RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is the latest spin-off from the well-known Shin Megami Tensei series. It is an interesting spin-off that I would compare to the Like a Dragon franchise in the sense that it takes place in the same universe and features a familiar set of enemies and lore from Shin Megami Tensei. The twist here is that the game is an action RPG instead of the usual turn-based style seen in the main series.
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is the third game in the Devil Summoner series and the first in the Raidou sub-series. If this sounds a little confusing, do not worry — the Shin Megami Tensei universe is full of different series and sub-series, with Devil Summoner and Persona being just a part of the whole. As someone who has only played the more recent Shin Megami Tensei games, I enjoyed my time with RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army.
The game features a named protagonist, much like the Persona series. It is set in the 1930s and utilizes this historical setting to introduce well-known historical figures alongside mythological beings from the Shin Megami Tensei universe. The main character is known as Raidou Kuzunoha XIV. He is a high school-aged detective who holds the title of Devil Summoner — someone with the power to make contracts with demons and add them to his party. By his side is a talking black cat named Goto-Douji, and together they work at the Narumi Detective Agency. The game structure feels somewhat similar to Persona, but with the twist of a detective agency instead of a school setting.
The first thing that stood out to me was the combat system, which is very different from what the series usually offers. We are used to seeing turn-based battles in the franchise, but here the main focus is on real-time action RPG combat, complete with a dodge mechanic. Battles take place in small arenas whenever an enemy appears, and players can move freely around the battlefield, dodge enemy attacks using a dedicated button, and command their demons to deal damage. Basic attacks can be combined with special skills and abilities borrowed from the wider Shin Megami Tensei series.
The game’s experience system works like a classic RPG where you gain levels after each battle. Demons can be recruited under certain conditions, such as during fights where you persuade them to join your party. This system is a simpler version compared to what you might find in other mainline Shin Megami Tensei titles. These demons are not just for combat either — they can help during exploration by letting you interact with various parts of the world. Some demon abilities allow you to gather extra information from NPCs, which plays an important role in the gameplay.
Despite its appeal, the game does have some flaws. I liked the progression system where the main character levels up and earns stat points that you can freely assign, but the same level of freedom is not available for demons. The combat system, while fun at first, can feel repetitive over time because it does not change much as the story goes on. You have basic and special attacks, along with charged strikes. The demons in your party act on their own for the most part, though you do get limited control over them, such as ordering them to defend or stopping them from using certain abilities. The overall length of the game is also on the shorter side, though I do not consider that a downside.
As for the remaster itself, the technical quality feels excellent. The game still looks good today, even though it is a remaster of an older title. The new cutscenes look sharp, and while the game does show its budget limitations in some areas, it makes up for this with clever design choices. Some assets are reused, which is why I compared it to the Like a Dragon series — that franchise also similarly reuses assets. The PC version runs very well across a wide range of hardware. It is not a demanding game, and I was easily able to play it at 60 FPS on the Steam Deck.
The story leans heavily into the detective theme, which is enjoyable, but it does not reach the same level of personal or emotional connection you get from following a group of high school teenagers. The game feels like it sits somewhere between the darker, mature tone of Shin Megami Tensei and the more youthful, school-centered style of Persona. Because of this, it struggles a little to establish its own clear identity and ends up feeling more like an experimental spin-off.
This remaster has completely overhauled the battle system, making it a clear improvement over the original. However, since I skipped the original release, I cannot make a direct comparison. The game also features full voice-over support, which makes the experience feel more immersive. The remastered graphics are good, but they still fall short compared to modern Shin Megami Tensei titles like Persona 5 and Shin Megami Tensei 5. The quality-of-life improvements are also a nice touch, especially the ability to quick save anywhere, which makes exploring the world much less of a hassle.
If you are a fan of the Shin Megami Tensei or Persona series, Raidou Remastered is an easy recommendation. It is an interesting spin-off that uses demon fusion, familiar lore, and the world of Shin Megami Tensei in a historical setting to tell a story that can be quite fun. It also mixes in detective mystery elements, which should appeal to fans of that genre. However, the game does suffer from some repetitive combat, and the story and character development are not always the strongest. That said, I liked the art style and character designs in this spin-off — they look great and fit the world well.
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army Game Information
- Price: $49.99
- Publisher: Sega
- Developer: Atlus
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
