Raidou Remastered: Soulless Army Mystery Review
▼ Summary
– Raidou Remastered is a high-effort remaster of a 2006 PS2 JRPG, featuring revamped combat and fully voiced dialogue, set in early 20th century Tokyo.
– The game blends real-time combat with Shin Megami Tensei’s signature demon-summoning mechanics, offering tactical depth and fluid action.
– Despite its detective theme, the investigative elements feel shallow, relying more on simple interactions than true puzzle-solving.
– The combat system has been significantly improved, allowing for more dynamic gameplay with free-roaming camera angles and dual demon summons.
– While not the strongest SMT title, Raidou Remastered remains a solid 7/10 experience, appealing to fans of monster-collecting and action RPGs.
The Raidou Remastered revival brings a cult classic back to life with polished combat and fresh voice acting, though its detective premise never fully delivers on its potential. Originally released for PlayStation 2 in 2006, this niche Shin Megami Tensei spin-off has been revitalized with modern upgrades, making it an intriguing curiosity for JRPG fans, even if it doesn’t reach the heights of Atlus’ more famous titles.
Set in early 20th-century Tokyo, the game follows Raidou Kuzunoha, a teenage detective with a secret: he’s a Devil Summoner tasked with protecting the city from supernatural threats. The story spirals from a straightforward rescue mission into a wild tale involving time manipulation, superweapons, and even an appearance by the infamous Grigori Rasputin. While the narrative leans into anime absurdity, Raidou himself remains a blank slate, a far cry from the expressive protagonists of later Atlus games.
Where the remaster shines is in its overhauled combat. Gone are the clunky mechanics of the original; battles now flow with speed and precision. Raidou can dodge, double-jump, and summon two demons simultaneously, creating dynamic skirmishes that blend hack-and-slash action with tactical depth. The Press Turn system’s spirit lives on here, exploiting elemental weaknesses stuns enemies, while missteps can backfire spectacularly. Experimenting with demon abilities remains addictive, though the urgency to fuse stronger allies feels less critical than in mainline SMT games.
Outside combat, the detective work falls flat. Puzzles often boil down to clicking obvious interactables or waiting for hints from Raidou’s feline sidekick, Gouto. Missions frequently devolve into fetch quests or backtracking through the eerie Dark Realm, a missed opportunity to lean into investigative gameplay. The remaster’s new voice acting adds charm, but the core experience remains unchanged, a solid but unremarkable JRPG elevated by its unique setting and demon-collecting hook.
For fans of Atlus’ stranger experiments, Raidou Remastered offers a fascinating time capsule. Its real-time combat could hint at future directions for the studio, especially as rumors swirl about Persona 6 potentially abandoning turn-based systems. While it’s no masterpiece, this polished relic is worth revisiting, just don’t expect it to dethrone your favorite Megami Tensei adventures.
(Source: PC Gamer)
