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Power fantasies are a dime a dozen in the gaming space, but it’s not every day that a detective leads the narrative. Among those who tread into sleuthing adventures, only a handful are equipped with the fighting prowess to fend off dangerous foes, much less demons — a focal point in Atlus’ Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army.
The 2006 cult classic follows the titular protector of the Capital, whose job is to dispel any demonic or otherworldly threats to the city, as he works under the Narumi Detective Agency, headed by lead detective Shohei Narumi under the orders of the mysterious Yatagarasu organisation. During a routine investigation, the pair respond to a call for help from a client, a young high school girl named Kaya Daidouji, requesting them to kill her. Before the two can enquire further, soldiers in red armour and caps appear, kidnap Kaya, and attack Raidou.
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army returns nearly two decades later with a new shine to its name, and not just visually. Alongside enhanced character models and environments, the action role-playing game (RPG) now includes full voice acting in the main story, an overhauled combat system that aligns more closely with its original sequel, Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon, and quality-of-life gameplay improvements, including quicksave and autosave options, fast travel mechanics, the addition of a mini-map, and increased demon variety.
The last point, in particular, holds special significance as a staple element of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, which the original game, and by extension, the enhanced remaster, is a part of. Naturally, familiar hallmarks like the mature art style and use of real-world mythological figures have been carried over, but that’s where the similarities end. The third entry in the Devil Summoner series also differs from its predecessors in several areas, from battle mechanics and story setting to having a named protagonist.
In the same way, RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army seeks to establish an identity that stands on its own. As before, the title takes players back to a fictionalised version of the Taisho period of Japan (1930s), where they scour for clues, meet various important people, and unravel the grand mystery. The investigation won’t be a one-man job, however, with a variety of demons available to lend assistance.
Conjure demons to vanquish demons
Demons can be Raidou’s worst enemy or his best friend, depending on the situation. With specialised tools at his disposal, the sleuth can capture demons and tap into their Investigation Skills to uncover new leads, such as Read Mind to hear the thoughts of others, Inspect to reveal concealed objects, and more.
These devilish allies will come in especially handy when players hit a snag in their investigation progress, spicing up gameplay beyond the standard interrogation fare. Not able to enter a suspicious-looking room because of tight supervision? No problem – simply take control of a summoned demon and roam around, then report back to Raidou with new findings. Any items or collectibles found along the way are counted into the inventory, and if they are out of reach, activate Fly to traverse the impassible parts and get hold of them.
In combat, demons are an important presence. Up to two can be summoned on the battlefield, with abilities tied to their respective classifications. Those belonging to the Pyro Order, for instance, attack with and defend against Fire, and bestow Fire attributes when fused into Raidou’s sword, and the rest follows the same pattern: Frost Order (Ice), Volt Order (Electric), Wind Order (Force), Fury Order (Physical), Pagan Order (Death), and Skill Order (all manner of skills).
Each specialisation also comes with a corresponding Investigation Skill, as follows:
- Ignite – Kindles a fire within the target
- Cool Down – Chills and possibly freezes the target
- Inspect – Reveals hidden objects of interest with a flash of lightning
- Scout – Identify demons and items in the area
- Force – Move heavy objects with inhuman physical strength
- Read Mind – Hear the thoughts of others
- Demonstrate – Boasting various effects on the battlefield
Operating on a familiar elemental weakness system, RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army offers some tactical breathing room. Pitting demon companions against enemies that are weak against their element proves rewarding, but the reverse is true, too: attacking foes resistant to their attacks will be a waste of time and effort. Then, there’s the matter of guarding them at the right time, which keeps them close to Raidou and redirects the enemy’s attention to him.
Entering combat offers the best shot at gaining stronger allies, with players able to capture demons in battles and summon them to fight on their side. Unlike before, multiple of the same species can now be recruited, and experience points (EXP) are shared between all friendly demons. The confining ability is limited to demons that are lower than or equal to the player’s level, but there’s another workaround for the power difference: demon fusion.
