Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army Reviews
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is in my opinion the best way to remaster a game. Upgrading the art style, adding a few life improvements to certain mechanics, and giving a game that was once mute a voice, was absolute cinema. I was originally worried that they were going to only put on a new splash of paint and change nothing. Yet, I’m glad I was wrong on that front. Getting to see a game I loved when I was in high school was finally getting attention is wonderful. Hopefully the attention that’ll convince ATLUS to give us the 2nd game as well, with maybe a new third game to the series? I give Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is a smooth blend of many of Atlus’s best traits. In terms of tone and premise, it's rather masterfully executed and I think even among their enormous and storied library, it remains distinct for largely good reasons. As a game, certain elements leave something to be desired. While I praise the combat for being a surprisingly successful blend of action gameplay and the turn-based systems present in mainline Megami Tensei, I don't feel the same way about the investigation portions. It feels like they wanted to do more with the adventure game element, but it feels quite basic and solving things is easy. It would only take a few adjustments for it to really come together, but as it is now it's kind of a neat time-waster and not much else. Overall, I enjoyed what I played and I think there's great untapped potential in more of Raidou’s yet untold stories. While I think a remaster of the second PS2 game is a matter of “when” and not “if”, a third game with modern graphics and a rethought investigation system could potentially make it an Atlus hallmark. As it is now, I would still recommend it as a nice time capsule of when Atlus got really daring.
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is an impressive modernisation of an overlooked RPG, with its combination of stylish detective storytelling, demon-collecting, and slick combat creating an experience that feels both nostalgic and fresh. It is not without its flaws – some outdated design elements, uneven instances of combat, and weak side quests hold it back from true greatness – but for anyone seeking an action RPG with an occult detective twist, it is absolutely worth diving into.
RAIDOU Remastered brings new life to a cult classic with its polished action combat and demon-summoning mechanics, but its repetitive battles and shallow character development hold it back from being truly great. This unique blend of Shin Megami Tensei lore and detective noir delivers plenty of style and atmosphere, making it a treat for longtime fans of the series. However, it lacks the depth needed to win over newcomers.
This remake does more than polish up an old title—it retools what didn’t work and gives it purpose. Raidou Remastered keeps its offbeat mystery and detective charm while tightening up the combat and trimming the fat.
Raidou Remastered transforms a forgotten Atlus action RPG into a near remake, offering engaging combat and a unique premise. Despite a weak story, fans and newcomers will find plenty to enjoy.
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is a fantastic title that every fan of classic jRPGs from the PS2 era should experience. Despite some dated graphics and mechanics, it remains a captivating production with its atmosphere, story, and unconventional ideas. The remaster's creators have done an excellent job of enhancing the original while preserving what made it great.
Review in Polish | Read full review
The remaster boasts numerous improvements over the original, from updated combat to additional demons(some introduced as recently as Shin Megami Tensei V) and adding a detective journal for updates as well as case file side quests to keep players busy. Complete with quirky humor and a fairly memorable cast, even older fans who are familiar with Raidou's first outing should be pleased.
RAIDOU Remastered has pleasantly surprised me. Its real-time combat, its setting in 1930s Japan, and its fast pace make it a unique and highly enjoyable JRPG, even with the limitations inherent to a PS2 game. I hope we see modern installments of this sub-series.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
RAIDOU Remastered is a thoughtful revival of a forgotten SMT spin-off, blending real-time action, demon management, and a unique setting into a distinctive experience that, despite some dated elements, serves as an accessible and worthwhile entry point for new players.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
I ended up falling in love with Raidou all over again. Its 1930s aesthetic is stylish, the characters are simple but charismatic and the adventure is well-focused. I 'm looking forward to revisiting the second game and would be very happy to see Raidou 3 in the future.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is an excellent update to the original game, making the game truly feel modern. With a style that remains unique within the franchise, it's worth investigating the game in person to get to know its charm.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army shouldn't even be considered a remaster, given how many additions it has received, and should be considered a remake. Small details don't take away from its enormous quality as a re-release. Perhaps with the success of this game we'll see the sequel — and equally iconic — King Abbadon return with a new look and improvements as good as Soulless Army. Until then, Raidou has never been better against the army of darkness.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is truly the best way to experience the Devil Summoner – Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army story. With few drawbacks and many additions, Raidou Remastered is more about enhancing than preserving. Take that as you will.
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is a great chance to play the original if you didn’t because of its combat or technical issues. And for Atlus fans who want something new but still familiar, Ryo Remaster is a unique mix of detective work, summoning demons, and fast-paced combat that is hard to put down.
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army updates a PS2 cult classic with better combat, voice acting, and visuals. It still shows some age, especially in its detective gameplay, but the improvements are significant. The fusion system is addictive, battles feel great, and the world has real charm.
The remaster nails the technical aspects but holds your hand too much, making detective work less engaging. While real-time combat is smoother, it lacks the depth of other Megami Tensei games. In total RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army offers an intriguing story but ultimately falls short in gameplay potential.
Review in German | Read full review
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is a bold and bizarre return for one of ATLUS’s most intriguing offshoots. While a few dated quirks linger, its stylish presentation, satisfying combat loop, and supernatural storytelling make it an essential pick for fans of demon fusion, detective intrigue, and underappreciated gems. Whether on the go or with headphones cranked up at home, this remaster delivers devilishly good value.
This is not a game without a handful of flaws, namely its underwhelming story and really ugly (human) character models. That being said, consider me a brand new fan of Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army, and the Devil Summoner subseries as a whole. I really enjoyed it being a faster-paced, action-oriented take on the Shin Megami Tensei formula, in an episodic format that makes it highly enjoyable in smaller sessions. It may have aged visually, but mechanically-wise, it still holds the hell (pun intended) up.
RAIDOU Remastered is what a detective noir JRPG should be: strange, stylish, and loaded with secrets. It’s a cult classic polished to a modern shine, one that drags you into its smoky streets and refuses to let go until the last case is closed. Whether you’re a long-time fan or totally new to the Devil Summoner series, this is one case you don’t want to leave unsolved. Step into the fedora, summon a demon or two, and prepare to lose yourself in a murder mystery with a pulse made of thunder and shadows.