Resurrected from the shadows of the gaming past, Grasshopper Manufacture’s cult classic, Shadows of the Damned, is set to once again rear its demonic head in the gaming sphere.
Announced during the adrenaline-pumped excitement of the countdown to the Devolver Digital Direct, the remaster of this infernal title is “coming soon.” The devil, as they say, is in the details, and with the specifics like release date and platforms just right around the corner, there’s a ton of buzz for this upcoming project.
Shadows of the Damned, initially revealed in 2011 on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms, was a daring collaboration between two of gaming’s luminaries. The narrative wizardry of Grasshopper’s Goichi Suda, aka Suda51, married with the genre-defining production expertise of Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami, birthed a hellishly good third-person shooter. Notable for its twisted sense of humor and supernaturally infused, action-packed sequences, the game told the gritty tale of demon hunter Garcia Hotspur and his phallic-joke spouting sidekick, Johnson.
Diving into the grimy depths of the City of the Damned, Hotspur embarks on a perilous journey to rescue his abducted girlfriend. The demon-strewn path is far from straightforward, and players found themselves grappling with deformed creatures spawned from the bowels of hell, facing off against gruesomely challenging puzzles, and encountering uncanny obstacles at every grotesque turn.
Despite its macabre settings and narrative, Shadows of the Damned wields a wicked sense of humor that lingers in the memories of players. With its distinctive style, Shadows of the Damned gained cult status, noted for its non-stop action, relentless pacing, and unforgettable exploration of a Hell we haven’t seen before in the gaming landscape.
The announcement trailer showcases the game’s protagonist, Garcia Hotspur, wreaking havoc in Grasshopper’s office. This thrilling teaser promises a resurgence of Shadows of the Damned’s unique blend of the macabre and the humorous. More details on the remaster will be unveiled during the inaugural Grasshopper Direct on June 14th, adding a new layer of intrigue for fans waiting in anticipation.
The ownership rights to Shadows of the Damned had long been a matter of speculation among fans, with Electronic Arts originally serving as the publisher. However, the recent announcement confirmed Grasshopper Manufacture’s ownership of the IP, leaving Suda51 and his team free to revisit and reshape this much-loved title.
The prospect of revisiting this title, with potential updates, improvements, and innovations that modern gaming platforms can offer, is a thrilling one. As we await the return of Garcia Hotspur, one thing is certain – the underworld has never looked so inviting.
