Raidou Remastered Review: Smooth Upgrade, Questionable Censorship

Title	RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army
Released	June 19, 2025
Developer(s):	ATLUS
Publisher(s):	SEGA
Platform(s):
Genre	Action RPG
Rating	M
Price	$49.99

Completed on the Switch 2 in Docked Mode, on Private Eye (Normal)

HowLongToBeat: 27 Hours (Main + Sides) | My Clear Time: 18 Hours 7mins

Background

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Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army is one of the more niche entries in the broader Megami Tensei (MegaTen) universe, falling under the Devil Summoner subseries.

The line began as a spin-off of Shin Megami Tensei: If…, with the original Devil Summoner debuting on the Sega Saturn in the mid-1990s. Raidou Kuzunoha marked a turning point for the subseries, becoming the first Devil Summoner title officially released outside Japan with its 2006 launch on PlayStation 2.

After years of obscurity, Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army first appeared via a backend SteamDB leak in September 2024, when its achievement list was discovered, hinting at a revival. Atlus formally announced the remaster during a Nintendo Direct in May 2025.

The remaster leans more toward an enhanced re-release than a barebones port, with numerous gameplay changes and a surprising number of quality-of-life improvements that modernize the experience—though not without some controversial alterations to its tone and presentation.

The development team for RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army includes:

Experience

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I completed the original PS2 version on June 7, 2021, and have played extensively across the MegaTen franchise, including Shin Megami Tensei IV, Strange Journey Redux, Soul Hackers, Soul Hackers 2, Nocturne, Devil Survivor, SMT V, SMT V: Vengeance, Digital Devil Saga, and most Persona titles.

As a fan of action RPGs and Atlus’ distinct style, I was eager to see how the remaster’s quality-of-life changes would elevate Raidou Kuzunoha.

Impressions

Introduction

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Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army, a standout in the Shin Megami Tensei spinoff Devil Summoner, trades turn-based battles for real-time combat and a detective-noir tale set in a supernatural 1930s Tokyo. As Raidou, the 14th heir to a demon-summoning legacy, you protect the Capital while investigating a mysterious girl hunted by the military. A routine case spirals into a web of forbidden science and time-bending threats.

Raidou Remastered revitalizes this cult classic with smoother controls, sharper visuals, and smart quality-of-life upgrades, preserving its bold, niche charm while making it more accessible for newcomers and engaging for MegaTen fans.

Gameplay & Mechanics

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The original combat was ambitious but often stiff and clunky. Raidou Remastered improves responsiveness, pacing, and tactical depth, making battles smoother and more engaging.

Solo Investigation
Demons can explore environments independently, bypassing barriers or using skills like Volt demons’ scanning to reveal hidden items. For example, using an Alp to read minds for clarity adds a satisfying puzzle element to exploration.

Demon Fusion
Fuse two demons to create a stronger one with inherited skills, a MegaTen hallmark combining strategy and creativity. My Oberon fused into a Thor with Zio and Tarukaja skills for devastating electric combos, rewarding experimentation.

Enemy Encounters
Random battles are replaced with visible enemies in the Dark Realm, similar to Shin Megami Tensei V. This streamlines pacing and allows strategic planning. My 18-hour clear was faster than HowLongToBeat’s average 27 hours, thanks to familiarity, though the Case Files side quests extend playtime for completionists.

Two Demons
Borrowing from Raidou 2, you can summon two demons simultaneously—combos like Parvati (healer) and Arahabaki (tank) add meaningful tactical flexibility.

Reworked Combat
Evasive rolls and bullet-hell-style boss fights inject dynamism. Bosses now use ground-targeted attacks that require careful timing and spatial awareness.

Spirit Slash
A new mechanic allowing you to expend your full spirit gauge to unleash a powerful area attack—perfect for tough encounters.

Journal
Objectives are now accessible via the menu, cutting down on backtracking to the detective agency.

This refined gameplay, blending tactical depth with fluid action, is elevated further by the remaster’s striking presentation.

Art & Audio

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Kazuma Kaneko’s signature art style shines through improved anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering, giving models a sharper, more modern look. The color palette is more vibrant, softening the original’s bleak noir tone slightly, though locations like the sub base and manor retain their oppressive atmosphere. Cutscenes are impressively upscaled on the Switch 2 in docked mode, with only rare micro-stuttering over my 18-hour playthrough.

Altered demon designs—Lamia’s less revealing attire, Preta’s softened grotesque features, and Belphegor’s muted demonic elements—likely target a PEGI-12 (Europe’s game rating system) rating. Removed 1930s historical symbols, like naval flags, possibly to appease markets like China and Korea, and recontextualized dialogue for a key boss shift its narrative away from period roots.

These global changes clash with the M-rated tone and Kaneko’s bold aesthetic, unlike the unfiltered designs in SMT V: Vengeance, and mirror Soul Hackers 2’s disconnect with Devil Summoner’s niche fans.

