Shadows of the Damned was released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2011 and by all accounts sold terribly. A collaboration between Suda51 and Shinji Mikami, on paper a project that should have sold decently: a surreal third-person shooter inspired by Kafka and straight-to-VHS junk? No wonder EA released it!
Well, actually, the trailer above — which celebrates the game’s imminent PC release — goes some way to explaining why it sold poorly. Console gaming in 2011 was all about macho, grey shooters, not anything else. It’s no wonder the game has since gained a cult following, so let’s hope the recent edition is better received in October when it launches on Steam.
While the trailer is certainly refreshing and stylish, it doesn’t quite capture how crass — or, let’s just say, downright stupid — Shadows of the Damned can be depending on the moment. The game walks a fine line between intentional and unintentional silliness, and while the art style, mood, and overall presentation are great, even brilliant, it’s definitely not a good shooter if that’s what you’re looking for.
It’s nice to see the game return, even if it wasn’t exactly what Mikami and Suda51 had in mind when they started. Mikami later lamented EA’s negative influence on the game’s development, while noting that if they had stuck to Suda51’s original vision, it likely would have sold even worse.
The recent version of Shadows of the Damned includes unspecified “new content,” New Game Plus, a few recent costumes, and is set to release on October 31. In related news, Lollipop Chainsaw Remaster is still on the way.
