Info about Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered:

Official game description:
  
\- A hot-blooded, hellishly twisted, feverishly filthy, love and hate filled road trip  
Join the crass Garcia Hotspur and his boney buddy, Johnson, as they traverse the depths of the Underworld to steal back Garcia's kidnapped lover, Paula, from the clutches of Fleming, the Lord of the Underworld. Let the soul of rock 'n' roll run loose in the heart of the twisted hellscape that is the Underworld.  
\- Make it through fiendishly funky dungeons with the powers of light and dark  
The powers of light and dark pave your path forward. Like ravers in a nightclub, demons are emboldened by the dark, but grow weak when exposed to the light. Use your buddy Johnson to blast your way through the darkness of the Underworld.  
\- New content unique to the remaster  
• 4 all new costumes: Get dressed to the nines and kick some demon tail in style.  
• After your first playthrough, carry over your progress into new game plus and spend an eternity raising hell in the Underworld.  
\- A cult classic born from the most creative minds in the industry  
A third-person shooter crafted by industry legends Goichi Suda (No More Heroes, Killer7, etc.) and Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil, God Hand, etc.)

Release date: 30 Oct, 2024

Categories: Third-Person Shooter, Single-player Story, Environmental Combat, Puzzle Solving, Resource Management, Weapon Customization, Player Customization, Linear Progression


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Fun, engaging, and refreshing gameplay (weight 0.95): The game is consistently praised for being fun, enjoyable, and engaging, with many reviewers noting its unique charm and refreshing qualities, even years after its original release. It offers a satisfying and entertaining experience that stands out from more modern titles.
- Humorous story and charismatic characters (weight 0.55): The game's humor, characters, and story are consistently highlighted as strong points, with reviewers appreciating the witty dialogue, unique character designs, and engaging narrative. The game's blend of dark humor, mature themes, and charismatic characters creates a memorable and enjoyable experience.
- Dynamic gameplay and creative encounters (weight 0.24): The game offers dynamic and varied gameplay, with creative boss fights, unique enemies, and satisfying combat mechanics. Reviewers appreciate the game's ability to keep things fresh and engaging, avoiding repetition and providing a thrilling action experience.
- Excellent soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka (weight 0.19): The game's soundtrack, composed by Akira Yamaoka, is consistently praised for its quality and contribution to the game's atmosphere. Reviewers note that the music enhances the overall experience, creating a dark, mysterious, and unforgettable mood.
- Reasonable and fair price (weight 0.11): The game is considered to be reasonably priced, offering good value for the content provided. Reviewers are pleasantly surprised by the affordable price point, especially considering the quality and execution of the game.
- Similar to Shadows of the Damned (weight 0.09): The game is often compared to Shadows of the Damned, with reviewers praising its unique style, humor, and engaging gameplay. This comparison highlights the game's strengths and its appeal to fans of similar titles.
- New Game+ enhances replayability (weight 0.08): The addition of New Game Plus mode and skippable cutscenes enhances replayability and provides a more enjoyable experience for achievement hunters. Reviewers appreciate these additions, as they address some of the limitations of the original game and offer new ways to engage with the content.
- Gameplay similar to Resident Evil 4 (weight 0.08): The game's gameplay is reminiscent of Resident Evil 4, with some reviewers also noting similarities to Devil May Cry and No More Heroes. This comparison highlights the game's action-oriented combat and unique blend of horror and humor.
- Strong personal enjoyment and nostalgia (weight 0.07): These points express strong personal enjoyment and nostalgia, but lack specific feedback about the game itself.  Therefore, the importance score is reduced.

