Review of Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered

Fascinating concepts hindered by average gameplay.

In the initial 10 minutes of the game, your first reaction will likely be, “What the heck?” There’s no other way to portray this game with its combination of childish, mature humor and twisted, sickly ideas. That is not to imply that it is of poor quality. The majority of the humor in the game is juvenile and disgusting, making it impossible not to chuckle. Johnson’s Boner Gun is absolutely hilarious. First and foremost, I must mention that the narrative is quite enjoyable when it is clear and uncomplicated. As you delve into the game, you take on the role of Garcia Hotspur, a Mexican hunter of demons with a demonic sidekick in the shape of a floating skull known as Johnson. I wasn’t a fan of Garcia’s profane action hero character, but I thought Johnson stood out in the performance. He is a sophisticated demon from Britain who uses polite language and provides a stark contrast to Garcia, making him more charming and entertaining to hear. Garcia is attempting to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend, Paula, from the evil demon lord Fleming, and naturally, you accompany him as he ventures into the depths of Hell.

That’s pretty much the extent of the story. There is a slight surprise at the end once the credits roll, but once you witness it, you won’t be shocked by its occurrence. The primary highlight is the interaction between Garcia and Johnson and the narratives you encounter in the game. Some of these caused me to burst out laughing because they were hilarious. Aside from the plot, I must admit that I am a big fan of the weapons in this game. The creators make it mandatory to utilize all three, however, they have been significantly enhanced.

Your pistol is Boner, your machine gun is Teether, and your shotgun is the Skullblaster. The upgrade is possible through acquiring blue gems dropped by bosses. Boner transforms into Hot Boner, gaining the ability to place explosive mines; Teether receives a homing upgrade; and Skullblaster will later gain the ability to produce giant bombs. Red gems are scattered all over for you to enhance your weapons and improve your health. Garcia drinks alcohol to self-medicate because supposedly, alcohol sustains life in Hell.

The game revolves around a concept of light versus dark gameplay, and it functions effectively. In times of darkness, your health declines, and you must shoot a goat candelabra to bring back the light. Yes, it’s strange, and that’s just the start. Gate keys are made by inserting strawberries, eyes, and brains into eerie baby faces which are protecting the gate. One stage features you strolling across a massive, unclothed Paula. The game consistently provides eccentricity, which is what makes it enjoyable; after all, it is a Suda 51 game, what else would you anticipate?

There are a couple of puzzles included that could be enjoyable as they are simple. I was able to complete this game without needing a guide. Light and darkness are essential in defeating the boss fights as well. In low light, only the vulnerabilities of foes are visible, thus necessitating fast shooting to avoid death. This may seem frustrating, but it is actually not. You receive a shield of darkness that runs out before your health begins to decrease. The enemy’s design is quite wild, yet it keeps repeating itself. I grew weary of constantly battling the identical demons.

The entire game is generally monotonous as it recycles a limited number of elements in various combinations. The 2D shooting levels were the idea I liked the least. These were annoying and seemed like unnecessary additions. I didn’t really enjoy the boss fight on the third level, even though it was supposed to be fun.

Once you finish the 8-hour game, there is no motivation to replay it. It’s disappointing that there are no multiplayer or extra modes available. I suppose you can gather all the red gemstones if you wish, but what’s the point? This weekend rental or bargain bin purchase is simply for fun, no more, no less. I would have enjoyed this more if it didn’t have so much repetition and those unnecessary 2D levels. Garcia is a challenging character to warm up to, and the narrative is plain and direct. In general, this game is well-made and very enjoyable. Just note that not everyone may find mature content suitable.