Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army releases on June 19
Announced during today's Nintendo Direct, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army will be receiving a brand new remaster later this summer with Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army.
Originally released on the PlayStation 2 back in 2006, this action RPG puts you in the shoes of detective Raidou Kuzunoha, set in 1931 Japan, as he fights alongside his demons to un Unlike other games in the SMT series, Raidou instead adopts real-time combat, somewhat reminiscent of the Tales series, making the game feel distinct against other entries in Atlus' series. This new remaster looks to add fully voiced cutscenes, a feature that wasn't present in the original PS2 release.
A digital deluxe edition has also been announced that gives players access to:
- Base game
- Guest Demons Pack (6 recruitable demons)
- Demons of Aril Rift - Exclusive Trials (earn unique skills)
- Kuzunoha Village Trainings (EXP, In-game currencies, Stat Increases)
- Skill Book Pack: High-tier skills for ally demons
- Survival Pack: Crafting & Revival Items
Folks who preorder will also get the "Raidou Glasses" cosmetic item.
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army will be launching on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Nintendo Switch on June 19.
You can find the trailer, details from Atlus, and new screenshots below:
What is "RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army”?
The detective mystery set in the capital of the Taisho era makes a grand return in this beloved supernatural action RPG from ATLUS!
Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army, that initially launched in 2006, makes a triumphant return after 19 years with an eagerly anticipated HD remaster for last-gen platforms! This version stays true to the original story while introducing a fully-voiced cast, enhanced graphics, and improved gameplay. Whether you're a fan of the original or new to the series, this game promises an exciting experience for all players!
The characters and background graphics have been refined, bringing the exploits of Raidou and his friends vividly to life.
What is the “Devil Summoner Raidou Kuzunoha” Series?
Raidou Kuzunoha XIV makes his appearance in the Capital.
Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army, released for the PlayStation 2 in 2006, it is a unique spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei series. With its action-packed gameplay, set in a fictional Taisho-era Japan, the game combines detective drama with compelling characters, distinguishing it from previous entries in the Shin Megami Tensei and Devil Summoner series. These beloved elements paved the way for its sequel, Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon, in 2008. As a timeless masterpiece, "Devil Summoner Raidou Kuzunoha" remains one of ATLUS' popular series, with fans eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Raidou's exploits don't end with the main game, as he has appeared in other media such as comic books and drama CDs, as well as appearing as a guest character in the main game of 2008's Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax.
Story
The protector of the Capital is a Devil Summoner.
Taisho 20, the Capital.
As the winds of civilization blew, with Western culture flowing in, and the country developing rapidly, a group of deformed beings known as demons were secretly threatening the peace of the Capital.
The protagonist, Raidou Kuzunoha XIV, takes on the mission of protecting the Capital as a Devil Summoner, using his ability to summon and control demons to battle against other demons. While serving as an apprentice detective at the Narumi Detective Agency, Raidou is constantly faced with mysterious cases involving demons, both day and night.
One day, a girl approaches him with a strange request: “Please kill me.”
The girl making the request is Kaya Daidouji, the only daughter of the Daidouji family, a long-established family.
However, Kaya is kidnapped before she can reveal the true intention of her request. What stands in the way of Raidou and Narumi as they search for Kaya...?
A kidnapping quickly escalates into a major case that shakes not only the Capital, but the entire nation.
Characters
Raidou Kuzunoha XIV
The protagonist, a quiet young man in his late teens, is a Devil Summoner who assumed the name "Raidou Kuzunoha XIV" at an early age. Thanks to his extraordinary powers, he has been entrusted with the task of protecting the Capital.
While he appears to be a student at Yumizuki High School, he also works as an apprentice detective at the Narumi Detective Agency. Through his detective work, he gathers information, and when a case involves a demon, he uses his own demons' abilities to resolve it swiftly.
Under his cape, he carries a sword and gun to combat demons, along with tubes that contain his demon allies.
Gouto-Douji
Mentor to Raidou, a new heir to the Kuzunoha Clan
A black cat known as Gouto serves as Raidou's mentor and constant companion. While he speaks in human language, only Devil Summoners can understand him; to ordinary people, he sounds like a cat meowing. Gouto is a valuable partner to Raidou, well-versed in the secret arts of summoning demons and capable of offering sound advice in various situations. Despite his charming appearance, his true identity remains a mystery...
Narumi
Head of the detective agency
Raidou’s boss, and head of the Narumi Detective Agency, which specializes in occult cases. He is cheerful and easy-going, and his motto is to live a fun and easy life. For this reason, he usually shows a carefree attitude, such as dumping all the work on Raidou, or being picky about which cases he accepts based on how well they pay. However, he is also a man with a passionate heart who cannot ignore people in need and will stand up to those who exploit the weak for their own selfish gain. In fact, he comes from an unexpected background and has connections in military and government circles.
Tae Asakura
Capital Daily Journalist
A newspaper journalist working for the Capital Daily. In the feudal Taisho era, she has a strong-willed personality who hates being discriminated against as a woman and wants to improve the status of women. She uses the pseudonym 'Kichou' after a female writer she respects. She is positive and proactive, but also a bit scatterbrained, and the people around her don't call her by her preferred name of 'Kichou', but rather affectionately as just 'Tae'.
