Deadly Individualism: Shadows of the Damned 

The development of this game sounds really sad and personal the way Suda tells it. Its a perfect example of why EA sucks as a publisher. Maybe he'll make the game he wanted someday.

Kurayami is easily one of the coolest games that never got made

I think it says something that from such a sorrowful beginning, Suda found a way to make a game he was happy with in the end. Usually this could bring the end of a project, but Suda found a way to create something new and still keep his original dream for another time.

Shadows of the Damned made me a fan of Suda 51 but I'm still sad that his original vision didn't went trough

Suda deserves what Kojima achieved, getting his own studio where he makes the games he feels completely happy with

"That guy was nearly indestructible!" "No...he was weak. See what's left of him? You do not become chopped meat if you are stronger than they are!" That exchange always stuck with me. Appearances and predictions are worthless. In fighting and in life, the result is the only thing that matters.

I always liked this game because it had a lot of Suda's bizarre style in it, but after hearing the original idea for Kurogane I want to see that even more; It sounds like a kid between ICO and Silent Hill.

Like all Suda 51 games, Shadows of the Damned is Criminally Underrated, I know it most likely will never happen but SOTD and Lollipop Chainsaw Deserve Remasters

Weirdly enough, this is one of my favorite games from last gen xD

This game is underrated! I bought it used for under $5 and had more fun than I expected to have :)

This guy is way too underrated if you ask me

I love this game. I played through it so many times. It felt like the real Resident Evil 5. The boss fights were excellent, the puzzles were super interesting, and Suda’s style made everything so interesting. Fantastic game.

What Suda says about the project is truly heartbreaking.😔 Having a passion project being twisted into something from what it oringnaly was because the publisher says it won't make sense, and people of the west need GUNS because USA!😠 I really hope Suda can one day be able to make the game he wanted. Also man this series is amazing keep up the awesome work.👍

I've really been enjoying this series. cool to see an actual analysis of this game as well as original research on its development beyond "EA made it bad", helped me appreciate this game a lot more. can't wait for whenever you'll do a video on the Kill The Past games, hands down my favourite out of all of suda/GHM's projects. shame we never got twilight syndrome. awesome video!

I love Steve, but that original voice actor sounds badass with his enthusiasm

Right after Brit's vid on Suda...

i liked the game a lot, but after hearing this behind the scene stuff i wonder how the game could really be and how can someone still trust EA (or activision) as a publisher

I was _just_ thinking about how it had been a minute since I’d seen one of your videos pop up in my feed, hooray! This is a great series, well done as usual.

I remember quitting this halfway through and being really disappointed with it. I think this was my first Suda game. I tried Killer 7 a couple years later and was glued to the screen till the end

Suda 51 sounds like a beautiful cinnamon roll of a man.

Even though it may not be his original vision, I personally love the game. The setup is kind of cliche, but then everything is inverted and turned sideways.

I'm really loving this series man, keep up the good work! 👍

I love this game, it's world and even it's overt dumb sexual humor, it's such nice, direct fun that even while flawed, I hope it gets more love, even from the developers... Still, what a shame about the production...

*I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS*

This video has become way more relevant this past week

Most coolest and underrated channel on RU-vid, massive respect to you because of your research. Keep it up!

It’s cool that suda mentioned he wanted to have a sort of horror manga look and they got q hayashida to do some designs

I love your video essays. It's extremely apparent that you put a lot of effort in to them and that you enjoy them. I hope you get more views!

EA: asking for everything and giving back nothing

I'm a month late but I'm happy I finally saw the video. The video is pretty important if you played the game and even just a little like Suda or wanted to know how EA actually treated another developer. Thank you for the coverage. Though I actually really really liked the game, being a big fan of Suda and, Grasshopper as a hole, it hurts hearing what happened.

27:50 no disrespect to Steve blume but god damn the original actor sounds better I think.

Dude I'm loving your Suda51 series!! Can't wait for Killer is Dead

Dang this must be the dark part about suda's lifework. but good video anyway.

these videos make my day when I get the upload notifications

Good to see you working with Fungo. He's a good lad.

