Hands-on with Raidou Remastered: A Cold Case Re-opened

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Recently, RPG Site was fortunate enough to test out Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army, Atlus’ fresh take on their PS2 archive. To me, this seems more like a remake than just a remaster as defined in its title. Over the years, the difference between these two terms has become somewhat unclear, but what truly matters is how significantly this game has been revamped compared to other high-definition remasters they’ve released. Unlike Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster, which was essentially a polished PS2 game, Raidou Remastered feels like a complete recreation of the original Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army.

I got the opportunity to try out an early version of the Steam edition of the game, from the prologue all the way through Chapter 2. If you’re interested in learning about the game’s performance on the Steam Deck, check out Mikhail’s review here. I was allowed to experiment with various features and explore the opening sections of the game, but I hit a wall at a specific point and couldn’t go any further. During my playtime, I tackled almost all the side missions in both chapters, clocking in around seven hours of gameplay. Additionally, I took advantage of the situation to revisit the initial stages of the original PS2 version of the game, which I hadn’t touched since I first became a fan of this series in the early 2010s.

In essence, it appears that this remake is staying true to the original game’s storyline, with only minor alterations to accommodate the new systems and features. The locations, activities, and even the enemies in the bathhouses remain similar to the original experience. A notable improvement is the inclusion of new voice acting, which I found quite appealing, especially the English cast. However, it remains to be seen how everything will unfold in the complete version, but Raidou Remastered seems dedicated to recreating the exact events of the initial game as accurately as possible.

In other words, the minor aspects of those events have been completely transformed, resulting in Raidou Remastered feeling like an entirely new game, albeit one that retains the essence of its original self. Upon completing the provided demo content, I spent approximately an additional hour meticulously observing all the subtle mechanical changes between the initial version and the remake. Admittedly, I might not have captured every single difference, but it’s remarkable how the experience still felt true to Raidou. The “remaster” combines elements from both “Soulless Army” and its sequel “King Abaddon”, while also providing a contemporary facelift, making it a unique gaming experience unlike any other ATLUS remake I’ve encountered.

In both chapters I participated in, Raidou and his chatty feline companion Gouto travel through Taishō Era Tokyo solving unexplained supernatural phenomena. As a Devil Summoner, Raidou has the power to utilize demons captured during battles to aid in case-solving. Depending on the type of demon summoned, certain NPCs can have their thoughts read, spirits ignited or cooled down. In the remastered version, if you possess the right kind of demon that aligns with an NPC’s action, the game will automatically summon it for you. The original feature of sending your Demon on a Solo Investigation, which is reminiscent of ADV-style puzzle-solving, remains intact. Watching a flying demon retrieve a boat lodged at the river’s end brought a smile to my face.

In the original PlayStation 2 version, the map screens were depicted using pre-rendered backgrounds with fixed camera angles, similar to classic survival horror games like the initial Resident Evil series. The team behind this remaster has now redesigned every map screen in fully 3D format, showcasing incredible detail. Although the overall lighting has been adjusted, leaning more towards purples rather than greens, the new 3D design still successfully recalls the original PS2 version. It seems that the way they shade the buildings may have been done deliberately to mimic the appearance of old pre-rendered 3D graphics, but with a modern touch. I’ve found myself spending a significant amount of my time just wandering the streets of Tsukudo-cho and admiring the scenery. The removal of random encounters, which were quite frequent in the original game, has made this experience even more enjoyable.

In the remastered version, the combat has been significantly expanded and revamped, bearing little resemblance to the original game’s battle system. It’s been refined to be more akin to “Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon“. Instead of just one attack button and an elemental gun, the remastered version offers both light and heavy attacks. The light attacks are used primarily to fill up your MAG meter, which is essential for your summoned demons to launch attacks in battle. To keep your demons effective, you’ll need to consistently land these weaker attacks to maintain a steady supply of MAG. Fights are now faster than ever but remain just as perilous.

In this game, you can use your gun to shoot rapid bursts at demons, causing them to freeze in place, which is especially helpful against quick-moving creatures like Pixies that are hard to hit with regular attacks. The original elemental properties of the weapon have been swapped for special abilities that go on cooldown and are activated by pressing face buttons when you hold down the right trigger. In Chapter 2, you’ll be able to take advantage of the Sword Alchemy system introduced in Goumaden, where you can modify your sword into a variety of weapons, such as Spear or Axe for more powerful attacks. These modifications also come with new special moves, and I’m eager to see how diverse Raidou’s elemental damage skills become by the game’s end.