Kaya Daidouji
Daughter of a venerable family
The only daughter of the long-established and respected Daidouji family. Born and raised in one of the wealthiest families in the Capital, she is a student at Ouran High. Quiet and gentle, she is well liked by her servants and schoolmates. She makes a bizarre request to the Narumi Detective Agency to 'kill' her, but is kidnapped by a mysterious group.
Munakata
Army Major General
A major general in the Army who is worried about the future of his country. He has launched a project called the “Super Soldier Project,” and plans to develop superior weapons to enable Japan to compete on equal terms with other global powers. It is rumored that he uses his magical knowledge and the troops under his control to secretly eliminate anything that gets in the way of his plans. Those who have known him for a long time all say that he’s changed as a person, but...
Rasputin
Dark Summoner
A suspicious Devil Summoner employed by Munakata. He uses ‘Matryoshkas’ (a confinement tool modeled on the Russian folk doll) to summon demons and block Raidou's path. Though frivolous in his words and actions, he is a first-class Devil Summoner. True to his own desires, he will take on any job for money, but he is always strictly business-like and never does more than what he is paid for. Devil Summoners like him who stray from the path of righteousness" and work in the underworld are known as Dark Summoners.
Battle System
The game features real-time combat, challenging players to think and move quickly. Use powerful demon attacks alongside Raidou's own skills and wits to overcome enemies that stand in your way. The battle system in this game is based on the second game in the series, "Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon," and has been further refined for an even more accessible and enjoyable experience.
Action battles are now easier to play - Besides attacking with his sword and weapon, Raidou can also perform various actions such as special skills, jumping and dodging. Read the enemy's attacks and combine different actions to fight.
Summon your demon allies and work together - During battle, you can summon up to two demons to fight alongside you. Your demons will automatically select the best actions for each situation. You can also command them directly and build a team that complements both your skills and those of your enemies. In addition, you can summon the same demon twice, which means you get to build a party of only your favorite demons! For example, you can summon two Jack Frosts at the same time. How cool?!
The MAG drain system - The special skills used by demons require a special bio-energy called MAG (Magnetite), and when demons run out of MAG, they are unable to use their skills. MAG can be recovered with “MAG Drain”, which steals MAG from the enemy you have attacked. In this game, it is important to combine weak attacks that have low power but can steal MAG, with strong attacks that have high power but cannot steal MAG. The strategy involves constantly deciding whether to steal MAG from the enemy or prioritize dealing damage.
Identify weaknesses and aim for maximum damage - All demons, whether enemies or allies, have their own unique weaknesses and resistances. Attacking an enemy with their weak affinity will "stun" them, restricting their actions for a certain period. While they are stunned, you can inflict critical hits, increasing both the damage dealt and the amount of MAG you can steal.
The art of confinement - By using the secret art of demon summoning, the “art of confinement”, you can confine demons inside your summoning tubes and use them as your own allies. Conversations may also occur when the art of confinement is successful and the demon becomes your ally. If you choose an answer that the demon likes, it will reward you with benefits such as restoring your party or improving your stats.
A crushing blow, Devil’s Bane - ‘Devil's Bane’ is a powerful attack that takes advantage of the brief opening that an enemy shows during battle. It can be unleashed when the enemy loses their balance after your continuous offense, or when you dodge the enemy's attack at the right moment. It is an action that can inflict heavy damage and steal MAG.
A blow beyond the limit, Spirit Slash - During battle, the Spirit of Raidou and his demons will increase if certain conditions are met. When your Spirit reaches its peak, it will unleash the Spirit Slash, a demonic strike of unparalleled might. Deals massive damage to all enemies on the field.
Master a wide variety of weapons - The weapons that Raidou can equip are divided into three types: the ‘sword type’, which is characterized by its balanced attacks; the ‘spear type’, which boasts a large number of attacks; and the ‘axe type’, which excels in the power of single blows. The special skills you can learn also vary according to the type of weapon. Equip the weapon that best suits your play style.
Investigation
As a detective, Raidou will investigate various cases involving demons. When investigating cases, it will be important to explore the Capital and talk to people and demons on the streets. Sometimes, you can find clues by using the abilities of your demons.
Gather information with the help of your demons’ powers - For example, they can use Investigation Skills such as ‘Read Mind’ to hear the thoughts of people who stubbornly refuse to testify, or ‘Cool Down’ to freeze over water channels without a foothold, so that they can be crossed.
Sometimes, there are suspicious locations that a human like Raidou cannot investigate. In such cases, you can command your demon to go on a solo investigation to retrieve new information.
Real World and Dark Realm - While investigating cases, Raidou will find himself traveling back and forth between the real world of the Capital, where humans live, and the Dark Realm that lies behind it. The Dark Realm is a dangerous juncture between the real world and the netherworld where demons roam. It is a place that ordinary humans other than Devil Summoners cannot even perceive, let alone enter, but there are rare cases of humans being kidnapped by demons and getting lost in the Dark Realm. Battles are fought by coming into contact with demons that only appear in the Dark Realm.
