. This remastered version features new costumes and other exclusive content, making it a worthy addition to the original.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered screenshot

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 263 reviews

gameplay9 positive mentions

graphics8 negative mentions

The game retains its unique charm and humor, blending dark comedy with engaging gameplay, reminiscent of classic titles like Resident Evil 4.
The art direction and soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka are standout features, enhancing the overall atmosphere and experience of the game.
Despite being a barebones port, the game runs smoothly and is a nostalgic trip for fans of the original, providing a fun and memorable experience.

The port lacks essential graphical options and customization, making it feel like a lazy remaster rather than a true upgrade.
Gameplay can feel repetitive and linear, with some mechanics and puzzles being frustrating rather than engaging.
Several bugs and performance issues, including crashes and frame rate drops, detract from the overall experience.

graphics
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
81%
13%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users expressing disappointment over the complete lack of graphical options, including resolution and settings adjustments. While some appreciate the game's unique aesthetic and art design, others criticize it for appearing dated and not significantly improved from its original 2011 version. Overall, the consensus is that the remaster feels more like a basic port rather than a true graphical upgrade, leaving many players wanting more in terms of visual enhancements.
- “I really liked the visuals and art design and found the game's atmosphere and soundtrack to be excellent.”
- “Overall, the graphics are still good thanks to special visual design, so I see no problems with it.”
- “Despite the disappointment with the graphics, controls, and camera angle, it's important to acknowledge the talent of the creators.”
- “Calling this a remaster is an absolute stretch of imagination given the textures look like literal ass and there is not a single graphic option to be found. I don't think native upscaling to your monitor can really be classified as 'remastered'.”
- “There are zero graphic options which is flat-out disgusting, but I guess at least the game plays fine.”
- “Not having any options for graphic settings or anything really shows how low effort this was.”
gameplay
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
76%
6%
The gameplay is a blend of third-person shooting reminiscent of Resident Evil 4, infused with Suda51's unique humor and style, featuring quirky weapons and mechanics that aim to keep the experience fresh. However, many players note that it can become repetitive, with some mechanics feeling more like filler than engaging gameplay, and the overall execution lacks the depth of earlier titles. Despite its flaws, the game offers a fun, albeit janky, experience that balances action with dark humor and storytelling.
- “The gameplay is more or less a rail shooter, but don't let that fool you - this game is all about the story and the atmosphere.”
- “Gameplay mirrors this variety, often shifting genres or introducing new mechanics to keep players on their toes.”
- “The moment-to-moment gameplay is kept fairly fresh with new mechanics being introduced, so despite the fact that the game is a third-person shooter, it does its best to offer varied gameplay within those constraints.”
- “The gameplay gets repetitive fast - it's essentially 'point your gun at things until they die' for hours on end, with very little variety to keep things interesting.”
- “While there is some typical teenage trash humor which is fine, the game mechanics are so sluggish that it rarely gets to be fun.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it feels like a lesser version of The Evil Within 1, with some really annoying gimmicks, silly QTEs, and awful boss fights that overstay their welcome.”
humor
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in the game is characterized by its crude, juvenile, and often dark comedic style, heavily relying on sexual innuendos and absurdity reminiscent of early 2010s gaming. While some players find the humor hilarious and a nostalgic throwback, others view it as cringe-worthy and outdated, making it a polarizing aspect that significantly influences overall enjoyment. The dynamic between characters and the absurdity of the story contribute to a unique comedic experience, appealing primarily to those with a taste for irreverent humor.
- “The humor shines brightest in the dynamic between Garcia and Johnson.”
- “It's a game where the gameplay exists primarily to facilitate the humor and storytelling.”
- “The sense of humor goes beyond the surface level jokes and dialogs and it actually contributes to building a rendition of hell that is as funny as legitimately interesting.”
- “My only beef with it (other than the cringey humor) is that the main character's melee finishers don't have the perfect shotgun blast god hand style animations of Resident Evil 4's Leon Kennedy's kicks and suplexes.”
story
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
52%
10%
The story of "Shadows of the Damned" is a chaotic blend of dark humor and absurdity, revolving around a tongue-in-cheek damsel-in-distress narrative where the protagonist embarks on a wild quest to rescue his girlfriend from hell. While some reviews criticize its linearity and simplistic plot, many appreciate the quirky characters, witty banter, and entertaining twists that keep the experience engaging, even if the storytelling is often over-the-top and filled with juvenile humor. Overall, the narrative serves as a vehicle for the game's unique atmosphere and gameplay, making it a memorable, albeit cheesy, experience.
- “The tale of Garcia's quest to rescue his girlfriend from hell is full of twists and turns, and I mean that in both senses of the word.”
- “The duo’s banter is genuinely charming, especially during the game’s twisted storybook segments, which introduce the tragic backstories of its bosses.”
- “The story is a fun romp through hell to save your lovely Paula from the evil Fleming, and there are plenty of funny, zany moments that happen along the way.”
- “I could count the ways of how boringly linear it was; how the weapon variety was terrible; how the enemy variety was somehow worse; how relentlessly pointless the story was; how the bosses were awful; how the level and puzzle designs ranged from just okay to teeth-grindingly annoying; how the combat wasn't enough to carry a full 8-hour campaign; and on and on.”
- “The story is minimal and serves as a vehicle for the gameplay: your girlfriend gets stolen by some demon guy from hell and you have to get her back.”
- “Imagine a game where the story was written by a 14-year-old stoner.”
music
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
41%
11%
The music in the game, composed by Akira Yamaoka, is widely praised for its ability to create an unforgettable atmosphere and enhance the overall experience. While some tracks stand out, many reviewers note that the soundtrack is consistently good, though it may feel somewhat familiar to fans of Yamaoka's previous work. Overall, the music is considered a highlight of the game, contributing significantly to its appeal.
