RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is not only a mouthful to say out loud, but it’s also a remaster packed with meaningful quality-of-life improvements, enhanced gameplay mechanics and an overall level of polish that elevates it beyond a simple remake of a classic Shin Megami Tensei spinoff originally released on the PlayStation 2.
Set in the Taishō era, RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army explores one of the more intriguing periods in Japan’s history—a time when the country began to feel the influence of Western culture and democratic ideals. That setting alone is compelling, but the addition of classic Shin Megami Tensei demons makes for an action RPG fans shouldn’t miss.
Furthermore, unlike previous remaster efforts from Atlus, RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army goes above and beyond the typical remaster route, providing a slew of new assets—such as improved demon character models, which appear to be touched-up and reworked assets from Shin Megami Tensei V—an English-dubbed localization, a fast-travel option, and numerous enhancements to battle sequences that speed up gameplay and make the experience feel modern.
“RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is more than a remaster—it’s a full modernization of one of Atlus’ most overlooked gems.”
If you’ve never played the 2006 release but are familiar with the Shin Megami Tensei series, the release of RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army may come as a surprise. Unlike most Atlus RPGs, RAIDOU Remastered opts for a real-time combat system, successfully transforming its turn-based roots into a rewarding action-based experience, still full of the classic JRPG trappings fans expect from an SMT game.
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army improves on its 2006 counterpart in several ways—one of which is the introduction of a brand new camera that shifts to an over-the-shoulder perspective when using Raidou’s gun. It also adds stylish new flourishes and special attacks, complete with brand new animations and finishers that elevate battles beyond what was possible on the PlayStation 2.
Outside of the quality-of-life improvements, enhanced visuals, and updated camera, RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army remains at its core an action RPG focused on unravelling mysteries through exploration. Despite its old-school map design—which, in typical Shin Megami Tensei fashion, has players hovering over an overworld map before selecting key areas to explore as the titular ace detective—RAIDOU Remastered spices things up by introducing demon-specific overworld abilities. These powers can be used to progress the story, complete side quests, and uncover secrets scattered across the game’s various maps.
If you’ve ever played a mainline Pokémon game, the field-specific abilities your demons have in RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army are akin to using an HM move outside of battle—allowing the player to do everything from reading the minds of NPCs, to freezing a body of water to access an otherwise unreachable area, or simply uncovering a lost trinket for a side quest. The inclusion of demon abilities, on top of a silky-smooth and flashy battle system, makes RAIDOU Remastered one of the more unique Shin Megami Tensei experiences out there.
“Unlike most Atlus RPGs, RAIDOU Remastered ditches turn-based combat for a stylish and rewarding real-time battle system.”
Of course, an Atlus RPG wouldn’t be complete without an engaging story, and RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army doesn’t disappoint. It features a hard-boiled detective narrative set in a compelling historical period, punctuated by its use of real-life figures, such as the infamous Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin. The result is a truly unique RPG experience on any platform.
If you’ve only ever played a Persona game—or even if you’ve never heard of the Shin Megami Tensei series but enjoy JRPGs or monster-collecting games in general—RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is a great entry point for newcomers. It not only features a gripping standalone narrative but also excels at introducing players to the colourful cast of demons that make up the roster in SMT’s demonic compendium.
Finally, beyond the monster-collecting and taming aspects of the game, RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army features a highly capable player character with access to both a gun and, eventually, a variety of weapon permutations. These can be crafted to target specific demon weaknesses, giving players additional utility when building weapons that complement the existing roster of demons in play.
With its arrival on modern platforms, RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army sets a new standard for Atlus RPG remasters, eclipsing its original release in every regard. It stands as the definitive version of the game that Megami Tensei fans shouldn’t miss—and an essential JRPG experience overall.