Common complaints:
- Barebones, lazy port/remaster (weight 0.91): The game is a barebones port, not a true remaster, with minimal graphical enhancements and lacking expected PC features. Many reviewers express disappointment, noting the absence of graphics settings, resolution options, and proper keyboard/mouse support. Some even suggest it's closer to an emulation than a proper port.
- Poor PC control implementation (weight 0.77): The game suffers from poor PC controls, particularly with keyboard and mouse. Reviewers cite the lack of key remapping options within the game, awkward default keybinds, and mouse input issues like acceleration and smoothing. Many recommend using a controller instead.
- Easy difficulty, grindy achievements (weight 0.7): The game's difficulty is considered too easy, even on the hardest settings, and the need for multiple playthroughs on different difficulties for 100% completion feels repetitive. Some achievements do not stack, requiring additional playthroughs.
- Outdated, poor graphics quality (weight 0.66): The game's graphics are outdated, with low-resolution textures and minimal improvements over the original release. Some reviewers found the visuals tiring or unpleasant, even on high-end PCs.
- General jank and bugs (weight 0.63): The game suffers from general jank, including bugs, glitches, and hit detection problems. These issues detract from the overall experience and contribute to a feeling of unpolished gameplay.
- Limited weapon/enemy variety (weight 0.09): The game features limited weapon and enemy variety, making combat feel repetitive and shallow. Some enemies are described as bullet sponges, further exacerbating the issue.
- Juvenile humor, poor writing (weight 0.09): The game's humor and writing are often described as juvenile, cringe-worthy, and immature. Some reviewers found the tone inconsistent and the characters uninteresting.
- Short, linear, cut content (weight 0.06): The game feels short and linear, with some levels feeling rushed or cut short. Reviewers felt that the game had more potential and could have benefited from more content and a greater sense of exploration.
- Poor audio balancing (weight 0.04): The game has poor audio balancing, with inconsistent volume levels in cutscenes and limited audio settings. This makes it difficult to properly adjust the sound mix and can lead to an unpleasant audio experience.
- Weak Suda51 game (weight 0.03): The game is considered one of Suda51's weaker works, with a simple plot due to creative restrictions. The humor and style don't feel authentic compared to his other games.

Gameplay feedback:
- Varied gameplay with light/dark mechanics (weight 0.29): The game blends third-person shooting with light/dark mechanics, puzzles, and varied level design. It incorporates mini-games and genre shifts to maintain player engagement. The core gameplay loop is functional, but not particularly innovative.
- Unique transforming weapon system (weight 0.13): The game features a unique weapon system centered around Johnson, a transforming skull companion. Players acquire and upgrade weapons, each suited for different combat scenarios, by defeating bosses and collecting gems.
- Similar to Resident Evil 4 (weight 0.12): Many reviewers compare the game's mechanics and feel to Resident Evil 4, noting similarities in controls and gameplay style. Some appreciate the sillier tone and more straightforward level design compared to RE4.
- Dynamic movement and QTEs (weight 0.04): The game incorporates rolls for dynamic movement and quick-time events in some sections. Rolling into enemies removes their shadow, providing both a defensive and offensive move that maintains combat pace.
- Costumes and New Game Plus (weight 0.04): The game includes unlockable costumes, some of which provide gameplay advantages, and a New Game Plus mode. These features add some replay value for players who want to experience the game again with added benefits.
- Resource management (weight 0.01): Resource management is a notable feature, with healing items including tequila, sake, and absinthe.

Performance notes:
- Generally good, stable performance (weight 0.35): The game generally runs well, often at a stable 60 FPS and sometimes higher, on a variety of hardware including the Steam Deck. Some players have reported experiencing occasional frame rate dips or stutters, while others have had flawless performance. The performance seems to vary depending on the player's setup.
- Limited graphics options on PC (weight 0.13): The PC port is described as barebones, passable, or simple, with a key issue being the limited or non-existent graphics options. Players are unable to adjust graphical settings beyond basic resolution or brightness, restricting customization.
- Runs well on Steam Deck (weight 0.05): The game is reported to run well on the Steam Deck, often without requiring any special configuration or modifications. This makes it a convenient and enjoyable experience for Steam Deck users.
- Missing features require mods (weight 0.03): Some features, such as PlayStation button prompts, resolution adjustments, and HDR support, are either missing or require the use of mods or third-party tools like SpecialK to function correctly. This indicates that the port is incomplete or lacks certain expected features.
- Isolated crashes reported (weight 0.03): A few players have reported experiencing isolated crashes or blue screen errors during specific sections of the game. While not widespread, these crashes can be frustrating as they may force players to replay entire chapters or sections.
- Minor graphical improvements (weight 0.02): Some reviewers noted that the graphics are very similar to the original 2011 version, with the resolution being changed from 4:3 to 16:9. This suggests that the remaster may not offer significant visual improvements.
- Minor subtitle/audio issues (weight 0.02): Some players have reported minor issues such as subtitles in cutscenes running too fast or minor audio problems. These issues are relatively minor and do not significantly impact the overall experience.
- Runs on old Unreal Engine (weight 0.02): The game runs on an old Unreal Engine, which contributes to its stability and sound quality. This is a positive aspect of the game's technical design.
- Controller drift experienced (weight 0.01): One reviewer reported feeling like their left stick was drifting. This is an isolated issue and may be related to the reviewer's hardware rather than the game itself.