I'll say this I love your insight on the Suda games. Being Suda fanboy(never played his first games but killer 7 hooked me even tho everyone I knew hate it.) It's nice to see someone talk about em

The first game I got all the achievements for, awesome game that I would recommend to everyone!

My fave is still is the harmonica guy. I kept bursting out laughing, hearing him stumbling around in the distance. I wasn't even mad about dying because being beaten to death with this dumb harmonica playing was so funny to me. And the backstory to him is messed up but fun.

Such a amazing video. Thank you very much. I personaly think this game is special.

I loved this game but it always breaks my heart to think about the actual development process. I'm surprised Suda brought it back at all in Travis Strikes Again.

Sad this game was butchered by EA. The original version sounded way more interesting. Even the gameplay does not have much unique. Like I like some of the style but just isn't Killer7 or No More Heroes and we'll probably never get an actual Suda game again.

For some reason I always thought Grasshopper made both Shadows of the Damned and Neverdead since they're so similar.

BTW Paula is not a descendant of the old Demon Huntress, she IS that Demon Huntress, as you stated she managed to escape somehow and ended up in a dumpster, García found her and took her, now Fleming just reclaimed her back.

*MAH BOI! this vid was lit*

I have to finish this game before I watch this but thanks for the video!

I loved this game. I know Suda hated it but I liked it.

YAAAAASSSS Finally!!!!

An hour dedicated to Shadows of the Damned and the promise of No More Heroes videos in the past?? Instant subscribe my friend, good work!

U just earned a sub love your vids

If we get a remaster with motion aiming as an option, I know I would buy it. I know that Suda kept the rights to it and not EA, thank god

i hope kurayami gets its own opportunity to finally come to fruition

I loved this game. needs to get put on steam.

I may be reading to much but i always feel like this game its about leaving with someone with selfloading, whole Paula thing makes me think about selfloading, and the ending them the whole thing about she wanting to die, and attacing Garcias because he's someone that keeping saving her and there for let her keeping sofering, and how they cant actually have peace because there's gonna have demons around her

While I know Lollipop Chainsaw is next on the timeline, I'm actually looking forward to your thoughts on Killer Is Dead. I go back and forth on that game, personally, on how much I like it...

Brilliant series

I really wish Kurayami ended up getting made, but hey, it's not all bad, at least we ended up getting Kurayami Dance.

I fucking love these suda51 videos, are you gonna do Travis strikes again after that drops?

That's honestly not a bad voice for Garcia, I don't know where they got that "didn't understand him" from since I clearly did, but whatever I guess, Steve did do an adequate job as always.

Damn, I loved this game.

Played SOD many times, usually high AF, I know it might not be perfect but I really like it

i been waiting for this!

I never even dropped this game, it wasn't bad enough. Just forgot that I had it. Kinda sad, but also yeah, whatever - serves Sudo right for messing with them corps. Lesson, hopefully, learned. edit: to my surprise, I really liked the lore examples in the video, Suda's vision of hell is suitably cruel! really cool stuff

You need more views, not for fame or money (although no problem with either of those lol) but just because these videos are so well put together and entertaining. Reminds me of another person... Also Evil Within is a game that needs more love. Not an absolutely perfect game obviously, but such an awesome and unique game with similar Resident Evil 4 elements that a lot of people wrote off because the character animations were sub-par and story wasn't conventional. Not nearly as hidden/unappreciated as Suda's work, but another series that is buried by the sheer amount of all the other crap out there.

