Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered (Nintendo Switch) Review

Shadows of the Damned is a grindhouse-esque action game that follows demon hunter Garcia F. Hotspur as he ventures into the underworld to rescue his girlfriend, Paula, from the clutches of the powerful demon lord Flemming. The straightforward plot is enriched by its distinctive characters and surreal, often humorous take on Hell. Flemming, the antagonist, is a complex figure driven by a sense of betrayal, adding depth to the story while delivering some on-the-nose Freudian dialogue. The main draw is exploring Hell's diverse environments, and the macabre spectacle of Paula's multiple deaths contribute to its overall dark humour and over-the-top visuals.

Shadows of the Damned is a third-person shooter that draws heavily from the Resident Evil 4 template. Expect a typical third-person shooter with action prompts when shooting enemy limbs and contextual actions. While Garcia's ability to strafe adds a layer of mobility, the overall combat experience can feel somewhat sluggish and weighty to average modern gamers. The game's difficulty curve can be punishing, with enemies often overwhelming players with sheer numbers and aggressive tactics.

A distinctive feature of Shadows of the Damned is its light and darkness mechanic. Demons are vulnerable to light, and players must strategically use their light-based weapons to defeat them. This mechanic introduces a tactical element to combat, forcing players to adapt to changing circumstances. The gameplay mechanics and overall tone exhibit a deliberate homage to Resident Evil 4, with Suda51 and Shinji Mikami's distinct creative styles infused throughout. This influence is evident in the game's action-oriented combat, puzzle-solving elements, and horror-comedy elements.

Shadows of the Damned comes off as satirical and pokes fun at horror tropes and video game conventions. It features numerous humorous references to classic horror films, meta-humour, and absurd plot developments, which keep the adventure lively and players on their toes. Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered remains a fun and engaging romp, filled with intense combat encounters against grotesque, naked monsters. Players can dodge, roll, and melee their way through these battles, experiencing the same level of tension as the original game. It's the same core game as it was on seventh gen consoles.

Hella Remastered introduces several quality-of-life improvements, including a much-requested New Game Plus mode. This feature allows players to replay the game with their upgraded character, providing the opportunity to fully explore and master the game's mechanics without the limitations of the original's progression system. Other additional features include bonus costumes, which add some replay value. Sadly, no additional scenarios, chapter select, or multiple endings made it in.

A notable improvement is the integration of gyro-aiming, enhancing player precision and control over Garcia's accuracy. With the Switch Pro controller or Joy-Con, the gyro was unreliable and prone to drifting. The motion-aiming is more consistent while playing on Nintendo Switch Lite.

While the visual presentation remains largely unchanged, the remastered version benefits from improved lighting and reduced loading times. The distinctive art style and detailed character models continue to impress, though some texture issues persist. The Nintendo Switch version of Hella Remastered runs at 30 fps, which is close to what the original release had, albeit more consistent.