Recommendations:
- Generally recommended and enjoyable (weight 0.64): The game is generally recommended, with many reviewers finding it enjoyable and worthwhile. Some suggest it's a must-play, while others recommend it, especially at a discounted price, citing good value and fun gameplay. Some reviewers express strong positive sentiment, while others are more reserved but still positive.
- Similar to Resident Evil 4 (weight 0.16): Many reviewers draw comparisons to Resident Evil 4 and similar games. They recommend it to fans of the genre or those seeking a similar experience. Some suggest it as a good alternative or a worthwhile experience for those who enjoy the RE4 style of gameplay.
- Remaster quality is inconsistent (weight 0.13): The quality of the remaster is a point of contention. Some reviewers consider it a solid or good port, while others describe it as a minimal effort or 'half-arsed' remaster, criticizing the lack of graphical options or keybinding settings. Some suggest managing expectations and treating it as a port of the original rather than a full remaster.
- Recommended for Suda51 fans (weight 0.08): The game is particularly recommended for fans of Suda51's work. Reviewers suggest that those who enjoy his unique style, humor, and world design will find the game worthwhile. Some consider it a must-have for Suda51 enthusiasts.
- Unique humor and gore (weight 0.08): The game's humor, gore, and over-the-top style are frequently mentioned. Reviewers highlight the blend of humor and grotesque elements, suggesting it's a key part of the experience. It is recommended for those who enjoy politically incorrect humor and gory action.
- Requires community fixes/mods (weight 0.02): Some reviewers suggest using mods or tweaks to improve the game experience. Specifically, they recommend using the PC Gaming Wiki for fixes to adjust the FOV and remove the vignette effect. They also suggest installing INI tweaks to uncap the FPS.
- Appeals to retro vibe (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for players who enjoy the vibe of the 90s/early 2000s. It offers a unique experience that is different from modern games.
- Better than Lollipop Chainsaw (weight 0.02): The game is considered better than the Lollipop Chainsaw remaster and is cheaper.
- Garcia Hotspur is worth playing (weight 0.02): The character Garcia Hotspur deserves better treatment and the game is worth playing, especially for those who have never played as him.
- Enjoyable demon-slaying action (weight 0.02): The game is still enjoyable with violence and gore, allowing players to enter Hell and massacre demons with bullets and fists. However, some suggest playing the original Painkiller instead.

Other player notes:
- Crude humor and controversial themes (weight 0.1): The game features a crude, campy, and over-the-top style with dark humor, phallic jokes, and intentionally provocative elements. Some reviewers note that the game's themes and dialogue would likely be considered controversial by modern standards.
- Notable creative team involved (weight 0.08): The game boasts a notable creative team, including Goichi Suda (Suda51) and Shinji Mikami, with monster/character designs by Kyu Hayashida (Dorohedoro). Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill) contributed to the fitting and enjoyable soundtrack and sound design.
- Direct port of original game (weight 0.07): The PC version is a direct port of the original console game from the PS3/Xbox 360 era, with no censorship or alterations. It retains the original's content and is not a remaster, simply a port to PC.
- Typical Suda51 weird experience (weight 0.05): The game is a typical Suda51 title, guaranteeing a weird and memorable experience. Reviewers suggest that players new to Suda51's work should explore his other titles like Killer 7 and No More Heroes.
- Includes Steam features, priced $25 (weight 0.04): The game includes standard Steam features such as achievements, cards, backgrounds, and cloud saves. The game is priced at $25.
- Adequate voice acting, fan dub available (weight 0.03): The voice acting is adequate, and the dialogues can be funny. A fan-made localization with voice acting is also available.
- Simple, mediocre story (weight 0.02): The story is simple, focusing on Garcia searching for Paula, and doesn't rely on complex dialogue or deep drama. Some reviewers consider the story to be mediocre.
- Sequel potential depends on sales (weight 0.02): The reviewer hopes the game sells well enough to warrant further updates and a potential sequel. Suda51 has also stated that a sequel is possible if the game sells well.
- Completion requires multiple playthroughs (weight 0.02): Weapons cannot revert to previous variants once changed. 100% completion requires playing each difficulty individually.
- Sound design reminiscent of Silent Hill (weight 0.01): The sound design is reminiscent of Silent Hill, with familiar yet unique sounds for menus, notifications, and interactions. This contributes to the game's overall atmosphere.
- Steam version may be overseas version (weight 0.01): The Steam version may be the overseas version, as the heroine's breasts are shown in a certain event, so live streamers should be careful.

Emotions:
No emotions}