Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 231 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • humor
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.
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"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.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 231 reviews
gameplay9 positive mentions
graphics8 negative mentions
  • Shadows of the Damned is a nostalgic and fun experience, blending dark humor with engaging gameplay reminiscent of Resident Evil 4.
  • The game features a unique and memorable soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
  • Despite being a barebones port, it runs smoothly on modern hardware and retains the charm of the original game.
  • The port lacks essential graphical options and customization, making it feel outdated and limiting for PC players.
  • There are frequent bugs and crashes reported, which detracts from the overall experience.
  • The humor and writing may not resonate with modern audiences, as it relies heavily on crude jokes and outdated tropes.
  • graphics59 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users expressing disappointment over the lack of customizable settings, such as resolution and graphical options, which are typically expected in a PC port. While some appreciate the unique aesthetic and smooth performance, others criticize the dated visuals and texture quality, questioning the value of a remaster that offers minimal graphical improvements. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game runs adequately, it falls short in providing essential graphical options for PC players.

    • “The aesthetics are all exactly to my taste, especially with the killer character designs from Q Hayashida and the incredible OST from Akira Yamaoka.”
    • “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.”
    • “There are zero graphic options which is flat-out disgusting, but I guess at least the game plays fine.”
    • “The fact that people are complaining about this blows my mind; it is $25, sure it is more of a port without graphical settings but the fact that people are complaining that it only runs at 60fps is crazy to me.”
    • “This port, sadly, does not have any graphics options.”
  • gameplay38 mentions

    The gameplay is a blend of classic third-person shooter mechanics reminiscent of Resident Evil 4, infused with unique elements and humor that keep it engaging. While some players note a lack of depth compared to earlier titles, the introduction of new mechanics and varied gameplay styles throughout the game helps maintain interest. Overall, it offers a fun, albeit occasionally clunky, experience that balances action with quirky storytelling and dark humor.

    • “If you dig into the mechanics, there's enough to keep you interested and mix up your play style - e.g. rolling into enemies removes the enemy's shadow, giving you both a defensive and offensive move in one that maintains the pace of combat.”
    • “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.”
    • “Overall, I've had my fun with it; the simple but unique presentation of the guns, using the light shot for puzzles and stunning enemies for quick executions, along with the witty dialogue between Garcia and Johnson, keeps the gameplay engaging.”
    • “The gameplay is serviceable for what it is, and though it lacks the depth you'd associate with older Shinji Mikami projects, it fits with the newer Evil Within style shallowness.”
    • “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.”
    • “While there is some typical teenage trash humor which is fine, the game mechanics are so sluggish that it rarely gets to be fun.”
  • humor35 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mix of crude, juvenile, and dark comedy, often relying on sexual innuendos and absurdity that some players find hilarious while others deem cringeworthy. Many reviews highlight the game's unapologetic approach to humor, with memorable characters and witty dialogue that contribute to its charm, though the reliance on outdated jokes may not resonate with all audiences. Overall, it appeals to those with a taste for irreverent and campy humor, reminiscent of adult swim parodies and cult classic films.

    • “The game's janky and breaks just often enough to be both a little grating and a little funny, but underneath the funk and crude humor lies a genuine sincerity and authenticity to the world and its characters.”
    • “The game is genuinely ridiculous and funny.”
    • “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, with goat heads as a natural light source and tons of other weird aspects that you'll get to experience during the adventure.”
    • “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.”
  • music23 mentions

    The music in the game, composed by Akira Yamaoka, is widely praised for creating an unforgettable atmosphere and enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, often referring to it as "amazing" and "top-notch," with some noting its unique qualities despite a perception of similarity to Yamaoka's previous works. Overall, the music is considered a major highlight, contributing significantly to the game's 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.”
    • “The soundtrack being composed by legendary Akira Yamaoka from Silent Hill is a major A+.”
    • “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.”
    • “I once bought the soundtrack for that song only to find out.”
  • story18 mentions

    The story of "Shadows of the Damned" is characterized as a bizarre and humorous journey, revolving around a classic trope of rescuing a kidnapped girlfriend from a demon. While the narrative is often described as minimal and cheesy, it effectively complements the gameplay, delivering a mix of dark humor and quirky characters that keeps players engaged. Overall, the storytelling is seen as entertaining and fun, though not particularly deep or serious, appealing to those who appreciate a lighthearted, arcade-like experience.

    • “The game does not waste your time and keeps you enough to tell its story.”
    • “This game's amazing music and funny story will stick with you forever!”
    • “It's like RE4 meets Suda51's crazy gameplay and storytelling with a (very dope) humorous approach.”
    • “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.”
    • “Game is meant to be wacky and all over the god damn place so don't go into it expecting Nier levels of story and lore, although you piss yourself laughing when it actually comes to the boss lore books in game.”
    • “Imagine a game where the story was written by a 14-year-old stoner.”
  • stability8 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while it runs smoothly on the Steam Deck with good performance metrics, many users report significant bugs such as texture issues and invulnerable bosses that disrupt gameplay. Some players find the PC version to be largely bug-free and stable, but the lack of graphics options may disappoint others.

    • “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.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The optimization of the remastered game has received significant criticism, with many users reporting poor performance, including frame rates dropping below 30fps and a lack of graphics and performance options on PC. Despite the game's visual appeal and engaging content, players with high-end graphics cards have expressed frustration over the subpar optimization compared to previous titles from the same developer. Overall, the remaster seems to suffer from serious performance issues that detract from the experience.

    • “I played the original on release and this remaster is pretty much the same game, with improved performance.”
    • “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.”
    • “The performance is absolutely terrible in the remastered version; 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 absolutely terrible on high-end graphics cards.”
    • “I don't know what went wrong with this remaster; Lollipop Chainsaw was another Suda51 game that barely had any performance issues, except on Steam Decks.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is significantly enhanced by Akira Yamaoka's exceptional soundtrack and sound direction, which together create an unforgettable and immersive experience. The environment design further contributes to the game's overall atmospheric quality, making it a standout feature.

    • “I would also like to mention the sound direction by Akira Yamaoka; it's stellar and atmospheric.”
    • “The soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka creates an unforgettable atmosphere that elevates the entire experience.”
    • “Above all else, Shadows is carried by its atmosphere and environment design.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    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 gameplay objectives.

    • “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 development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for its unique and striking character designs, complemented by an impressive 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 any of them.”
    • “I expected more depth, but the characters feel like one-dimensional stereotypes.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    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 quality.

  • grinding1 mentions

    Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, feeling that the tedious combat lacks meaningful rewards, such as engaging NPC interactions, which diminishes their motivation to continue.

    • “Now you might think, 'Okay, finally, I'm going indoors somewhere. However crude the setting, at least I'm going to meet some actual NPCs in the game, and I'll have a reason to go through all the tedious combat.'”
    • “The grinding feels endless, and it often seems like I'm just repeating the same tasks over and over without any real progress.”
    • “I find myself spending more time grinding for resources than actually enjoying the story or the gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

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