Raidou Remastered: Mystery of the Soulless Army Review

Return to Taisho-era Japan, a time of rapid modernization, foreign influence, and hidden threats. In the shadows of the Capital, demons move undetected among its citizens. Fortunately, Japan has a silent protector: Devil Summoner Raidou Kuzunoha XIV.

First taking on these supernatural foes in 2006 on the PlayStation 2, Raidou makes his remastered return in 2025. But is this throwback adventure worth your time nearly two decades later?

Let’s find out in our review of Raidou Remastered: Mystery of the Soulless Army.

Raidou Kuzunoha, Devil Summoner at your Service

Raidou Remastered revisits the original PlayStation 2 title Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army, the third entry in the Devil Summoner series and the first to feature the titular Raidou Kuzunoha.

A spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, Raidou Remastered stands out for replacing the traditional turn-based combat with real-time action. Set in the fictional “Taisho 20” era, a stylized version of early 20th-century Japan, the game follows Raidou Kuzunoha XIV, the latest in a long lineage of Devil Summoners. His mission is to protect the Capital from demons that remain invisible to ordinary citizens, a threat that local law enforcement cannot handle.

Raidou works as a student assistant at the Narumi Detective Agency when he’s not facing supernatural threats. Upon receiving a phone call, the situation quickly spirals into a desperate search for the missing Kaya Daidouji and a confrontation with a formidable enemy leading an army of soulless soldiers.

While Raidou Remastered’s narrative follows the tried-and-true “good versus evil” trope, the historical setting and colorful cast, with their rich backstories, give it a distinctive flavor within the Shin Megami Tensei universe.

Demons Among Us

At its core, Raidou Remastered will have players moving across zones in the Capital as they uncover the mystery of Kaya Daidouji’s disappearance, disrupt the plans of a shadowy organization, and complete various side missions along the way. While not an open-world RPG, the game offers generously sized areas to explore, each with its atmosphere and purpose.

As a Devil Summoner, maintaining peace involves more than combat, and players will engage with citizens and resolve their supernatural problems. Fortunately, your demon companions aren’t just for battle, as their unique abilities extend into fieldwork. Some can read minds to unlock new leads, alter a person’s mood with “Ignite” or “Cool Down,” or slip into areas inaccessible to Raidou himself, all without detection from ordinary people.

That said, the gameplay loop of Raidou Remastered is far more traditional. Don’t expect intricate investigative systems, as most side missions are basic and uninspired fetch quests or combat-driven objectives. The main storyline is quite linear, with a clear path to keep you on track from start to finish.

The many enhancements made to Raidou Remastered enhance the journey. Taisho-era Japan is a pleasant sight, with upgraded visuals that offer much welcome detail. Character models feel fresh, now fully voiced by notable Japanese talent, and the soundtrack complements the setting with a blend of traditional and electric guitar riffs.

Jack Frost, I Choose You!

Combat is one of Raidou Remastered’s strongest features, and it doesn’t disappoint because of its engaging and strategic gameplay. Raidou faces off against foes using a trusty katana, a revolver, and his summoned demons, and while the action may look like it encourages button mashing at first glance, this isn’t really the case. Exploiting enemy weaknesses is key, allowing you to stun foes and unleash high-damage follow-ups, all while wielding various melee weapons, with katanas transforming into spears and axes to suit your style.

Magnetite (MAG) fuels your demon skills and spells in Raidou Remastered. Light attacks restore MAG, while heavy strikes offer raw damage, requiring a balance between aggression and resource management. Since your demons also consume MAG when using abilities, battles become as much about tactical choices as fast reflexes, as occasionally, you’ll need to recall demons mid-battle to shield them from enemy specials they can’t evade.

What makes this loop shine is how dynamic it feels in motion. Managing your squad in real time, choosing the right demons, juggling their cooldowns, and knowing when to retreat adds a layer of depth that’s fun to grasp and satisfying to master.

Demon recruitment also returns in full force as Demons roam the Capital, ready to be captured after battles. You can simply trap them, or engage in the series’ classic negotiation mechanic: answer their questions cleverly, and they might join you, with a useful bonus buff in tow.

The system encourages experimentation. Even inactive demons gain experience, helping boost their Loyalty stats. Maxing out Loyalty unlocks perks like expanded party capacity and occasional item gifts, incentivizing you to rotate your roster regularly.

Naturally, Shin Megami Tensei’s fusion mechanic is back in Raidou Remastered, courtesy of the eccentric Dr. Victor Frankenstein. Fusion lets you customize your demons’ abilities by transferring skills across lineages, enabling a custom squad to match your strategy. With so many combinations and possible outcomes, demon fusion can easily become a satisfying rabbit hole that welcomes newcomers and rewards returning fans.

Making Devil Summoning Better in 2025

Raidou Remastered introduces several welcome quality-of-life improvements aimed at enhancing accessibility and gameplay, especially for newcomers. One key enhancement is the ability to summon two demons in combat instead of just one, doubling your tactical options in challenging encounters and making boss fights more manageable.

Raidou has also gained new techniques to support his demonic allies. Demon’s Bane activates under specific battle conditions, complementing your summoned demons. Once your special gauge is filled, you can also unleash a Spirit Slash, dealing area-wide damage. Combat feels even tighter with a new lock-on mechanic for the gun, allowing for easier targeting at range.

Stealth has gotten a buff as well. Players can now initiate battles with a Stealth Strike, which debuffs enemies from the start or eliminates weaker foes entirely, skipping combat and saving time.

Navigation has been streamlined, too. A new fast travel system allows players to revisit previously explored locations easily, especially helpful when returning to headquarters at the Narumi Detective Agency, which previously required a fair amount of backtracking.

For a nearly 20-year-old title, Raidou Remastered boasts impressive visuals that preserve the charm of its original design. Unfortunately, much of the Capital’s world feels shallow. Outside essential shops and service hubs, many establishments are just static sets, missing opportunities for deeper interaction.

Combat enhancements, while solid, aren’t without their hiccups. Though having two demons in play is excellent, their health bars mirror those of enemy demons, making them difficult to track. A cleaner HUD displaying your party’s status more clearly would have eased the chaos, especially when demons drift off-screen and fall in combat unnoticed.

Additionally, while Demon’s Bane is a fine mechanic, its activation prompt often blends into the action. The brief visual cue is easy to miss, and players frequently rely on Gouto-Douji’s audio signal. A more prominent or longer-lasting prompt could have made this feature more intuitive, though some may view the short window as part of the challenge.

Verdict: Buy it!

Raidou Remastered is a faithful revival of a cult classic, enhanced with modern features that make it welcoming even for newcomers to the Shin Megami Tensei universe. The combat remains engaging, elevated by strategic demon management and the addictive fusion system. For collectors, the thrill of assembling a diverse roster of demons is as compelling as ever, especially with skill inheritance playing a crucial role.

Raidou Kuzunoha XIV’s long-standing popularity feels well-earned after spending time in the game that launched his legacy. With his memorable debut now remastered for a new generation, one can only hope that his next appearance won’t just be a cameo, but a full-fledged return in a new mainline entry that leans deeper into both his role as a Devil Summoner and as a detective navigating the supernatural.

*Raidou Remastered: Mystery of the Soulless Army was reviewed on a PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.