Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered Game Cover
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a surprisingly satisfying romp through Hell, as long as you plug your ears.

- A hot-blooded, hellishly twisted, feverishly filthy, love and hate filled road trip Join the crass Garcia Hotspur and his boney buddy, Johnson, as they traverse the depths of the Underworld to steal back Garcia's kidnapped lover, Paula, from the clutches of Fleming, the Lord of the Underworld. Let the soul of rock 'n' roll run loose in the heart of the twisted hellscape that is the Underworld. …

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 82 reviews
music6 positive mentions
graphics5 negative mentions
  • The game retains its original charm and humor, providing a nostalgic experience for fans of the original release.
  • Despite being a barebones port, it runs smoothly at 60 FPS and looks decent on modern hardware.
  • The addition of New Game Plus and costumes adds some replay value to the game.
  • The port lacks essential graphics options, including resolution settings and frame rate adjustments, making it feel outdated.
  • Many players feel that this is not a true remaster but rather a lazy port of the original game with minimal enhancements.
  • The controls and camera mechanics can be awkward, especially for those using keyboard and mouse, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
  • graphics35 mentions

    The graphics of this port have been widely criticized for lacking any options or settings, with users noting that the only adjustable feature is brightness. Many reviewers express disappointment over the absence of resolution settings, frame rate controls, and overall graphical enhancements, leading to a perception of a low-effort console port. While some appreciate the game's aesthetic and smooth performance, the overwhelming sentiment is that the lack of graphical customization significantly detracts from the experience.

    • “An all-star cast of artists, musicians, and directors tried their best here, and it shows - characters are lovable, the aesthetic is top-notch, and there's several moments where the combat feels amazing.”
    • “There are no graphics options for the PC version; however, the game is buttery smooth and bug-free, and the price is very fair, unlike the buggy unplayable mess that was Lollipop Chainsaw re-pop, which I ended up refunding.”
    • “It's pretty janky and I couldn't find any graphics options, but the story, setting, and gameplay more than make up for it.”
    • “This is just a straight port from the console version to PC, so no graphics options or substantial improvements.”
    • “There are no graphics options for the PC version; however, the game is buttery smooth and bug-free.”
    • “Not having any options for graphic settings or anything really shows how low effort this was.”
  • music13 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised, particularly for its energetic and engaging soundtrack composed by Akira Yamaoka, which enhances the overall experience. While some reviewers note that the soundtracks can feel repetitive, the combination of metal music and comedic elements contributes to the game's fun and stylish atmosphere. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the gameplay and aesthetic.

    • “In short, this game is dumb fun with great music and satisfying demon-slaying.”
    • “Game is fun, dialogue is comedic, and the soundtrack is great.”
    • “Music is top notch (Akira Yamaoka composed the soundtrack for this title).”
    • “It only allows you to adjust sensitivity, music, and language options.”
    • “Juvenile dick jokes and hot babes as you shoot and blast metal music against demons of hell.”
    • “I once bought the soundtrack for that song only to find out.”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in "Shadows of the Damned" is characterized by its unapologetic, crude, and campy style, blending dark and childish elements with a foul-mouthed protagonist and absurd situations. While some may find the gory and gross humor off-putting, fans of irreverent comedy and cult classics like "Evil Dead 2" will likely appreciate its charm. Overall, the game offers a mix of cheeky, unharmful jokes and playful writing that appeals to those with a puerile sense of humor.

    • “The humor in this game is unapologetic, showing that it was released in a simpler time.”
    • “Gory, dark and childish humor as well as a foul-mouthed protagonist, this game is a blast from my past!”
    • “Thankfully it's still the dumb, funny, clunky-beautiful game it always has been.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay8 mentions

    The gameplay is a nostalgic blend of classic mechanics reminiscent of 2011 titles, featuring snappy controls and a humorous tone, though it shows its age with some jankiness and limited graphics options. While the shooting feels better with a mouse, it is clear the game was designed for controllers. Overall, it offers a fun experience filled with dark humor and engaging demon-slaying action, appealing to fans of quirky storytelling and gameplay.