Guns, violence, blood, gore, etc. seems to be a mainstay in the West, particularly America. But why? The moment EA is introduced to an idea that's slower-paced, more methodical, and not outright violent, they just throw it out the window. The original game sounds amazing. I've seen Shadow of the Damned in stores time and time again, but it's just never looked very appealing. It never felt like a game that was worth playing. Granted I am not usually a fan of guns in video games anyway (unless it's something like Devil May Cry or Bayonetta where a "hack and slash" style is at the forefront) but the initial game seems like something only an indie developer would come up with. I say this because more often than not, indie devs have the most creativity. They're often not seeking to appeal to a mass-market, whether they don't expect to or whatever the case may be. Because of this, those developers get more leeway, more adaptability. They may try to go along with trends, but a lot of the time they will come up with something unique. That is what the original game sounds like it could have been -- except from a bigger developer! Imagine a bigger developer with access to companies like EA making a dark and twisted game where the setting is in a town where you do have to befriend NPC's, survive in various ways, and only have a torch or something to defend against the deadly perils of night and the dark itself. Imagine the puzzle elements that could have been implemented. Does it not seem like an indie game in and of itself? But instead, someone with more talent and creativity and even the means to be better able to create that kind of game had the idea! And yet, it still didn't get made because EA only cared about the trends at the time (and arguably, the ones that persist to this day). If I'm being honest, the initial game concept really reminds me of a game called Folklore, which also went outside of gaming trends in its own ways. Not many people know about it, but the ones that do know it's a gem of a game, one that probably didn't get much coverage at the time just because it was a tad different than what a Western audience would have enjoyed. Instead of taking risks, video game publishers, and perhaps the very developers most of the time, want to to make things that are guaranteed to sell. They don't want to skimp out and make something completely different, something that might not even make much money. But if you don't take risks, you won't know one way or another, right? Long story short, this is a tragedy to see. Ironically, this video does make me want to play Shadow of the Damned out of sympathy for the developers that got their initial ideas corrupted and destroyed.

That bit about the castillian actor kinda makes sense given how different the delivery and intensity is for the line of "My name is Garcia Hotspur. Hunter of Demons." which then becomes "My wrath is your hell" in the first teaser trailer : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-MTkcLRjzR9U.html like you point out. It's too bad that the final version doesn't even come close to the original's intensity but I suspect that has to with more than just Steve Blum's late entry into the project, ability to keep up the accent and the direction they gave him but also the tone of the whole thing since the music is more horror-esque instead of the heavy punk that played in the trailer and captured a very unique feeling of both rage and fear, which changes in subsequent trailers that still have the first actor. As for the Paula idea being you gun or something...that's the one instance I'll agree with EA because when your idea sounds like the Silent Hill fanfiction Linkara wrote and filmed, you gotta take a step back and think about what you're doing. Given that we see Puala gets red hair at some point, it's not exactly re-incarnation or descendant, more likely she's the same demon hunter from all these years. Also, that utter butchering of the "Dorohedoro"...yikes.

I really enjoyed the og actor for garcia wished he stay till the game but he and the replaced actor both do a good job! Im excited for the remaster.

One of my ex-coworker friends was one of the western devs who was brought in to help on the game. He had a lot of interesting stories to tell about this game's development.

suda needs to remake or remaster this game.

Not sure if you know about it already but the game is getting remastered

Great vid. Subbed

This game and Kurayami as a whole…man, they’re fascinating. From the original concept of Kurayami to the hellish development of Shadows of the Damned…god, I feel bad for everyone involved. Gotta say, after finishing the game recently myself (god bless RPSC3) and watching this, it really made me open up my eyes to how hard it really was to make a gam. It sure makes Travis Strikes Again sting a bit more in the feels for me than it already did, even as someone who simply enjoys the medium like Travis himself does. The development of this game and is equally as a bittersweet as TSA’s somber ending…heh… Also yeah, Kurayami Dance ROCKS! Lots of SUDA fan service and the story, characters, writing and *especially* the visuals are wonderful. Glad SUDA got to express his ideas *somehow* in the end. …Couldn’t get Black Knight Sword to look correct on RPSC3 (graphical glitches, yaaaay), so I’m trying it on Xenia and seeing what happens, I need to see the idea of Kurayami to its end…unless SUDA ends up making Kurayami somehow despite everything he’s done to express it through different means…wouldn’t that be something!

You impress me. The editing is great, but I especially love the use of sources to support your points. Heck, my jaw dropped when you referenced archive.org; it really shows a dedication to preserve the history and obtain as complete of a picture as possible. I'm curious: are there other games, franchises, or other developer works that you're interested in researching like this?