Incorporating stylish combinations of basic moves, evasions, and special attacks into the combat of Raidou 1 gives battles a contemporary feel that truly impresses me. It’s noteworthy because ATLUS hasn’t delved deeply into this gameplay style before. While Metaphor had a straightforward system for initiating turn-based fights, Raidou aims to be more akin to high-end action games. Raidou’s swift sword attacks allow for seamless movement throughout the arena, ensuring you can always position yourself effectively. Abilities such as Devil’s Bane, which frequently appears after a flawless dodge or to eliminate a demon, and Spirit Slash, a special meter attack, significantly broaden your arsenal to meet current gaming standards. Moreover, there’s an incredibly satisfying evasion move that lets you dodge out of danger and circle back around the enemy. Raidou feels like it surpasses anything I could have imagined.

In contrast to typical Action games, what sets this game apart within the Megami Tensei series is its unique feature of summoning demons. I tended to maintain one demon for healing and support purposes, while another was dedicated to attacking. However, I frequently swapped them out based on my requirements. At first, I had concerns that Raidou’s increasing abilities might make the game too simple, but the continuous depletion of MAG resource kept me engaged by requiring a balanced focus on various combat elements simultaneously. This dynamic approach is appealing to me in action games, and it feels even more satisfying during boss fights, which seem to draw inspiration from MMO design.

Raidou has the ability to temporarily make his demons invulnerable during unstoppable attacks using the Safeguarding feature. This is beneficial for protecting them from harm, but they won’t be able to fight back while safeguarded. In combat, their contribution is essential, particularly in boss battles where elemental spells can weaken boss shields more rapidly. I was overjoyed during my initial battle with the game’s first boss because dodging and jumping over AOE attacks was thrilling, and it gave me confidence that future boss encounters would be even more challenging. I had to strategically decide when to let my demons fight based on maintaining a consistent amount of damage output to reduce the boss’s health, but they wouldn’t last long if left out during aggressive phases. It took me four tries, and with each failure, I felt like I was learning a little more about how battles were intended to unfold.

The game now features fewer random battles and has introduced objective markers, making progress smoother and saving me more overall time. This might not be seen as a drawback for those seeking a streamlined RPG experience. Instead of random encounters, you’ll find Aril Rifts on the map, which offer unique combat opportunities. Although I sometimes missed the random battles, I can appreciate why they were removed.

The battle system in this game has been significantly improved, giving it a more action-oriented feel that aligns with high-end games. Prolonged battles could potentially become monotonous, but the combat encounters within these rifts are engaging and offer four times the experience and eight times the money compared to regular field fights in dungeon areas. Demons are now visible in dungeons, allowing you to attack them to gain the initiative.

The only somewhat awkward aspect of this update is the character art of Raidou and Gouto sliding across the screen during transition sequences into fights.

As a seasoned gamer, I find myself yearning for an option to deactivate the objective markers in this game. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate their presence as an optional feature, especially since the original game could sometimes feel puzzling. However, the sense of exploration and discovery that this game offers is unparalleled, particularly within any classic ATLUS title.

In the spirit of Raidou, a detective investigating cases, the process of figuring out where to go next feels integral to the game design. For instance, in the first case, once you grasp the situation’s gist, you are set free in Tsukudo-cho and instructed to ask around about a missing girl named Kaya. In the original game, there are only a few NPCs to engage with, all eventually guiding you towards a manor to the north. This path ultimately leads you back to town, enabling you to deduce that you should approach girls in the same uniform as Kaya for more information, using a photo obtained from the manor as a clue.

In the updated version, you’ll find indicators for every crucial character to interact with within the storyline. It’s beneficial for novice players that these indicators exist, as in the past, I occasionally needed a guide to keep making progress. What makes this game so special is its unique blend of adventure and action RPG combat, so knowing exactly where to go felt a bit anticlimactic. Fortunately, you can disable Auto Save in the settings menu, and I hope the developers consider adding an option for players to turn off these indicators if they prefer to solve the mystery on their own. The developers have meticulously recreated this stunning environment in 3D, and I want to fully immerse myself in the role of a young detective.

Beyond my primary concern, I must admit that Raidou Remastered has left me quite satisfied so far. This type of “Remaster” is an intriguing departure for the company, and while there are aspects that I’d like to see refined, they don’t overshadow the elements that impress me. It would be wonderful if Atlus revisited one of their games where they didn’t feel the necessity to extensively revamp the battle system, such as the Digital Devil Saga series. Or better yet, give us a deluxe “Remaster” of the original Devil Summoner! Examining old RPGs through this perspective is captivating, and I can’t wait to see how the final version pulls it off. In essence, mechanically speaking, this is what I envisioned a Raidou 3 could become.

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2025-05-20 16:27