    • “The game aged beautifully, the art direction is peculiar, music slaps, gameplay feels snappier than it used to, the writing is as silly as ever.”
    • “It's like RE4 meets Suda51's crazy gameplay and storytelling with a very dope humorous approach.”
    • “If you want to play something with fun gameplay, lots of humor, and some good old demon slaying, get this game.”
    • “The shooting mechanics feel okay using a mouse, but it's evident that it was made for a controller.”
    • “It's pretty janky and I couldn't find any graphics options, but the story, setting, and gameplay more than make up for it.”
    • “The gameplay plays exactly the same as it did on the 360/PS3 when it launched back in 2011 with the exception of being able to skip cutscenes.”
  • story6 mentions

    The story of "Shadows of the Damned" is a mix of humor and surreal elements typical of Suda51's style, but it suffers from a lack of depth and coherence, often feeling disjointed and simplistic. While the narrative is entertaining in its absurdity, it is also described as threadbare and repetitive, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel janky and unpolished. Overall, the unique storytelling approach is appreciated, but it may not resonate with everyone due to its chaotic execution.

    • “It's like RE4 meets Suda51's crazy gameplay and storytelling with a very dope humorous approach.”
    • “It's pretty janky and I couldn't find any graphics options, but the story, setting, and gameplay more than make up for it.”
    • “The story is rather threadbare, puzzles are repetitive, and nothing ever truly *clicks* like it should.”
    • “Imagine a game where the story was written by a 14-year-old stoner.”
    • “I have to recommend Shadows of the Damned mostly because it's a Grasshopper/Suda51 game and I want those to sell, but it's a game that becomes increasingly difficult to play when you know the entire story behind it.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The optimization of the remastered version of "Shadow of the Damned" has been widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues, including frame rates dropping below 30fps and a lack of graphics and performance settings on PC. In contrast, previous titles from the same developer, like "Lollipop Chainsaw," had better performance, leading to disappointment among users with high-end hardware. Overall, the remaster's optimization appears to be significantly lacking compared to expectations.

    • “Lolipop Chainsaw Repop was another Suda51 game that barely had any issues when it came to performance, except on Steam Decks, so I do not know what went wrong with this remaster.”
    • “I played the original on release and this remaster is pretty much the same game, with improved performance.”
    • “The performance is absolutely terrible in the remastered version of Shadow of the Damned; my system is running 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 complete garbage on high-end graphics cards.”
    • “I don't know what went wrong with this remaster; Lollipop Chainsaw Repop was another Suda51 game that barely had any issues with performance, except on Steam Decks.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly at 4K/60 fps with minimal bugs reported. While some users noted a lack of video configuration options, the performance on platforms like the Steam Deck has been praised as reliable and enjoyable.

    • “This port is fairly barebones when it comes to video configuration, which I suspect will disappoint some folks, but I can say it runs great on the Steam Deck without any messing around.”
    • “The game maintains a solid frame rate throughout, providing a smooth experience even during intense action sequences.”
    • “I've encountered very few bugs, and the overall performance is stable, making for an enjoyable gaming experience.”
    • “There are no graphics options for the PC version; however, the game is buttery smooth and bug-free. The price is very fair, unlike the buggy, unplayable mess that was Lollipop Chainsaw Re-Pop, which I ended up refunding.”
    • “I think the price is great and the execution is also good - stable 4K/60 FPS, beautiful textures, and not particularly buggy (although I feel like my left stick is drifting...).”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, particularly for its stellar sound direction by Akira Yamaoka, which significantly enhances the immersive experience.

    • “The sound design by Akira Yamaoka is stellar and creates an incredibly atmospheric experience.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful, drawing you into its eerie world.”
    • “Every detail contributes to a sense of immersion that makes you feel like you're part of the environment.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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