Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army review: Ronin remake

by

Raidou Kuzunoha, often recognized as the “Cameo King” due to his frequent appearances, hails from a time when Atlus USA was still finding its footing in promoting their Megami Tensei RPG series, which features demons. Despite Persona becoming a massive success and Shin Megami Tesei expanding organically, spin-offs like Devil Summoner continue to face branding challenges, as evidenced by the recent launch of Soul Hackers 2. In this case, the game leans heavily on its title character and the term “Remastered” to create a title that combines elements from the North American PS2 release’s original name, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army.

Another zany history lesson, with your boy

Due to some confusion within the franchise, Devil Summoner has been moved out of its main title and into a subtitle.

Adding to the overall perplexity, the term “Remastered” appears somewhat misleading. While it’s undeniably based on a PlayStation 2 game, this isn’t merely an upgraded version with better graphics, a fresh user interface, and a few tweaks under the hood. This project might as well be labeled a remake, even if it doesn’t match the visual overhaul of the latest Persona 3 Reload. Despite maintaining a similar appearance to its original version, the entire combat system in Raidou Remastered has been almost entirely rebuilt. Given that Megami Tensei only has one action-RPG title, this isn’t just tinkering under the hood; Atlus essentially replaced the old engine with a new one.

Ok seriously, we need to figure this remake/remaster thing out

You might have a good idea about the gameplay style of the “cult classic PS2 action-RPG” Raidou, even if you haven’t played it. It was somewhat awkward and had both simple and overly complex aspects. As a product of the Megami Tensei series from the 2000s, it was particularly challenging in terms of managing Magic Points (MP), an area that modern Atlus has been working hard to adapt for contemporary, user-friendly audiences (shout out to Persona fans, I both admire and resent you). The sequel to Raidou attempted to address some issues, introducing additional actions for the player to perform with the buttons, while making MP management more of a risk/reward system rather than relying on items.

In simpler terms, Raidou Remastered appears to be similar to Raidou 2 in certain aspects but significantly alters other elements to give it a more retro feel while trying to blend modern gaming techniques. It’s reminiscent of the NieR Replicant remake in terms of vibe. The combat system and gun mechanics are different, and managing MP is further simplified to make the game easier. If you haven’t played the original Raidou, which was released before Persona 3, these changes might not seem significant. However, for those who appreciate video game history, this remaster offers an interesting perspective on the blurred lines between “remaster” and “remake.” The debate over their definitions is certainly not clarified by Raidou Remastered, but it does make for an enjoyable introduction to Atlus on the Switch 2, running just as smoothly as it does on a computer.

Raidou Kick! 

Raidou finds himself in an unusual predicament, stripped of his historical persona due to marketing blunders spanning several decades. Yet, he maintains an appealing aura, allowing him to rely on his own charisma for his comeback. It’s fortunate that he made an appearance in the remastered Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, and as downloadable content in other related games over time. By now, you might be wondering what this game is all about, and I can certainly relate. Navigating through something like this can be challenging, especially for a history enthusiast like myself. So, let’s take a ride – or should I say a “keyboard drive” – into the past to get a better understanding of this intriguing series.

Raidou Kuzunoha isn’t just a name; it’s a title passed down through generations of individuals who possess both technological prowess and supernatural abilities. They belong to an organization called Yatagarasu, which resembles a cult, and their role is to combat demons. As the latest bearer of

In my gaming world, I’m a mighty summoner, wielding a sword, a pistol, and mystical tubes that can capture demons, making them fight by my side in exchange for the thrill of battle – it’s like having my own Pokemon squad! I can command two demons in combat, letting them act independently or issuing precise orders. In times of danger, I can even gather them close for a defensive formation while I dodge those flashy, tricky attacks. The updated mechanics in this version have made managing MP a breeze, eliminating most of the strain from the original gameplay.

Demon days

Instead of a direct swap, the combat in this updated version is more intricate and offers numerous unique abilities, making you eager to experiment and discover what Raidou is capable of. Admittedly, his feats such as a Kamen Rider-like midair kick are impressive, but the combat still seems shallow despite all its added features. However, compared to the original version, which was more bothersome than anything else, it appears that attempting to modernize Raidou while staying faithful to the source material might have been a difficult task, given Atlus’ current position in the video game industry hierarchy.

Absolutely, in these Megami Tensei collaborations, the demon fusion is a crucial gameplay mechanic, serving as the primary resource for character progression. To enhance the experience and align it with other games, adjustments have been made under the hood. This includes expanding customization options for your team, making it less of a struggle against the older series’ rigidity. This trade-off seems more logical from an evolutionary standpoint, as it reduces friction.

What sets this apart is that each demon possesses skills beneficial to Raidou’s detective work outside of combat. Some demons can fly, others aid in investigations, and some help navigate obstacles that a typical human can’t. These abilities are less versatile than combat moves, but they ensure that your team management involves balancing both investigation and combat needs, if not favoring the latter. However, their use is primarily to meet narrative requirements. For instance, if a demon can’t fly, it can’t be sent over to a boat to bypass enemies. That’s about it.

During the PlayStation 2 era, Action Role-Playing Games (ARPGs) were a genre in flux. Games like “Devil May Cry” hadn’t yet defined the standards, and many titles lacked the depth and complexity we now expect. Raidou, a relatively obscure character, was part of this experimental phase, with intriguing concepts but limited scope for exploration. The remastered version, Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army, aims to introduce this vintage character to modern Megami Tensei fans. However, it hesitates to reproduce the original’s raw, innovative spirit while also being too cautious for a full-scale remake. The result is a hybrid update – not a faithful recreation nor a complete overhaul – which leaves us with something… peculiar! It’s an interesting twist, but certainly unusual.

On June 19, 2025, players can get their hands on Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army across various platforms including PC, PlayStation 4 & 5, Nintendo Switch and its upcoming version, Switch 2, as well as Xbox Series X|S. For this review, I was fortunate enough to receive codes for both PC and Switch 2, courtesy of the publisher.

Read More

2025-06-18 17:28