Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is now available on all current platforms. With enhanced visuals, full voice acting, and revamped combats—all wrapped up in a brand-new user interface, role-playing game fans are in for a bit of a treat with this remake of the PS2 title Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army. Here is what I thought of this adventure from a series I’ve always had a soft spot for.
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of The Soulless Army details
Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2 / Nintendo Switch / PlayStation 5 / PlayStation 4 / Xbox Series X|S / PC
Rated on: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Sega
Style: RPG
Mode: Single-player
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
Languages: The game is available in French, with voiceovers in English or Japanese.
A strange curse surrounds the Daidouji family
Play as Raidou Kuzunoha XIV, a young apprentice detective who also happens to be a devil summoner. The game opens with Kaya Daidouji, a 15-year-old girl who is begging you to kill her! She explains that any girl in her family who reaches the age of 16 gets abducted by demons. Her birthday is just around the corner–and she’s terrified. As she reveals all this, masked men come into the scene to kidnap her. They turn out to be demons! Through Raidou, you’re able to recognize the kidnappers for what they really are. As you question Kaya’s uncle and the staff at the mansion, it becomes increasingly clear that this powerful family is hiding some very dark secrets.
The story of Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army grabs me right from the start. Thanks to the protagonist’s dual role, the game blends two distinct gameplay experiences. There’s the investigation phase, where I question people and explore locations in search of clues. Soon, the appearance of mysterious “Redcapes” begins to stir fear among the population. But here’s the twist—the city is crawling with demons, and I am the only one who can see them. That’s when the game shifts from a classic detective story into thrilling, action-packed combat.
Real-time combat
The game is part of the Shin Megami Tensei series, so I was expecting traditional turn-based combat. The familiar creatures from the franchise are still here, but this time, I face them in real-time battles. I was accompanied by demons that I captured and turned into allies. I choose two to fight alongside me, and they battle automatically so I can focus on controlling Raidou. Special elemental attacks—fire, electricity, ice, and wind—are mapped to the “Y”, “X”, and “B” buttons on my Nintendo Switch controller and recharge after a short delay. I also have access to a sword and a gun for direct attacks. Hitting an enemy’s weakness deals extra damage, and once they’re weakened, I can trigger a special move to bring them down even further.
For regular enemies, the fights are pretty straightforward. But battles against guardians are tougher—I really need to watch their movements carefully. They unleash attacks that deal heavy damage. Keep a close eye on the health of your allied demons to protect them as much as possible, while also managing your own health bar. Carrying a bag full of healing items is definitely key to success. Don’t hesitate to analyze stronger enemies, too. For example, when faced with a barrier, I noticed the creature blocking my path was only vulnerable to bullets. It was immune to all other physical and magical attacks. Once I spotted that, defeating it became much easier.
Shin Megami Tensei’s demon fusion
It’s convenient to be able to recruit demons with a single command and then manage the inventory through demon fusion—a well-known technique in the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona franchises. Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army features a total of 120 demons to summon. As you progress, more powerful ones become available. To gain experience, it’s worth exploring the rifts scattered throughout the dark world, which is filled with demons to fight. The character also levels up faster, and the rewards are greater. Additionally, several side quests add depth to the overall gameplay experience.
Quick saves are available anywhere, but otherwise, you can only save your progress or heal your team at specific points. This is where the original 2006 PlayStation 2 release of the game shows its age.
A refreshed look for today’s standards
Both in terms of visual and audio, the game is well done. With a dialogue that’s completely redone, it feels quite modern. The map is easy to navigate, and you can teleport to any previously visited location for the cost of a tram ticket. I would have liked an upgrade to the fixed camera, though; I often get turned the wrong way when I reach an intersection. The mini-map doesn’t rotate with your movement, which doesn’t help with orientation.
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is a pleasant surprise
I really enjoyed my time in Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army. This game takes me through the historic streets of a fantastical 1930s Tokyo. It combines two genres I love: detective investigation and Japanese RPG. Although the new real-time combat caught me off guard at first, I quickly got the hang of it. After a few hours, I felt completely comfortable. The game looks great. The classic story is gripping, and the battles are dynamic. Seeing enemies on the field during exploration lets me choose whether to avoid them or jump into a few fights to level up my team before my next objective.
It’s not necessarily easy to get into it if you’re not familiar with the style. However, even though it’s part of a well-established franchise, Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army works really well as a standalone solo adventure. Don’t miss out on the fun. Here’s a quick overview of the pros and cons to help you decide if this game is right for you.
| Pros | Cons |
| Blending detective work with demon battles | No control over the camera |
| A well-executed revamp | The minimap compass can’t be moved |
| Solid combat, especially against guardians | The action window for super attacks is too short |
| Streamlined navigation that’s easy to manage | A 30-hour JRPG feels short for the genre |
Overall assessment of Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of The Soulless Army
Gameplay: 3.75/5
Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 4/5
Lasting appeal/Replayability: 3/5
Overall rating: 3.75/5 (78%)
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