Given its huge PS2-era catalogue, Atlus’ resolution to revive Satan Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Military is a little bit of an odd one. One thing of an experimental foray into the realm of motion RPGs, it isn’t essentially a recreation that springs to thoughts when trying again on the developer’s most prolific console technology.
However possibly that is why it is getting a second likelihood. For Atlus’ trendy viewers — those that bought began with the Persona collection, maybe — Raidou gives a singular glimpse into the studio’s previous, and, in the end, 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 stick with the unique recreation’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. Mainly, Raidou’s a peacekeeper with ties to those that defend the nation from the shadows, using Shin Megami Tensei’s typical 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 vogue — full with title playing cards for every chapter — which creates a significant sense of tempo throughout what’s a comparatively brief marketing campaign. Certainly, in comparison with Atlus’ more moderen 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 in an effort to set up leads on the present case. The second, against this, entails dungeon delving right into a type of spirit realm the place demons roam free.
For Remastered, the investigation aspect of issues has been streamlined. Goal markers and extra outstanding hints all however erase the unique recreation’s obtuseness, which we expect is most likely for the perfect.
Granted, taking part in the function of a detective is arguably extra fulfilling in the event 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 whole districts simply to seek out the one NPC that triggers the subsequent a part of the story.
Having mentioned that, there are occasions when the discharge exhibits its age. Backtracking turns into a slight annoyance afterward as Raidou bounces between places for the sake of just some strains of dialogue, and the (completely elective, fortunately) aspect quests are little greater than a guidelines of largely boring chores.
This criticism would have nearly actually continued by means of to the sport’s fight system, had Atlus not redesigned the entire thing for Remastered. Again in 2006, the essential motion fight was a significant 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 totally 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 stage alone, fight has been dramatically improved each in performance and really feel.
The system itself has all the time been fascinating, 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 means of these skills that you will exploit enemy weaknesses.
Hitting a weak spot briefly staggers the opponent, and in flip, Raidou will get to elongate his sword combos and get well but extra SP, making a satisfying loop of destruction. It is a system that continues to be moderately distinctive to at the present time, the place the participant acts as a type of catalyst for his or her allies, versus being the primary injury supplier.
And naturally, that is the place constructing a workforce of all-conquering demons turns into a precedence. Raidou can ensnare enemies of a decrease stage than him throughout fights and repurpose them as allies, however fusing demons collectively is the place the true magic occurs.
Very like in Persona, a demon’s abilities and traits may be transferred to a brand new kind, letting you experiment with and create all types of highly effective companions. Atlus has clearly been repurposing this fusion stuff for many years, however the sense of development continues to be so addictive.
It is also vital for Raidou to assemble a assorted workforce outdoors 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 nearly really feel dangerous about throwing them into the fusion blender.
Conclusion
Raidou Remastered provides one among Atlus’ most experimental PS2 outings a deserved second likelihood. Higher described as a remake, an enormous record of enhancements, together with a perfectly reworked fight system, make this a must-try for the developer’s trendy viewers. Raidou stays a uniquely bizarre and compelling motion RPG, and that is its definitive kind.
