Raidou Kuzunoha the Fourteenth is back, and with him are a host of upgrades and QoL features inRaidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army. Catering to both old-time fans and newcomers alike,Atlus' approach toThe Soulless Armyremasteris already going beyond increased accessibility; a combat overhaul, fast travel, an increase in graphical fidelity, and more are set to make the title a treat, but even more exciting is how it will iterate on its demons.Atlus' World Spotlight on the gamehas confirmed that the title will go far beyond the near 70 demons in the original to include 120+, with popular designs introduced inSMT5being some of its standouts.
Demons are a quintessential part of theShin Megami Tenseiseries, and its spinoffs are no exception.Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Armyis set to give its demons even more prominence, however, through both number and ability. Fans of theSMTseries will notice how the remaster’s roster accommodates even more of the series' legacy with old and new demon designs alike; fan favorites like Jack Frost and Pixie are a given, but those fromSMT5and itsVengeancecounterpart like Idun and Hayataro will be accompanying as well. The decision to expandThe Soulless Army’s roster is clever on multiple levels, considering just how much the game’s progression hinges on Raidou’s demon allies, as the detective/Devil Summoner leans on them for both combat and exploration.
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is Set to Be an Upgrade On Multiple Levels
Demons With Many Skillsets
Those who are unfamiliar with the Raidou games might be surprised to see that they utilize real-time combat. The gameplay makes for a pretty considerable difference compared tootherShin Megami Tenseimainstays, but one that works in favor of both Raidou and his demons' battle prowess.The Soulless Armyremaster is set to give its combat more nuance through Raidou’s moveset, which incorporates both light and heavy attacks and new skills that tie into its MAG drain system, offering up some strategies in how players proceed: focus on light attacks to replenish MAG from enemies or go in with heavy attacks for more damage with less conservation.
Raidou can have demons fight alongside him, but Raidou’s detective work makes his demons applicable outside of battle as well.The Soulless Army’s remaster, like the original title, will have Raidou rely on his demons to progress his case through skills like mind-reading outside of battle, while also considering environmental terrain through skills like cool-down, turning impassable water to ice or helping citizens to calm down. LikeSMT5: Vengeancewhere the Nahobinois able to channel a demon’s Magatsuhi wavelength, Raidou is able to have his demons go on solo investigations, allowing the player to assume the demon’s control for a time. As each demon order has a different skill, the ability to consider which Raidou has recruited is important both in and outside of combat, as focusing on elemental weaknesses is as crucial as any otherSMTgame.
A Hee-Host of New Demons for Raidou Remastered
With regard totheSMT5demonsthat will be featured inThe Soulless Armyremaster, it looks like some might be exclusive to the game’s digital deluxe edition. Based on its trailer, Hayataro and Idun will be recruitable within the remaster’s base game, while a “Guest Demon Pack” featured on Atlus' website shows the likes of Fionn mac Cumhaill, Artemis and Zeus (in their most recentSMT5designs), and Huang Long, who itself was featured as Kohryu inRaidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon. While it might be a bit of a bummer if they end up being a deluxe exclusive, the addition of 50 new demons in the remaster’s base game is substantial nonetheless, showcasing how far the series continues to reach with its exceptional demon designs.
The Soulless Army Draws on the Strengths of a Remaster
The reveal ofThe Soulless Army’s remaster already hasfans praising Atlusfor the numerous improvements it will be making over the original. Raidou’s multi-faceted skills in battle, including “Devil’s Bane” and “Spirit Slash” (powerful attacks that consider enemy openings), are just some of the many iterations that will make its combat and gameplay experience more exciting. The same can be said for the remaster’s voice acting and demon fusion/compendium additions, including easier search access for demons and the ability to register multiple of the same demon. Channeling not justSMT5’s popular demon designs but the legacy of the series altogether,The Soulless Armyseems set to both upgrade and pay homage to its original experience, which longtime fans and newcomers alike are sure to appreciate.
