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Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered

Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered

GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE INC. · released Oct 29, 2024

ActionAdventurePCPlayStation 5, PlayStation 4Xbox One, Xbox Series XNintendo Switch

Shadows of the Damned, an action-adventure road trip through hell, has been remastered at last! Get ready for a story about rock, love, and just a little bit of demon slaying.

80
VGC Score
·No trend datamedium confidence
80%
At launch
89%
Steam all-time
73%
Press
82%
Player sentiment
82%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)73105
All-time Steam reviews89%83321
Metacritic user ratings8218
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)82%753
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 9 reviews sampled · 8 total reviews in window · weighted 4.8 up / 1.1 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (68)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 100
    trust 77Nov 25, 2024

    Garcia Hotspur and Johnson return to the wanderings with Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered, a very good remastering that keeps the 2011 cult experience intact. A game with an author's imprint marked to the core deserves to remain as it was conceived by two geniuses such as Suda51 and Mikami. Because it is precisely all the good and the bad, its strengths and weaknesses, that make Shadows of the Damned a timeless cult videogame and an experience difficult to forget.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 77Oct 25, 2024

    It’s with all that in mind that it’s fairly easy to forgive just how little has been done to bring Shadows of the Damned up to code in 2024. Especially by contrast to the botched remaster of Suda51’s Lollipop Chainsaw, it’s almost a relief that the worst that can be said for this release is that it’s indistinguishable from the original, aside from a mild spitshine of the textures and it running at 4K60. Without trying to run an expensive graphical arms race, Shadows of the Damned is forced to stand on charm. Given just how many unique experiences exist outside the AAA bubble right now, the fact that Garcia Hotspur’s wild profane trash-sploitation adventure still does is a timely reminder of what can happen in the arena of AA games.

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  • 90
    trust 76Mar 28, 2025

    Shadow of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a successful remaster that deserves the attention of both fans of the original and new players. The game preserves the spirit of the original while modernizing it for today’s players. The story is engaging, the characters are likable, and the action is intense. While Hella Remastered has minor flaws, such as occasionally weak humor and lackluster new elements, overall it’s an excellent experience that I highly recommend to fans of survival horror action games. The game isn’t perfect, but it’s hellishly fun. Whether you’re a fan of the original or looking for a unique and fresh action game, Hella Remastered definitely won’t disappoint you. Get ready for a hellish ride full of blood, humor, and demons.

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    trust 76Oct 25, 2024

    A funny, goofy shooter that ultimately feels just as much of a missed opportunity as it did in 2010. Visual inconsistencies and frustrating mechanics aside, Shadows Of The Damned can still offer a good time for those looking for one, but it's a shame that this remaster doesn't do enough to polish Grasshopper's cult gem and make it palatable to modern audiences.

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  • 70
    trust 72Oct 28, 2024

    Really, Hella Remastered is probably the best example of a video game that knows that it’s a video game and runs with it to the point where it almost falls off a cliff. The involvement and expertise of Mikami and Suda prevents it from careening towards the ground, but it’s still a solid game at the end of the day. The gameplay has aged surprisingly well, and the visuals have finally outgrown the limitations of its seventh generation console bretheren. Just be sure to leave any high brow notions at the door and enjoy the ride.

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    trust 72Oct 25, 2024

    Shadow of the Damned is a rough diamond, with its raw edges adding to its charm. While more could have been done to modernize the experience, this is still the best way to enjoy Garcia's wild adventure. Those who own the original have little reason to revisit this reissue, but for newcomers exploring these infernal streets, it's highly recommended.

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  • 85
    trust 71Oct 25, 2024

    Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a proper comeback of a niche classic that maintains the essence of the original while modernizing it enough for newer audiences. Despite its minor technical flaws, it is a top-notch action-adventure escapade.

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  • 40
    trust 71Oct 29, 2024

    This underwhelming remaster of the cult classic action title keeps the crude humor and pockets of fun but retains the original's blemishes while adding in all new warts.

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  • 70
    trust 70Apr 4, 2025

    The off-colour humour won't be for everyone. Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is an unapologetically crass and vulgar action-horror game from another time. It is no surprise as to why it became a cult classic. Its gameplay is still stimulating and the art direction is way ahead of what's available on the market today. The gory imagery and cool designs made it resonate with gamers, and while the remaster is rather plain, New Game Plus, motion controls, and costumes breathe a little more life into it.

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  • 78
    trust 70Oct 25, 2024

    I would still recommend Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered to all audiences. Those who have already played it, like me, will have the opportunity to relive a classic. And those who are unfamiliar will finally be able to experience the antics of Garcia and Johnson.

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  • 70
    trust 69Oct 25, 2024

    Throw in the crisp texture work, blended with less impressive ones, and rock-solid performance with modern resolutions and frame rate, and you’ve got a winner.

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  • 80
    trust 68Nov 12, 2024

    Shadows of the Damned is the definition of a cult classic. The game is just fun, and I adore the wackiness I expect from Suda51 mixed with the core game design from MIkami. Toss in the excellent voice acting and score, and you have a game that should be a household name. Do not skip this title for a second time.

    read full review ↗

…and 56 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

No patch announcements found on Steam yet.