If this was published by EA, then we have to be more grateful by the fact that they didn’t forced suda to turn this into a mobile game

I too agree the words "speedrun" and "Final Fantasy" do not go together.

I would love to see this game come back made by Suda where he gets to make a game with more content that's more polished, that and kuryami would be amazing to see someday

The fans tried to warn him about EA, really sad he had to learn the hard way

The game is what it is but the voice acting is really amazing for how messed up the development was.

Very informative and great video as always, Ghenry. I'll probably try out this game sometime. EA is just a really shitty company.

...marketing is important. Travis strikes again comes out next month and we barely know anything

When it's killer is dead turn i am expecting something similar or even better than the killer 7 Episode

After falling in love with Killer7 as a kid, and spending long weekends with NMH1&2, I picked up this game for $10 and while I didn't hate it, it felt extremely... meh. Sad to hear how different it was planned to be

Never got to play this game, I wanted to but i was broke as a young man. Now its just not available.

this game was amazing

I was into the whole EA Originals program, even though none of them sold and all productions went through hell. Activision tried to publish small projects under New Sierra, remember? I didn't buy Shadows of the damned, since I can't play shooters with a controller. Picked SotD up at a used game store, but like Capcom and Killer 7, a Remaster with PC release would be the only chance. Pretty slim with the rights situation. Excellent insight, pacing and use of music, Ghenry. edit: All prelease talk is marketing. We get the whole picture later in interviews and GDC talks.

If anything, this shows that triple A gaming is truly an industry. Not about the art, but just a money making machine. Create success. Fuck your vision.

it sucks that korayami never came through, but I dont think itd be my kind of game. SotD definitely is tho so I'm glad he can still make korayami one day but we still get this

This video is a 10/10 just because you used "21st century digital boy" by bad religion at the end

The development of this game baffles and angers me so much. Why did EA accept Suda's help, but change so much that they might as well not have used him? Well that is what you get when a publisher was created because the founders thought the industry would make them rich

Hell yeah

I disagree with the marketing. I saw it EVERYWHERE on ad banners online, pretty sure I saw some trailer at release, and there was plenty of prerelease info I heard about even though I wasn't trying to look into it and hadn't heard of Suda at the time. Of course I didn't buy the game because the design of the whole game looked very basic with a story that clearly had no depth. Some of the art style looked interesting but even in trailers and screenshots the game looked way too dark all the time

This reminds me of The Darkness

Suda makes some of the most interesting games. Some hit the mark and are great, some miss the mark and are not that great, but as far as I can remember there aren’t any really awful ones...

thanks for this exhaustive video. I’d always j own it was a troubled production, but I hadn’t heard some of the more in-depth details. I loved this game for the music, art style, and writing and I never made connections between it and re4 (which at this point in history, I find unplayable due to dates controls). To me, there’s a bigger disappointment in that Shadow’s somewhat spiritual successor (at least in art and time) is the awful pay to win Let It Die (I agree with everything Super Bunny Hip days about it).

Even with all of that said, I still love Shadows of the Damned. I would say it's my favorite of Suda 51's titles. Yeah, maybe it's not the game he wanted to make, but it still turned out to be something special. I just wish they could have made a sequel or a remaster. If they refined of the gameplay mechanics and gave it a NG+, it would probably be one of my favorite shooters.

Whoof. I love Shadows of the Damned, but I had no idea that EA stomped on Suda's vision so badly.

You deserve way more subscribers

I think.... I think I saw a Shadows of the Damned in one of the Famitsu magazine I was standing reading during my trip in Japan.

Marketing is naturally a scummy industry, but it is necessary to compete

I had this on Xbox 360, but I switched to PC gaming shortly after buying it and never really played it. I really wish they’d port it to PC one day.

Hey, just wanted to say I love your videos. I'm a huge Suda51 fan. I was wondering if you were going to do a video like this for Killer Is Dead and Travis Strikes Again.