Purge demonic gateways called Aril Rifts - The mysterious spatial distortions occasionally visible in the real world are called Aril Rifts. These serve as gateways for demons from the Dark Realm to enter the real world. Purging an Aril Rift grants more experience points than battling demons in the Dark Realm, so if you encounter one, be proactive and attempt to purge it.
The Goumaden & Demon Fusion
The demons that you have recruited as allies through the art of confinement can be fused at the Goumaden, a research facility run by Dr. Victor. Here, you can combine your demons together to form even more powerful ones!
Forbidden magic, demon fusion - In the Goumaden, you can fuse demons to create new ones. There are several types of fusion, such as “Normal Fusion”, in which you combine two demons to create a new one, “Search Fusion”, in which you can specify certain conditions, “Reverse Fusion”, which you can specify demons to combine based on the demons you want to create, "Element Fusion", in which you can combine two demons of the same Order to create a demon of the Element Order, and "Mitama Fusion", which you can combine two Element Order demons to create a Mitama Order demon.
You are free to choose which special abilities you want to inherit from the demons that you will fuse, so you can create your own unique one.
Dr. Victor
Head of the Goumaden
The enigmatic genius scientist, who operates the Goumaden, dedicates his life to the study of demon fusion. He maintains a cooperative relationship with the Devil Summoners in the Capital to advance his research into demons and the essence of life. Rumors suggest he is over 100 years old, but his true age remains a mystery....
The Devil Chart & Premium Devil Chart - By registering your demons into the “Devil Chart” at the Goumaden, you can freely summon them for a fee. In addition, the “Premium Devil Chart”, an enhanced version of the Devil Chart, allows you to register multiple copies of the same demon.
Sword Alchemy - Sword Alchemy is performed at the Goumaden and involves fusing a weapon with materials to create a new one. Raidou will also learn new Summoner Skills as a result of forging new blades, thereby enhancing your combat abilities.
Demons & Demons’ Orders
Over 50 new demons have been added compared to the original version, bringing the total to over 120! Many demons that appeared in “Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon” and “Shin Megami Tensei V” have been added.
All demons belong to a specific Order. A demon's Order can influence their weaknesses and what skills they are able to use. Demon fusion also follows set rules, as they determine the Order of the resulting demon, based on the Orders of the demons used in the fusion.
Pyro Order - Uses Fire skills, weak to Ice. Can use the Investigation Skill “Ignite" to ignite a subject of investigation.
Frost Order - Uses Ice skills, weak to Fire. Can use the Investigation Skill “Cool Down” to cool down a subject of investigation.
Volt Order - Uses Electric skills, weak to Force. Can use the Investigation Skill “Inspect” to reveal hidden items.
Wind Order - Uses Force skills, weak to Electric. Can use the Investigation Skill ”Scout” which allows a demon to scout an area for enemies and minor items.
Fury Order - Uses Physical skills, low Magic. Can use the Investigation Skill "Use Force" which allows a demon to break/move heavy objects that block one's path in the game.
Pagan Order - Uses Death skills. Can use the Investigation Skill ”Read Mind” which allows Raidou to read the minds of those he investigates.
Skill Order - Uses all manner of skills. Can use the Investigation Skill “Demonstrate” which allows a demon to transform an item into something else.
Element Order - Usually created by fusing two demons of the same Order. In demon fusion, the other demon fused with it will always result in the next higher or lower-leveled demon of the same Order.
Mitama Order - Created by fusing two demons of the Element Order. Fusion involving a Mitama Order demon will result in the same non-Mitama demon that was used in the fusion, but with boosted stats.
Additional Unique Elements
Detective Journal function upgrade - Gouto will compile information in the Detective Journal that will help the player, such as the next objective, information gathered during the investigation of a case, as well as information on how to play the game and tips on combat. You can access the detective journal from the menu at any time, so if you get stuck in your investigation, check the Detective Journal.
The addition of a shortcut function, the “express streetcars” - During your investigation, you will need to visit the Narumi Detective Agency, and other locations pertinent to the case. By using the express streetcars, you can instantly travel to places you have already visited.
Voice Settings - The game features a fully voiced storyline, so you can enjoy an immersive gaming experience. You can switch the voice on and off in the Settings Menu. In addition to English VO, you can choose the option for Japanese VO.
Enhanced Save Functionality - The number of slots that can be saved in the game has been increased to a maximum of 20 files. In addition, there is an autosave function that automatically saves at key points in the story, and a quicksave function that allows you to save at any time while the menu is open, that have been added. Make sure you Save before battling powerful enemies.
Difficulty Settings - There are five difficulty levels to choose from: the merciful “Sleuth” difficulty, in which the main character and his demons do not die; the easy “Gumshoe” difficulty; the normal “Private Eye” difficulty; the difficult “Truth Seeker” difficulty; and the highest difficulty, “Detective Legend”, which can only be selected after an NG+ second playthrough of the game. You can change the difficulty level at any time during the game, so choose the level that suits you best.