Fuse, collect, and conquer
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is set to feature over 120 pldemons, including recognisable faces from Shin Megami Tensei V, Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon, and other Atlus titles, versus 70 in the original. The increased variety unlocks new possible combinations between different demons, which need to have loyalty to Raidou before they can merge. Loyalty is built through fighting together.
Fusing two demons of the same Order will result in one of the Element Order, while a Mitama Order demon is born by combining two Element Order demons. In both scenarios, allies can inherit both combat and passive skills that were gained by levelling up or from skill books, where abilities are learned in stages. After a certain stage, a demon can be additionally fused into Raidou’s sword to make it more powerful.
Slash, shoot, and strategise in real time
Demons are just one part of the battle equation, however. Marking a departure from turn-based tradition, RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army fuels fast-paced combat with real-time mechanics that revolve around shooting, chaining attacks, and special abilities called Summoner Skills. Where the first type, Combat Skills, encompasses element-imbued techniques, Sword Skills grant passive bonuses once equipped and can be changed at will, even mid-battle.
Reinforcing the importance of exploiting elemental affinities, hitting a foe’s elemental weakness not only stuns them but also amplifies the player’s physical damage output and the amount of MAG, otherwise known as mana points, gained from attacking. Jumping and dodging are integral to victory as well, especially for boss encounters, adding a touch of precision to the hack-and-slash action and enemy analysis process.
There are other notable overhauled elements, too. The addition of a lock-on feature makes it easier to target hostile targets, while firearm use activates Shooting Mode, complete with a visual indicator of ammunition count. Stealth Strike grants tactical advantages in battle, triggered when Raidou ambushes or lands a first strike on an enemy.
For the adrenaline seekers, the Nameless Shrine offers more challenges. By following certain steps, the Herald of Yatagarasu can be summoned to perform the Ritual of Entry, which sends Raidou to the demon-infested Dark Realm. Enter the hidden Training Hall via the shrine’s wash stand to tackle foes across 10 floors, or dive into the Trial of a Hundred Demons and fight 100 demons back-to-back within a time limit.
Explore a world steeped in Japanese culture and history
The first in the entire franchise to be set in the past, RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army pays its due respect to history in the real world. For example, the time period, though fictionalised in the context of the game, was chosen for its cohesive relevance to the major theme of co-existence, conveyed through a mix of Western and traditional Japanese architectural stylings.
The design influence carries over to the four districts of the Capital, serving as representations of real-life locales: Tsukudo-Cho, the home of the Narumi Detective Agency; Fukagawa-Cho, a downtown neighbourhood that houses a bathhouse, a freak show, and other recreational facilities; Ginza-Cho, the commercial centre boasting multi-storey buildings, streetcars, and automobiles; and Harumi-Cho, a bustling port known for its brick buildings and churches. Players can also travel to the Shinoda Shrine, looking quite close to present-day Osaka’s Hijiri Shrine, which features prominently in the Kuzunoha legend of whom Raidou shares a surname.
Exploring these areas of interest is more accessible and convenient than before, courtesy of a mini-map, the dash feature, and Express Streetcars that allow instant travel to previously visited and key locations, including Narumi Detective Agency and Tsukudo-Cho’s Konnou-Ya, where helpful items can be purchased. Along the way, players are free to pick up Case Files, requests from various humans and demons that give rewards on completion.
The cultural nods also fit within the larger world, such as the influence of the Aka Manto urban legend on the red cloaks worn by Kaya’s abductors, the summoning tubes used by Raidou that were based on the kuda-gitsune, a spirit who lived inside bamboo sticks, and extending beyond Japanese history, the character of crooked Devil Summoner Rasputin, named after the Russian historical figure Grigori Rasputin.
From intricate demon fusion dynamics and hack-and-slash fun to a thoughtfully crafted setting, RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army oozes charm and personality in spades. Coupled with an intriguing detective premise and gameplay enhancements like a fully-voiced cast, the sleuthing adventure marks a glorious return for both fans and a new generation of players alike. Make way for Raidou Kuzunoha, Devil Summoner, indeed.
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is out now on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam, and will also be available on Nintendo Switch 2. Check out the official website for more info.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
