Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army – Review

July 20, 2025 Off By Markus Norat

Reliving Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army was, for me, like opening an old book that had been carefully restored, page by page, yet without ever erasing the marks of time. And this, far from being a flaw, is what fascinated me most about this experience. I’ve come across countless Atlus titles throughout my life, from the spiritually charged moments of Shin Megami Tensei III to the existential and academic journeys of the Persona series . But Raidou Kuzunoha was always that forgotten chapter, a side piece in the SMT anthology that purposefully distanced itself from the mainstream to experience a hybrid between action RPG, detective noir, and Japanese folklore.

It was with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation that I dove into this remaster. The promise was great: reworked combat, improved visuals, updated demons, and an entire remastered experience that would balance nostalgia with modernity. But does it truly deliver? Can it be more than just a time capsule with a new look?

After more than thirty hours immersed in this alternate Taishō-era Tokyo, amidst grimy alleyways, occult rituals, chattering demons, and a film-noir-worthy soundtrack with hints of supernatural jazz, I can confidently say: Raidou Remastered is a game that defies expectations. And that’s precisely why it deserves to be analyzed with the attention and depth its purpose demands.

Mechanics and Gameplay

The first real impact comes with the combat system. Forget the strategic comfort of Atlus’s signature “press turn.” Here, everything is real-time action. And I’m not talking about a simple adaptation; the game completely overhauls what was once a system criticized for its rigidity and transforms it into something agile, dynamic, and even addictive.

Raidou can perform quick attacks that restore magnetite (MAG), the fuel for his demons’ actions, heavy attacks (now more diverse with the use of weapons like swords, spears, and axes), pistol shots, and a variety of magical abilities. The system is based on an interesting logic: the more hits you make, the stronger your team becomes. There’s a true reward cycle based on the fluidity of combat, especially when you exploit enemies’ weaknesses, which stuns them and allows for more effective attacks.

Two mechanics shine brightly here: Perfect Dodge , which unleashes powerful counterattacks, and the ability to switch demons in real time, which led me to create specific formations for certain bosses and areas. And speaking of demons, this aspect is a spectacle in itself: there are over 120 creatures available, each with its own personality, voice acting, and even curious reactions during exploration and combat. Recruiting them requires the use of the Art of Confinement technique , which replaces the classic negotiation system, something I personally found more direct and satisfying in this context.

Exploration is divided between urban areas and spiritual domains. In cities, the investigative approach is reinforced by the use of demons with special abilities, such as reading minds, manipulating emotions, or accessing blocked areas. Dungeons, on the other hand, are rich in alternative paths, hidden passages, and light puzzles. The introduction of fast travel and quest markers streamlines the flow and prevents frustration, a wise choice for the current pace.

If there’s anything to criticize here, it might be the natural repetition of some secondary tasks (like errand side quests) and the limited use of certain demon field abilities. But overall, Raidou Remastered offers strategic, fluid, and surprisingly modern gameplay for a game with such deep roots on the PS2.

Graphics

Visually, the leap is noticeable from the very first screen. While this isn’t a remake with next-gen graphics, what Atlus has done here is remarkable: all the textures have been refined, the character models, especially the demons, have been given new details, and the environments have been brought to life with redesigned lighting, atmospheric effects, and a color palette that beautifully conveys the contrast between the “real” world of Taishō-era Tokyo and the distortions of the Dark Kingdom.

Kazuma Kaneko’s artwork remains intact and even more impressive in HD. The demons’ features, grotesque expressions, deep gazes, and ritualistic poses carry a symbolic weight that few modern games capture with such intensity.

Combat effects have also been revamped. Elemental explosions, combos, and finishers now have a fluidity and visual impact reminiscent of contemporary games like Tales of Arise or even Final Fantasy XVI , without detracting from the original game’s premise. My only gripe was some overly stylized or cartoonish facial expressions on minor NPCs; the eyes and teeth, in particular, stand out strangely from certain angles.

Still, the stylized look has aged well, and this new look not only preserves the charm of the PS2 era but elevates it to a level that I consider worthy of a respectable remaster.

Sound

The soundtrack is one of the highlights of the experience. Composed by Shoji Meguro, it blends jazz, Japanese classical music, noir-tinged wind instruments, and understated electronic beats that accentuate the mystery of each new case.

It’s the kind of soundtrack that functions both as an atmospheric backdrop and a narrative element. During investigative moments, the soft piano and subtly dissonant horns put you in the detective mood. During battles, the songs speed up, gaining aggressive guitars and synthesizers, but without ever sounding generic.

The game also features full voice acting in English and Japanese, both of excellent quality, with a special mention for the voice of Gouto (Raidou’s cat familiar), who acts as a sort of narrator and sarcastic advisor. The demons speak, react, comment on the environment… and even tell jokes. This brings the universe to life and makes each creature more than just a “skill slot.”

The only thing I regret, and which I consider serious, is the lack of localization into Brazilian Portuguese. A game with so much text, cultural nuances, and such a specific narrative style deserved to be accessible to Brazilian audiences, especially considering that recent Atlus games have been translated.

Fun

I confess I didn’t expect to have so much fun with Raidou Remastered . I thought it would be more of a historical or archaeological experience than an immersive one, one of those games we respect but don’t necessarily enjoy. Fortunately, I was wrong.

The blend of investigation, action, demon management, weapon customization, fusions, and exploration kept me engaged from start to finish. There’s a rare balance between combat and narrative, with episodic missions that create pacing without stretching the plot too thin. The creative use of demons outside of combat adds a layer of interactivity that made me want to explore every corner of the maps.

Sure, there are moments of repetition, like returning to certain locations just to trigger a brief dialogue or eliminate a specific enemy. And the side stories, while enjoyable, are a bit superficial. But all of this is offset by the variety of battles, the engaging setting, and the charisma of the cast.

Performance and Optimization

I played on PS5 and the performance was practically flawless. The game runs at a consistent 60fps, without drops or stuttering, which is crucial for fluid combat. Load times are minimal, something unthinkable in the PS2 era, and the transition between maps, battles, and menus is smooth.

The interface has been redesigned, cleaner and more functional, and all the modern features are there: quick save, help menu, real-time skill switching, the option to adjust the difficulty (including four distinct levels) and a decent interactive map.

My only complaint here is the indoor camera, which sometimes gets stuck at awkward angles. I also noticed that the fusion and demon registration menus could have more filters and information, like a compendium percentage, something basic in other SMTs and missing here.

But overall, it’s a very well-executed remaster, with attention to technical details and respect for the original game.

Conclusion

Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army not only brings back an obscure gem from Atlus’s catalog, but also reinvents it in a respectful, modern, and bold way. In a market saturated with similar games, it manages to stand out with its unique identity, unique historical setting, hybrid combat system, and dark charm.

It’s true that the game isn’t perfect: the story could be more emotional, some mechanics could be better utilized, and the lack of localization is a stumbling block. But it’s still one of the best remasters I’ve ever played, and a fascinating gateway to a universe that deserves to continue.

If you like action RPGs, mythology, games with soul and personality, Raidou Remastered is a must-have.

Positive Points:

Revamped, fluid, and addictive combat system
Rich and distinctive historical setting
Charismatic demons with good participation
Exceptional soundtrack by Shoji Meguro
Remastering with relevant visual and technical improvements
Good duration with well-paced missions