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Lately, many video game developers and publishers are playing the nostalgia card with modern remakes of classic beloved titles. For some smaller, not so popular titles, they often opt for a remaster instead, fine-tuning and updating certain aspects to enhance the game's overall appeal.
It seems that Grasshopper Manufacture, the developers responsible for Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered, thought in the same direction: to remaster the game from 2011 by only adding several new features, upscaling the resolution, and making some fine-tuning here and there.
While the intentions behind Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered were certainly good, the game suffers from an issue that’s hard to overlook in modern gaming: its outdated mechanics just don’t hold up today. As someone familiar with older games and their unique feel, even I found it unconvincing, struggling to make it through to the end.
You play as Garcia Hotspur, a very mean demon hunter who eats demons for breakfast, so to speak. After the encounter with the top-of-league daemon, Fleming, the Lord of the Underworld, who kidnaps his girlfriend, Paula, Garcia is left with no choice but to follow Fleming into Hell itself to save the love of his life.
But before entering the portal leading to Hell, Garcia picks up his loyal friend Johnson, a shapeshifting demon who will be his companion throughout his hellish adventures. Apart from being a very faithful companion, Johnson will also serve as a weapon, or weapons to be more precise, because he can shapeshift into many things, with very mean weapons being on the top of that list.
The story itself isn’t particularly remarkable, but it manages to keep you engaged with its mysterious tone, well-made plot setting that tells its own story, and very interesting dialogue between Garcia and Johnson with just enough dark humour that perfectly fits into this theme.
When I say that Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered feels outdated, I mean it quite literally—the mechanics truly show their age. For instance, aiming is so clunky that hitting fast-moving demons is nearly impossible, leading to a wave of frustration until you adapt—if you manage to at all.
Imagine old Resident Evil games such as Resident Evil 4 or 5 with fast-paced shooting mechanics, and you'll have a pretty accurate picture of how the gameplay of this game feels. You can still move while aiming, but movement speed and manoeuvrability are drastically reduced.
I believe Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered would have benefitted from a full remake, much like Resident Evil 4, incorporating new, modern mechanics. As it stands, it simply doesn’t meet today’s standards. Perhaps some might appreciate this approach, though I doubt it—but who knows?
Now that I’ve addressed the rough aspects of Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered, it’s time to highlight what it does well—most notably, its impressive level design and uniquely designed atmosphere.
Hell in this game is designed differently than in any other game that chooses to mingle with those devilish themes. Hell’s design is portrayed with a touch of dark humour, featuring details that are both grotesque and oddly amusing. Here, the main threat isn’t fire but darkness itself, which you must fight. This is where Johnson comes in, armed with special light bullets to dispel the darkness.
The darkness is highly dangerous here, and as long as you stay inside it, it will damage your health. To dispel it, you'll have to find a goat head and shoot it with a light bullet. Crazy, isn't it? Or, to progress through some areas, you'll have to find some fruits or other kind of food and feed it to a baby face that serves as a door lock. Everything in the hell's design in Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is as funny as it is genuinely disgusting.
I've already mentioned Johnson as Garcia's weapon. Well, Johnson can transform into three types of weapons: a pistol, a rifle, and a shotgun, and all three weapons can be upgraded through a very easy-to-use in-game interface. Ammo for the weapons can be picked all over hell and bought using special coins.
Regarding enemies, you'll fight mostly the same three types of demons that come to you in waves. Battles are chaotic and, as I said earlier, require a lot of time to get used to, but if you eventually manage to get familiar with combat, you can find enjoyment in it.
The bosses are well-designed, and each boss fight requires planning and strategy to win. Unlike the mindless demons who just run into your crosshairs, the bosses are a completely different story, and I can say that I really enjoyed all the boss fights, especially the last one.
Just as the mechanics have aged, so too have the graphics, which feel noticeably outdated. The original 2011 look has been preserved, with only a higher resolution and slightly sharpened textures—but without any additional effects. I won't question the developers' choices; it isn't my place to do so, but adding some modern effects won't hurt. At least the game would look way better, but it is what it is.
The sound design is excellent, featuring a hard rock-inspired soundtrack that perfectly complements the game’s atmosphere—fitting, as Garcia himself has the look of a rock band member.
Conclusion
As I played Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered, I found myself questioning what the developers truly aimed to achieve with this game. While loyal fans might still appreciate the original, the remaster offers little beyond a slightly enhanced visual look and higher resolution. With this approach, it’s unlikely to attract a new audience.
However, if this is your first experience with the game, you might appreciate its atmosphere, story, and unique sense of humour that leans towards the bizarre sometimes. If you can overlook the outdated mechanics and graphics, you might even like it. I have to admit, though, that it didn’t manage to impress me, not even the slightest.
The Good
Impressive level design and atmosphere- Unique dark humour and engaging dialogue
- Well-designed boss fights
The Bad
Outdated mechanics and clunky aiming- The graphics feel noticeably outdated
- May not attract a new audience
