Given its huge PS2-era catalogue, Atlus’ determination to revive Satan Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Military is a little bit of a wierd one. One thing of an experimental foray into the realm of motion RPGs, it is not essentially a sport that springs to thoughts when wanting again on the developer’s most prolific console technology.
However perhaps that is why it is getting a second likelihood. For Atlus’ fashionable viewers — those that received began with the Persona sequence, maybe — Raidou provides a singular glimpse into the studio’s previous, and, finally, it is a story that is worthy of being retold.
Regardless of its title, Raidou Remastered: The Thriller of the Soulless Military is actually a remake. Whereas it does keep on with the unique sport’s story and construction, the visuals have been given an entire overhaul utilizing 3D belongings, and core gameplay methods have been considerably reworked.
The result’s a surprisingly spectacular revival — a far cry from 2021’s disappointingly fundamental Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocture HD Remaster.
You play because the titular Raidou Kuzunoha — a freshly established Satan Summoner who journeys to the Japanese capital in pursuit of probably sinister forces. Principally, Raidou’s a peacekeeper with ties to those that shield the nation from the shadows, using Shin Megami Tensei’s common roster of demons to help in his investigations.
It is an intriguing premise proper from the off, and the general plot twists and turns in some actually bizarre instructions. Exterior of some pretty flat characters, we might say that the story holds up fairly effectively. It isn’t what we might name a very tight narrative, however they merely do not make oddball plotlines like this anymore, and so the entire thing finally ends up feeling fairly memorable.
Raidou’s story is informed in episodic trend — full with title playing cards for every chapter — which creates a significant sense of tempo throughout what’s a comparatively quick marketing campaign. Certainly, in comparison with Atlus’ newer outings, Raidou Remastered’s 30-ish hour runtime is refreshingly brisk.
There are two sides to the title’s construction. The primary boils right down to detective work, as our caped protagonist hits the streets to be able to set up leads on the present case. The second, in contrast, entails dungeon delving right into a form of spirit realm the place demons roam free.
For Remastered, the investigation aspect of issues has been streamlined. Goal markers and extra distinguished hints all however erase the unique sport’s obtuseness, which we expect is in all probability for the very best.
Granted, enjoying the function of a detective is arguably extra fulfilling should you’re truly having to think about your choices, however Raidou was by no means actually about unearthing clues and accurately questioning witnesses. If something, the target markers simply make the expertise much less tedious; you are not combing total districts simply to seek out the one NPC that triggers the subsequent a part of the story.
Having stated that, there are occasions when the discharge reveals its age. Backtracking turns into a slight annoyance afterward as Raidou bounces between areas for the sake of just some traces of dialogue, and the (completely optionally available, fortunately) aspect quests are little greater than a guidelines of largely boring chores.
This criticism would have virtually definitely continued by way of to the sport’s fight system, had Atlus not redesigned the entire thing for Remastered. Again in 2006, the fundamental motion fight was a serious sticking level for many critics, with repetitive hack-and-slash mechanics all however cancelling out the sport’s cool demon-based concepts.
Right here, battlefields have been reworked into absolutely 3D arenas, and Raidou controls like a correct motion character, boasting combos, counters, and particular strikes which can be mapped to button shortcuts. On a foundational degree alone, fight has been dramatically improved each in performance and really feel.
The system itself has all the time been attention-grabbing, however Remastered’s tweaks permit its strengths to lastly shine. In a struggle, Raidou is joined by as much as two demon companions, who’re managed by the AI. Because the Satan Summoner, it is your job to take care of momentum; your normal sword assaults generate SP, which fuels your demons’ skills — and it is by way of these skills that you will exploit enemy weaknesses.
Hitting a weak spot quickly staggers the opponent, and in flip, Raidou will get to elongate his sword combos and get better but extra SP, making a satisfying loop of destruction. It is a system that continues to be relatively distinctive to today, the place the participant acts as a form of catalyst for his or her allies, versus being the primary harm seller.
And naturally, that is the place constructing a staff of all-conquering demons turns into a precedence. Raidou can ensnare enemies of a decrease degree than him throughout fights and repurpose them as allies, however fusing demons collectively is the place the actual magic occurs.
Very like in Persona, a demon’s expertise and traits might be transferred to a brand new type, letting you experiment with and create every kind of highly effective companions. Atlus has clearly been repurposing this fusion stuff for many years, however the sense of development remains to be so addictive.
It is also vital for Raidou to assemble a different staff exterior of battle. Throughout investigations, demons with particular skills are wanted to affect individuals or objects, resulting in extra pronounced relationships between our hero and his quirky companions.
We’re not saying that Raidou’s demons are nice characters, however small interactions and the odd line of comical dialogue instills some welcome persona. The demons really feel way more concerned, and subsequently participating, than they do in Atlus’ different works, to the purpose the place you virtually really feel unhealthy about throwing them into the fusion blender.
Conclusion
Raidou Remastered offers considered one of Atlus’ most experimental PS2 outings a deserved second likelihood. Higher described as a remake, an enormous checklist of enhancements, together with a perfectly reworked fight system, make this a must-try for the developer’s fashionable viewers. Raidou stays a uniquely bizarre and compelling motion RPG, and that is its definitive type.