Standout Tracks
Shoji Meguro delivers some of his most memorable work here. The soundtrack blends jazz, tribal rhythms, and ambient tones to craft a soundscape perfectly suited to the game’s fusion of detective noir and supernatural themes. New arrangements like the Devil Summoner Battle Theme and NAOMI’s Theme from Soul Hackers add nostalgic depth for longtime fans.

Konnou-Ya – A breezy, jazz-tinged shop theme with whimsical warmth.

The Soulless Army – Percussion-heavy with mechanical and didgeridoo accents, perfect for intense battles.

Hyperspace – A synth-driven, contemplative track for a late-game area, evoking mystery.

This evocative art and audio lay a strong foundation, complemented by additional gameplay systems that enhance the remaster’s polish.

Unique Features & Mechanics

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Raidou Remastered introduces several new systems to streamline and modernize the experience:

Sword Alchemy
Fuse weapons like swords, axes, and spears in the Goumaden, combining unique stats and skills reusable in future crafting. Unlocks after Chapter 2, offering deep customization without complexity.

Premium Devil Chart
Register multiple versions of the same demon (e.g., healer vs. magic-damage Pixie) with additional purchasable slots.

Case Files
Organized side quests help ensure you don’t miss unique demons or rewards.

Expanded Roster
Over 50 new demons, including Hayatoro and Idun from SMT V, enrich fusion options.

Express Streetcar
Fast travel between districts for a small fee, reducing tedious backtracking.

Saving
Quicksave and autosave let you save anytime outside of battle, fixing the original’s limited save points.

These mechanics deepen the gameplay experience, while the remaster’s voice acting brings the detective-noir narrative to life.

Seiyuu Performances

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Full voice acting is included but can be toggled off for purists seeking a classic experience. The cast is strong, featuring Joji Nakata and Tomokazu Sugita reprising their roles as Gotou and Raidou, respectively.

Verdict

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Combat excels thanks to responsive controls, evasive rolls, and bullet-hell-style boss fights demanding awareness and precision. Summoning two demons adds meaningful tactical depth; my Arahabaki-Parvati combo let me tank, heal, and deal damage fluidly. Removing random encounters improves pacing, while Quicksave and the Express Streetcar system eliminate much of the friction that held the original back.

I cleared the game in 18 hours on Private Eye (Normal), moving quickly due to my familiarity with the original. Newcomers should expect closer to 27 hours, based on HowLongToBeat averages. With New Game Plus exclusives like Beelzebub and a wealth of Case Files, completionists can easily stretch playtime past 40 hours. Private Eye mode offers a balanced challenge that welcomes newcomers but still demands timing and spatial awareness in later encounters.

Despite this gameplay polish, the remaster stumbles when preserving the original’s thematic impact. Several demon designs were toned down—Lamia’s outfit is more modest, Preta’s grotesque features softened, and Belphegor less overtly demonic. Historical elements, such as naval flags referencing Imperial Japan, were removed entirely.

One key boss no longer represents a military experiment tied to Japan’s wartime occultism but is recast as a generic divine adversary. These changes diminish the historical and supernatural tension that once defined the narrative.

These edits appear aimed at a PEGI-12 rating, likely influenced by market restrictions in regions like China and Korea. The result is a technically strong remaster that lacks the thematic edge of the original. It mirrors the missteps of Soul Hackers 2—a game that softened its tone for broader appeal but lost part of its identity.

Even so, the gameplay, visuals, and Shoji Meguro’s jazz-infused soundtrack retain much of Raidou’s charm. This is one of Atlus’ better remasters since Soul Hackers on 3DS, but it’s not the definitive version fans of Devil Summoner were hoping for.

It’s a welcome return—polished for export rather than remembered for what it was.

TLDR

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Pros

• Fluid Action Combat: Responsive controls, evasive rolls, and bullet-hell-style bosses add tactical depth and excitement.
• Smart Modernizations: Visible enemies, Quicksave, and Express Streetcar streamline pacing and reduce tedium.
• Polished Presentation: Kaneko’s art shines with crisp anti-aliasing and upscale work; Shoji Meguro’s soundtrack enhances the noir atmosphere.
• Deep Customization: Sword Alchemy and expanded fusion systems add flexibility and replayability.

Cons

• Censorship Dilutes Tone: Toned-down Lamia, Preta, and Belphegor designs and removed imperial flags undermine the 1930s aesthetic and occult edge.
• Recontextualized Dialogue: A key boss encounter now omits wartime themes, weakening the game’s darker subtext.
• Minor Technical Hiccups: Rare micro-stuttering in docked mode slightly disrupts the experience.

References

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1. Raidou Remastered – Nintendo Direct Trailer
2. Konnou-Ya – Shoji Meguro
3. The Soulless Army – Shoji Meguro
4. Hyperspace (Inspired by Algon) – Toshiko Tasaki