The original Raidou Kuzunoha game is a cult classic, but it’s a game that many current JRPG fans have played. Now though, fans of the genre, especially those into the Megami Tensei genre, are in for a treat. That’s because RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is available now, and it features a wealth of additions and enhancements, making it the new definitive way to experience the classic PS2-era RPG.
To be exact, RAIDOU Remastered is available on PC and all major consoles. Yes, that includes the Switch 2. For those who are unfamiliar, or for those who want to know more about the game before jumping in, here’s a quick rundown of everything you need to know about RAIDOU Remastered, including details about its gameplay and story.
Before we get to those though, let’s talk about the original game to give you a better idea of what this remaster brings to the table.
What Exactly is RAIDOU?
In case you haven’t played the first game, Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army was released for the PS2 back in 2006. As its title implies, this is part of the Devil Summoner series (alongside Soul Hackers), meaning it’s also part of the overall Megami Tensei franchise. Since the game’s PS2 launch in 2006 in Japan, the game has also been ported to the PS3 in its original form, though it was only released on the PlayStation Store.
Whats New About the「Remastered」Version？
Because the game has not gotten a re-release since then, ATLUS’ RAIDOU Remastered is a welcome release. Aside from finally making the game playable on modern consoles, this remaster also features a wide array of enhancements that promise to transform the game into a more contemporary experience.
While the word “Remastered” in the title implies that this is mainly a re-release with a visual refresh, that’s not the case as the changes here are pretty significant, though the game should still be true to the original.
For starters, the game features enhanced visuals that do more than just upscale the resolution. Instead, a lot of effort went into updating the graphics for this remaster, with the game featuring big updates to a wide array of assets and textures. The visual facelift doesn’t just extend to in-game characters and environments as even the game’s UI has also gotten a big upgrade, making the game look more like a modern title.
There’s also the fact that this game features a lot of voiced dialogue, featuring some of today’s most popular voice actors. Given that this game is a story-driven experience, having full voice acting makes for a much more immersive and engaging time, allowing you to better absorb the game’s interesting story.
On top of the visual and voice acting upgrade, the RAIDOU Remastered also features an active combat system that has gotten some tweaks to make it feel more dynamic to play.
Discovering the Remastered Combat System
As RAIDOU Remastered is part of the larger Megami Tensei franchise, it should come as no surprise that it features plenty of familiar mechanics, including the ability to attack and summon demons to aid him in battle.
The key difference in RAIDOU Remastered is that this is not a turn-based RPG. Instead, it features a more action-heavy real-time combat system, making this a much faster affair. Battles take place in enclosed arenas, and while there, players can attack various enemies, all while summoning demons to aid them in battle. Thanks to the real-time combat system, this should give a fresh experience for Megami Tensei fans.
What’s also great is that the remaster allows players to summon two demons in battle instead of just one. This might seem like a small change, but it helps a lot in making battles look and feel more dynamic, especially as choosing the right demons to summon from your arsenal is now much more involved. Plus, the remaster has with many being familiar faces from Shin Megami Tensei V. As such, this should be an extra treat to players who have played the latest mainline Shin Megami Tensei title.
The demon mechanic isn’t important in battle only as the game also features an in-depth demon fusion system. Megami Tensei and Persona fans should be right at home here as fusing demons is a fun way of powering up your combat abilities. You won’t just rely on demons though as the player also has access to various techniques that can help in a pinch when in combat.
A Good Starting Point to Enter the World of ATLUS RPGs
While RAIDOU Remastered is part of the overall Megami Tensei franchise, playing the SMT or Persona games isn’t a requirement to enjoy this. In fact, given its real-time combat, this is actually a pretty good starting point for those new to ATLUS RPGs, especially considering that it tells a stand-alone story.
This game is set in an alternate version of Japan’s Taisho period (1930s) and it follows Raidou Kuzunoha XIV. Despite his young age, Raidou Kuzunoha XIV is a detective and a Devil Summoner, and he works at the Narumi Detective Agency. Raidou is also assigned to be the protector of Tokyo, meaning his task is to make sure the capital is safe from demonic attack.
One day, a young schoolgirl named Kaya Daidouji approaches Raidou and the agency with a bizarre request – Kaya wants them to kill her. Before Raidou can know about the request further, Kaya is kidnapped by mysterious figures. Soon, this abduction turns into a massive crisis that threatens to plunge the country into chaos. As this crisis progresses, Raidou will also meet a wide array of colorful characters, including the Russian historical figure, Rasputin. In this game, Rasputin is also a Devil Summoner.
The detective story makes the game interesting from the get-go, but what makes the game even more intriguing is its Taisho Period setting. After all, this is quite an interesting time in Japan’s history, not to mention a visually striking one, given that this period features a unique mix of old Western and Japanese architecture and other elements. Players will become intimately familiar with this setting, especially considering that exploration is a key mechanic in RAIDOU Remastered
Exploration is a Key Feature
While combat is an aspect of the game that will appeal to many players, the game’s exploration is also a major feature. This is thanks in large part to the investigation aspect of the game. After all, Raidou Kuzunoha XIV is a detective along with being a Devil Summoner.
The demons in Raidou’s arsenal aren’t just useful for combat, they also play big roles in investigations. As Raidou delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Kaya Daidouji, he will need to use demon allies’ powers. For instance, some demons can uncover hidden objects, while others have unique abilities that can help propel the investigation forward.
Because investigation requires players to keep an eye out for new clues, the game’s Taisho Period setting isn’t just there to go through as you’ll have to be active in searching the various locales. For those who have visited Tokyo (whether in real life or virtually) the game’s Taisho Period Tokyo setting should also be fun to visit. After all, the places in this game are based on real-life neighborhoods in Tokyo, though their presentation in this game is charmingly retro.
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is Now Available on Consoles and PC
The original Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army was a fun and unique entry in the Megami Tensei franchise. Now, with ATLUS’ RAIDOU Remastered, fans can finally experience this game’s real-time RPG combat system in the best way possible, complete with great visuals and full voice acting. Plus, the game’s story has an intriguing central mystery, not to mention a charming Taisho Period setting.
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is available now on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, Switch 2, and PC. For more information, check out their official website and follow Atlus SEA on Facebook.
*The Nintendo Switch 2 version will be release on the same date as the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2.