- “The soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka creates an unforgettable atmosphere that elevates the entire experience.”
- “The aesthetics are all exactly to my taste, especially with the killer character designs from Q Hayashida and the incredible OST from Akira Yamaoka.”
- “Music is top notch (Akira Yamaoka composed the soundtrack for this title).”
- “The soundtrack complements the action, though few tracks stand out aside from the climactic theme.”
- “All in all, the only highlight worth mentioning here is the soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka.”
- “It only allows you to adjust sensitivity, music, and language options.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
63%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on the Steam Deck with good performance and minimal bugs, many users report significant issues such as texture loading problems and invulnerable bosses that necessitate frequent restarts. Overall, the PC version is described as buttery smooth and bug-free, contrasting sharply with the more problematic experiences reported by some players.
- “This game got me into Q Hayashida back when it came out, and it runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “Just to note that this port is fairly barebones when it comes to video configuration, which I suspect will disappoint some folks, but what I can say is it runs great on the Steam Deck without any messing around.”
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “Unfortunately, it's beyond buggy; textures are not loading properly, and bosses become invulnerable, forcing you to restart over and over.”
- “Really wanted to like this game, but it's buggy as hell right now. Sad!”
- “There are no graphics options for the PC version; however, the game is buttery smooth and bug-free, unlike the buggy unplayable mess that was Lollipop Chainsaw Re-Pop, which I ended up refunding.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
29%
43%
The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with many users noting that it feels like a bare-bones port rather than a true remaster, lacking essential graphics and performance options. Players have reported poor performance, with frame rates dropping below 30fps even on high-end hardware, leading to frustration compared to other titles. Overall, the remaster fails to deliver the expected optimizations, leaving many disappointed.
- “It looks great, the voice performances are magnificent, the puzzles are interesting... it's more than the sum of its parts.”
- “I played the original on release and this remaster is pretty much the same game, with improved performance.”
- “My only complaint is, as others have pointed out, that this is a pretty bare-bones port, not a true remaster that comes with the standard optimizations one expects with a PC remaster... but I can look past all of that for another romp with Garcia f'ing Hotspur!”
- “The performance is terrible in the remastered version; my game is running at below 30fps and the settings lack any form of graphics and performance options on PC.”
- “I run a 4060 on my laptop and Black Ops 6 with packet burst can run better than this, so the optimization is absolutely terrible on high-end graphics cards.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game's atmosphere is a standout feature, characterized by distinct and immersive environments across its chapters, from eerie cobblestone streets to grotesque flesh markets and vibrant neon districts. The exceptional art design and Akira Yamaoka's haunting soundtrack significantly enhance the overall experience, creating a memorable and atmospheric journey that captivates players.
- “The soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka creates an unforgettable atmosphere that elevates the entire experience.”
- “Each of the game’s five chapters offers a distinct atmosphere: the eerie cobblestone roads and European homes near the highway, the grotesque yet vibrant flesh markets serving delicacies of various human and animal meat, and the neon-lit entertainment district adorned with bizarre demon art showcasing their carnal desires and perverted tastes.”
- “Above all else, Shadows is carried by its atmosphere and environment design.”
- “The gameplay is more or less a rail shooter, but don't let that fool you - this game is all about the story and the atmosphere.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by a monotonous and linear experience, with limited weapon and enemy variety, a lackluster story, and frustrating level designs. Players find the combat repetitive and insufficient to sustain interest throughout the campaign, leading to a tedious gameplay experience.
- “I could count the ways of how boringly linear it was; how the weapon variety was terrible; how the enemy variety was somehow worse; how relentlessly pointless the story was; how the bosses were awful; how the level and puzzle designs ranged from just okay to teeth-grindingly annoying; how the combat wasn't enough to carry a full 8-hour campaign; and on and on.”
- “This ends up forcing you to tediously blast them with a shotgun after you slowly wait for them to walk up to you.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The remastered version offers enhanced replayability compared to emulated copies, featuring a playtime of 6-8 hours and a new game+ mode that allows players to experience the game again with all their upgrades.
- “The length is about 6-8 hours, and there is a New Game+ mode added into this version, so you can play through the game again with all your upgrades, which adds to the replayability.”
- “The length is about 6-8 hours, and there is a new game+ mode added into this version, so you can play through the game again with all your upgrades, which adds to the replayability.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Many games leverage their interactive nature to evoke strong emotions, with some titles successfully prompting players to deeply connect with characters and engage in actions that prioritize emotional fulfillment over winning.
- “Some games attempt to use their interactive capabilities to deliver a powerful emotional punch.”
- “There are two games that I would argue deliver such an emotional payload effectively, making me feel a sudden, irrational need to inhabit the character and do something that would clearly not contribute to a 'win' condition.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
Character development in the game is noted for its unique and striking character designs, complemented by a compelling soundtrack. However, some players find certain character traits, such as repetitive outbursts, to be questionable in terms of depth and growth.
- “The aesthetics are all exactly to my taste, especially with the killer character designs from Q Hayashida and the incredible OST from Akira Yamaoka.”
- “One of the characters just repeatedly yells 'f*** you' over and over for some reason; that's character development, right?”
- “The character arcs are so shallow that I felt no connection to anyone in the game.”
- “I expected more depth, but the characters feel like one-dimensional stereotypes.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express concern that the game's monetization strategy is misleading, as it is marketed as a remaster despite not meeting those expectations. This has led to dissatisfaction among players who feel the pricing does not reflect the product's true value.