Atlus' past with regard to theShin Megami Tenseifranchise is a storied legacy that continues to this day. From its mainline titles to the myriad spin-offs it has conceived, including theRaidougames of the late 2000s, the breadth of games under theSMTumbrella is both wide-ranging and compelling in design. As Atlus has continued to reach a wider fanbase throughIPs like thePersonaseries, the ability to go back and experience the earlier titles in its repertoire has been somewhat challenging; this is changing, however, with the company’s recent remaster and remake approach, with titles likePersona 3 Reload,SMT3: Nocturne HD Remaster, and nowRaidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Armysetting the stage for increased accessibility.
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Armyis timely, as director Kazuyuki Yamai explains in the title’s Atlus World Spotlight. Though he had intended to return to the series far sooner, he explains that things fell into place for this 2025 release, and with his and Kazuma Kaneko’s emphasis on Raidou’s themes of heroism in a different era, he feels that the passion of the title is something that can equally be latched onto in today’s climate. Beyond this, however, the return of Raidou is a clever follow-up toMetaphor: ReFantazio’s release, as though the two likely overlapped in their development times, the success garnered by the former has paved the way for even more fans of Atlus to branch out to its other IPs.
Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Success Sets the Stage for Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army
Raidou’s Real-Time Combat
Like 2016’sPersona 5,Metaphor: ReFantaziogarnered critical acclaim, helping to bridge the gap between old fans and newcomers in its experience. The grittier tone ofSMTwas a precursor toMetaphor: ReFantazio’s harrowing narrative, and those who enjoyedMetaphor’s darker story will find themselves at home inThe Soulless Army’s remaster.
Though the Raidou games are outliers in their focus on real-time combat (at least, in theSMTfranchise),Metaphoradopted its own action-based battle system in the field. While somewhat rudimentary compared to its turn-based combat,Metaphor’s offerings could be considered a small primer on what to expect from the Raidou title, which is iterating on its original experience in a number of ways.
Iterating on Atlus' Past
The Raidou games are, of course, far older thanMetaphor: ReFantazio, though placingThe Soulless Army’s remaster afterMetaphor’s release is a way for it to inherit the continuing popularity garnered by Atlus titles. The same rings true for how the title is set to iterate on its original experience, asThe Soulless Armyremaster will make its combat more pronounced through a heightened focus on demon cooperation (allowing two demons to join Raidou’s side in battle), as well as skills that take into account enemy weaknesses and openings, incorporating morerecent Atlus offeringslike newer demon designs introduced inSMT5.
Though Raidou doesn’t have the same free rein asMetaphor’s protagonist Will, who can swap between Archetypesin the field, his ability to target enemy weaknesses with new Devil Summoner skills bears similar weight. The same goes for his light and heavy attacks, which necessitates a type of strategy in battle that takes into consideration MAG replenishment, making its combat more than a hack-n-slash experience.
Having the right demon stock is as important as otherSMTtitles, as enemy weaknesses are dependent on what skills Raidou’s demons can bring to the table. To help with this, demon fusion makes its return, with even more ease of access throughThe Soulless Armyremaster’s increased compendium, reverse fusion, and search functionality.
Increased Accessibility in Raidou Remastered
Older fans won’t need much convincing to pick upThe Soulless Army’s remaster, but newer fans of Atlus could be as enticed by Raidou’scombat afterMetaphor: ReFantazio.
Considering the updates that the remaster is receiving by way of its voice acting and QoL improvements, the title will have many positives to lean on—Kazuma Kaneko’s fantastic character design, its 1930s detective aesthetic, and, of course, its demons, to name a few—without being encumbered by its outdatedness. AsThe Soulless Armyremaster shows Atlus continuing to consider accessibility for its older titles, the hope is that more will follow in the future, showing just how strong the company’s past and future are.
